After 30 Years, Mall of America Is Still Ahead of Its Time

The retail-tainment colossus rose from a defunct baseball park and changed what it means to go shopping

In 1990, Minnesota Gov. Rudy Perpich, then in the twilight of his 10-year dynasty in the state house, was putting the finishing touches on his political and economic legacy. Among his exploits, two still stand out. The first was convincing Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev to swing through St. Paul on his visit to the United States.

The second is the Mall of America.

While credit for the property’s development would go to the Ghermezians—four brothers who imported rugs from Iran, invested in oil, then turned their attention to real estate—the Mall of America wouldn’t have risen without the patronage of the governor.

He, together with the Ghermezians’ Triple Five development company, saw something that others did not.

AW+

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber

View Subscription Options

Already a member? Sign in

Adweek magazine cover
Click for more from this issue

This story first appeared in the March 21, 2022, issue of Adweek magazine. Click here to subscribe.