Ep. 149: Fresh New Finds at MOA

[00:00:00] Mall of America, it's home to world-class shopping, great dining, and amazing attractions and events. And these are our stories presented by Bloomington, Minnesota Travel and Tourism. Hello everybody and welcome to So Much More. I'm Jill Renzel, your host, joined by my co-host, Dan Jasper. Hi, Dan. Hey, Jill. We hear from our fans all the time that they love to hear about our new stores, what's happening, new attractions, new restaurants, all the things. So when you come to Mall of America, you know exactly what you want to check out. So we are going to talk about things

[00:00:29] from fashion accessories to global concepts and viral favorites, because there's a lot to cover today. And we have our favorites from our leasing team, Carrie Charleston and Ashley Hoffman. They are here to join us and to talk about all the new things happening at Mall of America. So welcome, ladies. Good afternoon. Thank you. So you guys are preparing for a big conference coming up. It is something that's important to your industry. And as we plan and strategize for Mall of America, it's important for you guys to do your homework and get things set up as far as with the brands that are coming

[00:00:59] this is the International Council of Shopping Centers, which actually rebranded to the innovative commerce serving communities. And we were talking about this, that it's about evolution and our industries went through so many changes where it was so much about retail. And now it's about experiential and dining and attractions and just the brand expressions. So I wanted to talk a little bit about as you guys prepare for the conference, what's important to you as you think about what we have in

[00:01:27] the building and what we might have gaps and where we have opportunities and how you guys prepare for that big conference. Sure. And it is our biggest conference of the year. It's like our Super Bowl. Yeah. Yes, it is our Super Bowl. So it's incredibly important for us to not only connect with the brands, but to connect with all of the relationships that we have through the brands themselves, the brokers, and everything that goes along with all things retail at the show. And we do do a lot of research

[00:01:57] in looking at what brands we're going to bring into the building. So it's really exciting for us to make those connections and then actually get to meet with them face to face. And it's just really great quality time that we have with them at the show. And it's nonstop. The energy, as you can imagine, in Vegas is wild and crazy and fun. And it's just like everywhere we go all day long that we're in the meetings, we're just connecting and getting to know people in the brands. So it's a very exciting

[00:02:24] time for us. It will be. And we're always excited when you guys come back because we hear about all the great conversations that you have. And I'm super excited because I get to join them this year. So they also have a prop tech element of ICSC this year, which is all about property technology technology and how brands and buildings are working together to create these immersive experiences for their guests and how technology is propelling us forward. I'm expecting a lot of AI conversations,

[00:02:50] as you can imagine. But it's also finding efficiencies, but like I said, really enhancing the guest experience. So I'm excited to join you guys this year. So hopefully we'll have lots to talk about in another podcast following up from the conference. That's right. And you will learn so much, I'm sure. That's one of the beauty, the most beautiful things about the show is we all learn so much. And learning from experts in the industry, we're coming to share information with us. So I have to ask about the show too, if I may really quickly, it seems to me that in a way,

[00:03:20] it's kind of like a giant show of speed dating. Yes, it is. Right? Because you want to look your best, you want to present your, you got to come off in five minutes, like I'm the one, right? And is that what it's like a little bit? And they're doing the same thing. Absolutely. You're trying to find really good matches. If you can imagine, we basically have a giant booth with a bunch of meeting rooms and all of the brands, all of the developers were all in one place for two days. And so it's a great opportunity.

[00:03:48] But yeah, I mean, Carrie and I have meetings every 15 to 30 minutes. So it's literally speed dated. And is that chemistry there? And are they a good fit for us? And I'm really interested. And I do think we should do a follow-up show because hearing about the property tech stuff, because we kind of lead the field in several ways, but it'll be fun to hear what else is out there. Absolutely. And in addition to the meetings face-to-face, they actually set up a lot in advance of, but there's some great keynotes this year, which I'm really excited to hear from.

[00:04:15] And also a lot of vendors that set up their showcases. So you get a chance to really get a mix of everything when you're there. So yeah, we'll definitely do a roundup of that when we get back. But we got to jump into retail because there's an exciting scene here at Mall of America. We've had some recent ones open. So let's start there. Some of your favorites that have recently opened. I know one of my favorites is Banana Republic. It's back. They never really left. They just relocated

[00:04:43] and we put them on the Southside level once. So why don't you guys talk a little bit about Banana? Well, first of all, this store is absolutely stunning. Stunning. Stunning. With an exclamation point. It is beautiful. It is so beautiful. I'm so excited to have them come back. And the brand itself has really reinvented themselves as well, not only with the designers and the look, but the feel of the store.

[00:05:08] There's a luxury feel when you're in the store itself. But even when you go back to the dressing rooms, it feels like you're in someone's beautiful living room and you just want to hang out. It's like you don't want to leave. And what I love the most about this is that a lot of these stores are reinventing themselves. Retail is not just a transaction anymore. It's so much more. It is an experience. And I feel that.

[00:05:33] As it used to be. You know, it used to be more about that connection with people and it's kind of coming back to that. Yes, absolutely. So that's why I, you have to come check out the store. I know you've already seen it. And Dan, I think you went in. We went in last week as well. I was there the day it opened. I walked in and elevated style. It is stunning. You're exactly right. I loved it because I felt the nuances of the original Banana Republic. That's right. Yeah.

[00:05:59] A little bit of that Jumanji, a little bit of that Safari stuff going on, but in a really classy way and everything, all the clothes I look at. By the way, this is a brand I've not been excited about for years that I am truly now excited about again because the clothing is just beautiful. Yeah. They've done a really nice job. I was telling my family about it yesterday and I was like, they're like Banana? I'm like, no, you have not seen what the store looks like now. It's completely elevated, updated,

[00:06:27] warm. It's incredible. They did a great job. I agree. And when guests come to Banana Republic, they will be pleasantly surprised with their neighbor, which is me, J.Crew. So we're so excited to have J.Crew back in the building. Anything that you guys want to highlight for that new store? Yeah. I mean, it'll be men's and women's. And again, it's their updated, their most up-to-date prototype. It'll be stunning, beautiful, their new product line, similarly to Banana. They've made a comeback to their roots and their product has really elevated again and it's going to be great.

[00:06:56] Yes. And being side by side. Yeah. I think so convenient. So convenient for shoppers that love both of those brands. It's speaking to that core audience that we love to have here. Yes. Okay. What about some of the other ones that are just open? K-pop Nara? Any comments on K-pop? K-pop Nara. There's so many Asian brands opening right now, but as you guys remember, they did the pop-up event. In a rotunda. Yeah.

[00:07:24] And then they did a private shopping event experience with Cat's Eye as well. And just to see the excitement about the brand in general, and now they're open and you can go in and it's like all the retail merch, the albums, the anime, the plushies. It's just, it's super fun. And that's on level two South. So it's been great to see that and see some of the following come out to see the store. I think that there's, everyone's really embracing, I think the whole

[00:07:50] culture in general. So great to see them open and hopefully we'll get some more pop-ups out of it too with some of the K-pop bands. Yeah, absolutely. A lot of the talk within the leasing team right now are these Asian pop culture inspired brands. And we'll talk about more of them today, but it's definitely something that has been doing very well and bringing it to the U.S. and yeah. One thing you saw with this store that I noticed on social media, they have avid fans that post

[00:08:20] a lot. And when K-pop Nara opened here, it was all over the place and it still is. Yes. I mean, it was a rollover from Pop Mart and then went to K-pop Nara. And we also have a fabulous... I know what you're going to say. No, I know what you're going to say. I don't know. What am I going to say? Duck? Yes. Yes, that's what I thought. How can you read my mind? Sorry, I was excited. You cannot miss it. So our offices are right outside level three on the north side. You

[00:08:46] turn the corner and it's this really cool dynamic storefront. We don't have any other storefronts that have a completely digital frame around their entrance and it's so eye-catching. And people are loving it. So talk a little bit about Duck. Loving it. Duck is such a fun, it's a claw machine concept and the biggest, I think the biggest or the most fun thing about it is the element of surprise. Whatever it is that you're trying to win or not win, right? It keeps you coming back. We went in as a team

[00:09:12] and we were laughing and having so much fun and giggling, screaming. People were almost like looking over at us because we were so excited about the things that we were winning. And actually, I won a Lububu, right? No, a Jelly Cat. A Jelly Cat. Sorry, sorry. Yes. Well, you can win a Lububu. You can. But yes, I won a Jelly Cat and I ended up giving it to Ashley because I knew your daughter would win. Yes, Chandler was very happy.

[00:09:41] But it's just like that. So it's very exciting and you just love knowing that you're going to win something and then you just keep going back for more. And then there was these other games too that people were coming into play. I don't remember the name of it, but it was like you're literally shaking the machine and it's almost like you're driving. Do you know what I'm talking about? No. I didn't see that one. We're going to have to check this out. When you walk into the space, it's on the left side and people seem to just be going nuts for it.

[00:10:09] And then in the back, there's just some light snacks and things like that. But we are seeing people from all ages, like little kids to grandparents and all of us in between and just having so much fun. I love that. There's an element of surprise with a lot of these Korean and Asian cultural brands, whether it's collectibles, the blind boxes, or just the albums. And there's these elements of surprise once you open them up or you win and collectibles. It's such a fun- It's like gamified retail, right? Yeah. It is so fun.

[00:10:38] Has a low barrier. Another one that's just fun from a visual perspective and very viral on Socialist Suite Crunch, Tang Hulu. So talk a little bit about that one. That's up on the West Side. Level 3. Yes. This has been very popular. Lines all day, every day. It's that Instagrammable, social media sharing. But yeah, it's fruit that has like a hard candy sugar coating. So it's healthy because you get some fruit. It's fruit.

[00:11:06] That's what I'm going with. I'm getting my daily fruit. Exactly. Yes. Covered with sugar. So the kids are happy. The parents are happy, right? Yeah. It looks really good. So it's beautiful. It's stunning. Yes. It is Instagrammable. This is so pretty. Yes. I think that's kind of where they got their claim to fame was on TikTok. People started sharing it. And so now it's a trend and yeah, it's doing really well. They're going to open a second location with us. So that'll be coming this summer.

[00:11:30] Speaking of Instagrammable, Roni's has opened. We're so excited. If you love macaroni and cheese, folks, you need to come check out Roni's on the South Side Level 3. So any favorites that you guys have come across to Roni's? Dan, would you? Oh, for me, I love it. I didn't realize this until they opened up that I can get a baked potato with individualized toppings. And the potatoes are amazing. Yeah, so good.

[00:11:57] You get melted cheese and veggies and stuff. And then I haven't gotten the grilled cheese sandwich yet, but it looks amazing. We did. It's really good. The potato layer is a game changer. It is. It is so good. So I highly recommend that potato on the bottom of the mac and cheese. Yeah, we went as a team and we got some of everything. And I don't even know how I could pick a favorite. Everything was so good. No, everything was really good. And it was probably the busiest location in the food court.

[00:12:23] I mean, there was lines. And I think that there was even influencers there taking pictures. And we just, we had a great time, but it was really fun to try everything. And now I see why it's so Instagrammable and why it became so popular. Absolutely. Yeah. So after you eat your mac and cheese, you can now go over to Cotton and Snow. So we have this brand new shaved ice concept on Southside Level 3 as well. So right there in the South food court. So tell us a little bit about Cotton and Snow.

[00:12:52] Yeah. I mean, it's super fun. It was started by two friends in Nashville. And if you go to some of their other locations, they do have like boozy shaved ice and malts. That will be TBD coming soon, hopefully to Mall of America. But the thing that they kind of claim is that their shaved ice is like the smoothest shaved ice you can get. And all of the flavors are homemade. You can't get them anywhere else. They use natural ingredients. And it's beautiful. Again, it's really pretty. It's about that social media sharing moment. So big, huge cotton candy coming out of the

[00:13:21] shaved ice. Really fun colors, fun different flavors. I think they're known for like their mix of flavors and all the different combinations that they come up with. So, and people are just loving it. So that's going to be another one we're going to have to try as a team. But yeah, so it'll be interesting to see if we get the boozy cotton candy and all of the shaved ice. And there's so many, it's just like a really fun dessert concept that has gone viral. Yeah.

[00:13:49] And those unexpected moments are what people are looking for, right? Absolutely. Be surprised. And there's something very special about eating when you come to shop. I feel like they come hand in hand. Even if you don't have time to sit down and have a meal, you have to grab a snack. And it's just great to be able to try out all these new things because you don't have to spend a lot. You can try something out for, you know, just to grab a snack or to share something with friends and family. So I love that. I love it. And as I walk around the mall and I see families walking around, typically it's the

[00:14:19] kids who are asking for it. And then mom or dad begrudgingly give in. And then who's really eating it and enjoying it? Mom and dad. Mom and dad. The kids are like saying, can I please have a bite? Yeah. We got to be kids too. That's right. Absolutely. I love it. Let's shift over to beauty. Very excited for this one. Kiyoki. Yes.

[00:14:44] Korean beauty is such a big thing right now. I mean, people are traveling. It's become a hobby, literally, the beauty industry. It's so much more than just taking care of yourself. I mean, it has changed so much over the last few years. So I was very excited for this to be added to our beauty category. So talk to us about Kiyoki. Yeah. So Kiyoki, and she's not just K-beauty, so she calls herself Asian beauty brand. So K-beauty,

[00:15:09] J-beauty, and C-beauty. So it's all. So she wants to bring all of those products to North America. She opened her first store in Toronto in 2022, so not that long ago. And it was so popular and there was such a demand for these products that she has over 20 locations across Canada now. And she opened her first US flagship at our sister property, American Dream. And she'll open her second US location here on Level 2 West outside of Nordstrom. So it's over 7,000

[00:15:36] square feet. So there'll be tons of beauty products. You could probably spend hours in there. Right? Yeah. So in talking with the owner, I'm curious, asking for a friend, is there like a go-to item that everyone must have? Oh my gosh. I don't even think she could pick one go-to. She said she was going to send us a box. So there's just so many things. And apparently the eyelash extensions are different. There's so many things. There's not that she couldn't even pick one. Well, I do office across the hall from you, Ashley. So when you get that box, I would love

[00:16:04] to help you open it. I would be sharing. Yeah. Go through all those items. Yes. I love that. But you're right. It has changed so much. And I feel like it's skewed younger too. Like there's a lot of younger people buying all of these beauty products and it's like self-pampering and wellness. Yeah. Self-care. I think my daughter has more skincare products than I do. Agreed. Yes. It is crazy. I'm learning so much from my daughter based on what they learn on social

[00:16:31] and all the different products. I'm like, I didn't even know they had things for this. Like this is fantastic. I know. It's crazy. Okay. So super excited for that. It'll be fun discovery when she opens. And they will be located on West. Level 2 West, right outside of Nordstrom. Yeah. Perfect. Oh, that's a great location. Okay. Talking about the young generation, they have transformed ear piercing or piercing in general. So Studs will be opening on the Northside Level 1. Very excited for this retailer to come here.

[00:16:57] Very excited for Studs to open. It's a little bit kind of an edgier feel to it. And I've seen several of their locations now. They're just really fun and inspiring. Almost like playful, right? Yeah. Very playful. They're going to have this big ear chair when they open up. And it looks like a big ear. A soft picture of the ear chair. It's this big ear. And of course, it has some piercings in the ear. But you can sit in the

[00:17:22] chair and take all the photos that you want. But it's going to be located right in front of their storefront, which is going to be level one North, right next to Pandora. So very excited. They should open in the next month or so. But yeah, it's just like a newer, fun take on piercing. And it is. It's playful and fun. And it's just a little bit edgier than I think what we grew up with. Right. Yeah. And their jewelry is beautiful. So if you don't need your ears pierced, they also have beautiful jewelry. Yes. So good to know. Okay. Yep. I love that.

[00:17:50] Okay. And then just down the way, we have Lulu's opening. So super excited. This will also be on the Northside Level 1, right outside of Nordstrom. This is one that we've been talking to for some time. And we're very excited for them to bring their online experience in stores. Talk a little bit about Lulu's. Yeah. So Lulu's is great. The first time I had heard about Lulu's was years ago from my niece. And all of her friends, that's where they got all of their dresses for all the parties and

[00:18:17] school proms and things like that. So very excited for Lulu's to come in and do a pop-up with us. I think it'll be a great new offering for us. And I think it's also going to be very Instagrammable too. And I think it's going to draw all of those young gals that are looking for all the fun things that they've only been able to shop online in the past. So this is going to be great. It's going to open on Level 1 North, right next to Altered State. But yeah, it's super excited. I'm guessing your daughter probably shopped there too?

[00:18:46] Yes. We've done a lot of online shopping from Lulu's and I mean from homecoming and prom, but also like I love it for wedding season. That's what I'm going to say. And I got to tell you guys, I checked out some of the setup of the store. I'm talking dresses $60 to $100. Like very, very affordable. Really great price for me. And what I love is the fact that it's an online brand coming to brick and mortar and it's a show that online by itself doesn't do it anymore. No, it doesn't. Being able to create that relationship with your guests, being able to be brick and mortar.

[00:19:13] I'm hopeful that they'll be here for this pop-up and they'll just love it so much that they'll want to stay. They'll want to stay permanently. We would love that. Definitely come check that out because I really think there's going to be something for everyone. As much as you think it leans towards a younger generation, there are dresses in there for every age. And it's wedding season is coming up here too. So I know me personally- Carrie knows all about that. Right? I have like three weddings coming up. So I'm super excited for Lulu's to come up for that. So I'm hoping I can find something there. But you're right. It's all about the experience.

[00:19:41] People want to see, feel, and touch and get into the stores. But I think the stores themselves have really leaned into making it an experience and our guests now expect that. So I'm very excited for Lulu's to open. Well, yeah. And the retailers now too, they want to bring their brand to life. Just like we were talking about with Banana Republic. It's not just a store anymore. They're bringing their brand to life again. And so I think that's what's really unique and special about a lot of the stores that are opening here is they're choosing Mall of America as their platform to do that.

[00:20:09] Yes. Yep. So a few others that we've talked about a little bit on former podcasts, but Giordano's, any quick updates on that? Yep. Giordano's will open later this summer. Very excited. It's a Chicago, beloved Chicago brand, deep dish pizza that's known for their big cheese pole. But very excited for that to open and see what they're going to bring to Mall of America. People know the brand and know the pizza. So

[00:20:37] that'll be a great one. But yeah, it should open up later this summer. And Sweet Green. And Sweet Green also later this summer as well. Can not wait. I know. Too good. We've been patiently waiting for that one. I know. Although I'm worried about my wall once they open. Right? They'll be there every day. Yeah. So they are going to talk about new things that retailers and restaurants are doing is they're bringing more robotics into their experience, into the store. And yes, there'll be, you know, a person on the front end and on the back end, but in the

[00:21:06] middle, it's all robotics. It really helps like throughput and just getting people through faster. But I think the only other robotics I can think of that we have in the building right now is Kura Sushi with the robot that brings you to the drink. So something we're going to start to see more with some of the food brands. And so it'll be a great addition for Sweet Green to show us what they have. Great. And how about Primark? We're very excited for Primark. Very excited for Primark. So Primark will open in July, which is just around the corner.

[00:21:34] I can't believe- I know. I can't believe it. I can't believe it's that close. But Primark will be on level one in Southeast Court. It's going to be on two levels and it's men's, women's, and kids. And they have a great price point, great basics, sweatshirts, t-shirts, you name it. It's just like all the really great basics that anyone could ask for. And we're very excited for Primark. I think it's going to have a great opening. It is. It's a differentiator in the marketplace.

[00:22:01] So we're excited. So, okay. We've got people planning for the summer. There's whether you're coming with your girlfriends, you're coming just to shop for the day and have a little retail therapy. Maybe you're bringing your family from across country coming here. Dan, for someone that's planning, how would you have them think about experiencing everything that we have to offer and to make sure that they check out some of these new brands? Well, I would say if I was talking to someone who's never been here before, I would say first go on our website because it's a wealth of information and get a scope

[00:22:31] of what's here, what's new, what's exciting. And then look at the map on the website as well and get the lay of the land. My tips are always for someone who's new is it's going to be overwhelming. Take your time. I love to advise people start on third floor and work your way down. Interesting. Right? And it's a little less crowded up there oftentimes. And then you work your way down, wear comfortable shoes and bring water or buy water here. Right?

[00:22:59] Happy to sell you water. I know. It's like an excursion. Well, it really is. If you've never been here before and you start going, first time visitors, man, they will spend hours and hours here. Absolutely. And it can feel overwhelming, but they also love it. It's so funny growing up here because it's just like, this was like my mall. Right. You know? So I forget what it's like coming here for the first time. For the first time. Yeah. Right. So Ashley, what brand are you personally most excited about that we've recently added

[00:23:29] to the property? Kiyoki. Well, and Mango. I have to say Mango. I love that they're here and they're open. It's such a great brand to bring to the property, but Kiyoki because I want to discover and find new products. And that would be my day. Go to Kiyoki, get some skincare, go home, have a little spa night with Chandler at home. That sounds perfect. I love that. Yeah. And Keri, which one do you think might be a sleeper hit? Something that surprises people. Unexpected.

[00:23:57] Unexpected. Well, for me, that was Roni's. Yeah. It was very unexpected because I had heard so much about it, but now I understand it and I know why it did go viral, but I was like, okay, macaroni and cheese, how exciting can that be? So that for me was very surprising. And then I would have to say... I have to say banana. Banana. Yeah. Well, because I worked on the deal, right? I knew that they were going to bring us their

[00:24:26] new prototype, but I was still blown away at how beautiful it truly was. But I think you're right. The average person, I think that's going to be a huge surprise for the average person to walk in and just feel like it's almost like a luxury atmosphere. And really what it's bringing to the shopper today is a new retail experience. I love that. Hey, get ready. We're going to do a quick lightning round to wrap up this episode. Okay. So each one of you, first thing that comes to mind, Dan, most Instagrammable new store?

[00:24:56] Sweet Crunch Tangulu. You took mine. Do I get a different question? No. Okay. Cotton and Snow. Oh my gosh. Most Instagram... It will be Studs. The year. Okay. We'll start with Ashley. Best food concept coming in? Roni's. Carrie. Sweetgreen. Giordano's. Carrie, brand you think will have the longest lines? Primark.

[00:25:26] I'm going to say Primark 2. Okay. J.Crew. She'll be first in line. I'll be first in line. Okay. Back to Dan. One you go to first this weekend. One I go to first this weekend. Like the first place you'd go to? Oh, this weekend I would go to the Rotunda and see what's happening. And then I'd branch out from there. Where would you go after that? I would go to... Let me think. I would go to... Oh, you know what?

[00:25:54] I'd go to the hand-pulled noodles. Yeah. So good. Ashley. Mango. Banana. Okay. See, food, shopping. Okay. And Ashley, one that will surprise people the most. I'd have to say Kiyoki again. There's so much discovery like we've been talking about. Yep. I think Kiyoki. We already mentioned Banana.

[00:26:21] But I think also Bandai coming in. Yeah. Yeah. That's so unique as well. Yeah. Dan, wrap us up. And if you've not seen it, I would say Duck. Because when you walk in, it's just like... Yeah. You can't miss it. I love it. You can't miss it. It's so fun. I love it. It's so fun. Well, that's going to wrap it up. And I'm so excited to go shopping. So we're going to wrap up this episode so we can go do just that. But we hope all of you will come join us this summer. Have fun. Like Dan said, check out our website. We actually have a drop-down menu that talks about new and open soon.

[00:26:51] So you can see what's all new and happening here at Mall of America. So join your friends, your family. Invite all of them to come here. We have so many fun things in store for this summer season. So make sure you rate us and share this podcast with all your friends and family. We'll see you next time on So Much More. Thanks for listening to So Much More, a Mall of America podcast. Subscribe wherever you find your favorite podcasts. This show is presented by Bloomington, Minnesota Travel and Tourism.