America’s First Enclosed Mall Opened 70 Years Ago Today. Then Only 80,000 Square Feet, It’s Now 16 Times Bigger and Still Operational

NEED TO KNOW

• Donald Dayton conceived Southdale Center Mall as a way to get around Minneapolis' harsh winters, which were less than ideal for shopping

• Once constructed, the fully enclosed shopping center revolutionized the way Americans shopped and helped usher in the era of mall culture

• The $20 million project was 80,000 square feet when it opened; it has now grown 16 times in scale and is more than 1.29 million square feet after undergoing a $400 million renovation

When Southdale Center Mall opened in Edina, Minn., on Oct. 8, 1956, it introduced a revolutionary way to shop — one designed to make braving Minnesota's frigid winters a little easier. Seventy years later, after the rise and fall of mall culture , it remains a destination with more than 100 stores, a variety of restaurants and other entertainment experiences.

The shopping center's idea began in 1952, when Donald Dayton — head of the American department store Dayton's — conducted a study that suggested less than half of the days in a year had "ideal shopping weather" in the area, according to Minneapolis Monthly . His solution was to create a environmentally controlled shopping center where people could shop, eat and spend time indoors, away from the elements.

To bring the concept to life, Dayton enlisted Austrian-born architect Victor Gruen who drew inspiration from America's governmental and military institutions. Together, they developed what would become the country's first fully enclosed shopping mall.

According to the Hennepin History Museum , the 80,000-square-foot project cost $20 million to build.

When Southdale opened in October, 1956, there were 72 attractions, including stores like Dayton's, Donaldson's and Red Owl grocery store. Visitors could entertain themselves on an ice-skating rink and stop at the post office.

The idea was to create an experience that felt almost like its own world. A press release issued around the mall's opening and cited by History.com described Southdale as "an introvert center," with a "quiet and dignified appearance" on the outside that gave way to an interior filled with "liveliness, colorfulness and beauty."

Decades later, Southdale has grown in scale. After undergoing extensive renovations with a $400 million price tag, the mall has expanded 16 times in size and is now more than 1.29 million square feet. It's home to more than 120 stores, restaurants and other businesses.

"Southdale Center, the nation's first fully enclosed, climate-controlled shopping mall, is entering a bold new era with a $400 million transformation that has introduced stunning Luxury Shops, more than 50 new brands, and a reimagined shopping, dining, and entertainment experience for the Twin Cities," the mall's website reads in a description of the transformation.

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