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West of Downtown
St. Paul, MN 55105
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Just south of stately Summit Avenue in St. Paul is this unassuming, but intriguing retail street. A little of the beaten path, it nevertheless has a few tried and true chains (J. Crew), but mostly it is known for more unique specialty stores.
Mall of America
60 East Broadway
Bloomington, MN 55425
Phone: 952-883-8800
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Just minutes away from Minneapolis St. Paul International airport is the Mall of America, located in the city of Bloomington At 4.2 million square feet, it is the largest indoor mall in the United States. There are over 400 stores and shops in the mall, with just the right mix of familiar nationwide chain stores and unique specialty shops. Highlights here include Underwater Adventures® Aquarium, the Lego® Imagination Center, and the Park at MOA®, the world’s largest indoor theme park. If all the shopping gives you the urge to pop the question, never fear. The Chapel of Love performs weddings in addition to being a first class bridal shop. Every year, over 40 million visitors make the pilgrimage to this shrine to consumerism, and nearly 40 percent of them are from out of town. When guests arrive, they are treated to a retail experience like no other.
Minneapolis Farmers Market
800 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
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Here’s a place where busy downtowners love to stop off on the way home from work. This twice weekly tradition offers fresh-cut flowers and locally grown produce from May to October. It certainly beats a sandwich from the office vending machine!
Near St. Anthony Falls
Minneapolis, MN 55414
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The Riverfront District has undergone a major revitalization effort in the new century, boasting the new homes of the Guthrie Theater & the Mill City Museum. Shopping options have lagged behind a bit, but there are a few retail outlets at St. Anthony Main and the office and condominium development Riverplace hosts fine restaurants such as Sophia and Kikugawa.
Minneapolis Warehouse District
North First Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55401
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This site is a great introduction to the revitalized Minneapolis warehouse district, which comes alive every night with numerous shopping, entertainment and dining options.
Twin Cities Shopping Guide
Website
Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine has a nice collection of all the Cities’ shopping options at its online home. This guide is cross-referenced by type of shop, neighborhood, department store, and shopping center. One stop here and you’ll be breaking out the plastic in no time.
Uptown District
Lake Street & Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55408
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Uptown is as bohemian as we Midwesterners get, and the shopping here tends toward the fun and funky side of the spectrum. Among the retail choices is Calhoun Square, a mall right in the Heart of Uptown. Also in Uptown is the stylish Uptown Theater, where cutting edge independent films are shown, as well as the Brave New Workshop Comedy Theater.