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World Class Retail

No buyer's remorse here.

While some hear retail and think shopping, in Minnesota, we mean so much more. Shopping means big business in Minnesota. We're home to dozens of leading large retailers. Our innovation and technology sectors contribute to the retail ecosystem in the state, helping our retailing giants excel in things like online shopping, app creation, and the Internet of Things.

Retail Rankings

  • retail-inventions-timelineMinnesota's Target Corp. and 3M Co. are tops among Fortune magazine's annual ranking of the world's most admired companies.
    • Minneapolis-based Target Corp. ranked No. 17 this year, up from 22nd on last year's list. The increase came after the retailer emerged as one of the winners of the Covid-19 era as it successfully leveraged its new prowess at digital sales and same-day fulfillment.
    • Other Minnesota companies were ranked by their leadership in particular industry sectors. The Richfield-based Best Buy Co. Inc. was No. 3 in specialty retail.
  • Best Buy was ranked No. 3 on Barron's "100 Most Sustainable Companies" list. Richfield, Minn.-based Best Buy, which has operated an e-waste recycling program for a decade and cut its carbon emissions by half over the same period.
    • Ecolab Inc. of St. Paul ranked 26th; Minneapolis-based Target Corp. was No. 35.
  • Bloomington-based Great Clips ranked 15th on Entrepreneur Magazine's annual Franchise 500 list of 2020. The magazine credits Great Clips' innovation, such as their check-in app, for bringing technology to the hands-on-heads industry of haircuts.
  • Other Minnesota companies among the Top 50 were Dairy Queen (No. 16) and Anytime Fitness (No. 22).
  • Another Minnesota retail haircare company, Regis Corp, includes retail brands such as Supercuts and Cost Cutters.

There's no need to shop around. Minnesota is the place to be for retail headquarters.

Retailers Headquartered or with Large Operations in Minnesota

  • Target Corp
  • Andersen Windows
  • Best Buy
  • IBM
  • Digi-Key Enterprises
  • Micro Tech Hearing Technologies
  • Polaroid
  • Starkey Hearing Technologies
  • Toro Company
  • Federal Premium Ammunition
  • Fingerhut
  • Jennie-O Turkey Store
  • Lifetouch
  • Maurices
  • Red Wing Shoes
  • Kemps
  • Caribou Coffee
  • Jostens
  • Sleep Number Company
  • Sportsman's Guide
  • Miracle Ear
  • Cub Foods

Minnesota created the modern mall, Southdale, here. And, we've been reinventing the retail concept ever since.

Donald Dayton, head of Minneapolis-based Dayton's department stores (which later became Target Corp), teamed up with designer Victor Gruen to create a comfortable, convenient, climate-controlled setting for Minnesota shoppers. In 1952 Dayton and Gruen unveiled their plans for Southdale, the nation's first enclosed, weatherproofed mall.

Today, Southdale has expanded to 1.3 million square feet. The mall's parking lot now includes apartments and a hotel, an innovative way to make use of what could have been 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.

mall-of-americaMall of America – Combining retail with one-of-a-kind experiences.

Mall of America is the largest retail shopping mall in the United States with 2.8 million feet of retail space (not including the amusement park), with over 520 stores, 50 restaurants. It is also home to Nickelodeon Universe®, the nation's largest Nickelodeon® theme park with 24 amusement rides, including a roller coaster that winds around the enclosed atrium of the mall.

It's one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, attracting more than 40 million visitors annually, more than twice as many people as the world's largest amusement park, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

Mall of America generates nearly $2 billion in economic activity annually for the state of Minnesota.

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