Mall of America to reopen June 1 with new safety protocols

MINNEAPOLIS — The Mall of America, which is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, will partially reopen on June 1 in compliance with Minnesota’s new safety protocols for slowly reopening the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, mall management announced Thursday. The mall, which has more than 520 stores and restaurants, temporarily closed on March 17, though some of its merchants recently began offering curbside service “Mall of America is home to more than 175 small business owners in addition to hundreds of national and global brands,” the statement said. “We are prepared to open our doors, so they can open theirs giving them the opportunity to begin rebuilding their business.” Not all of its stores will be ready to reopen June 1, and all mall dining venues and attractions will remain closed pending further guidance from the state, though eateries can offer curbside and delivery service in the meantime. The Minnesota National Guard on Thursday deployed 20 medics to help jump-start the state’s plan to ramp up testing of those residents, state Homeland Security Director Joe Kelly told reporters during a conference call.