April 2, 2019
Image from HHM Collections
As Hennepin History Museum explores the legacy of innovation in our county through objects in our collection, sometimes one must look beyond the surface of the artifact and see a deeper story to be told. For instance, this Dayton’s gift box, one of many in the collection, does not only tell the history of the fondly remembered department store, but also of the nation’s first indoor shopping center: Southdale Mall of Edina, Minnesota.
In 1952, head of Dayton’s, Donald Dayton, was looking for a way to increase retail sales, even on days when shoppers didn’t want to venture out in the freezing cold of a Minnesota winter. Austrian architect Victor Gruen had conceived of an enclosed space where stores faced inward to a climate-controlled space that offered numerous amenities. The two developed Gruen’s vision and Southdale Mall opened its doors on October 8, 1956.
Image from HHM Archives
The mall originally had 72 tenants, of course including Dayton’s, as well as their biggest competitor at the time, Donaldson’s (both seen in the image above surrounding a Red Owl grocery store). The mall was 80,000 square feet and cost $20 million to build. In addition to a variety or retailers, Southdale also included a skating rink, an enormous bird cage, a water fountain, and a post office.
Today, Southdale has expanded to 1,297,608 square feet. The mall’s parking lot now includes apartments and a hotel, an innovative way to make use of under-utilized property. Many shopping malls have suffered in the past few decades due to the rise in internet shopping. Despite this trend, Southdale has found a way to succeed, ensuring that the landmark will be preserved for future generations.
Written by Alyssa Thiede
Sources:
Ewoldt, John. “Southdale’s Rebirth Comes Full Circle,” Star Tribune, October 17, 2016.
Peloquin, Jahna. “Southdale, the World’s First Shopping Mall, Celebrates 60 Years.” Minnesota Monthly. October 2016. http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/Blogs/Twin-Cities-Style/Southdale-the-Worlds-First-Shopping-Mall-Celebrates-60-Years/
This publication was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Any views, findings, opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society, or the Minnesota Historic Resources Advisory Committee.
