John O’Sullivan, famously known for his One Minute Tours on TikTok and other social media platforms shines during this episode. When asked for his favorite Mall of America memory, John’s eyes lit up. He immediately remembers Starship 3000, a laser-tag adventure from years ago at the Mall. His memory was it had a rotating spaceship and for his 12-year old self it was the eighth wonder of the world. To hear this story and more check out So Much More Ep. 82: John O’Sullivan One Minute Tours.
Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.
[00:00:01] What's your favorite highlight as someone who lives locally of Mall of America or memory or story? Oh my gosh. I'm so glad I get to talk about this. I don't know anyone who remembers this, but there used to be a laser tag place here called Starship 3000. Yes. You remember this? Up on third floor. Oh my God. Yes, I took, my son had his birthday party there. Okay, so you can validate this in my life then because I don't, my memory is that this is like a eighth wonder of the world. It is an incredible, there was a literal flying saucer.
[00:00:29] Coming out the facade of the store and it rotated around and you walked in and they had this pre-show thing where they suited you up for laser tag, but then they're like soldiers, you're going out to space. And they teleported you and a curtain came across and there's a mirror and then you disappeared in a mirror and they released you into the back of the shop, which was made to look like this like outer space neon fluorescence battleground. Yes. And then you would hide behind these little foam rocks, jump out, you get hit, the whole pack would vibrate. You'd have to go recharge this.
[00:00:58] I mean, I'm just describing laser tag at this point, but for my 12 year old self, there had never been something that cool invented ever in the universe. I remember it distinctly. My son, I think it was his ninth birthday party. Oh my God. That's where I held it. Yeah. Long before I worked here. Do you know where they, a chain, where they independent? Where are they now? I don't know. Is this flying saucer here on site? We have to get the answers. I actually have it right over there, behind this wall, behind us. Oh, you make me so happy.
[00:01:24] I wish I did. But I'm going to do some research and I'm going to find out for you and I'll get back to you on that. Oh my God. Which shop was it? Can we find out which shop it was and I can go in and recreate the laser tag journey? I will find out. I think I know which one it is, but I'm going to find out for sure. Oh, and actually on that note, one of the research things I want to ask you about. Yes. Do you have a list of all the original stores from opening day at the mall? I have a list of all that are still here. I have a list of most of that were here opening day because I have the opening day magazine. Yeah.
[00:01:53] So I have a copy of that, that list. So I think it does have a whole directory. So I do have that list. That'd be really interesting to see. And I can share that with you. So it's fun. It's fun going down memory lane. I've loved this place forever and I love Minnesota. But, I don't know.