One of the Twin Cities biggest destinations is ready to cash in on the cold. Mall walking is big business at the Mall of America.
"We usually see around 9:00 to 10:00 in the morning is when it's peak time for our morning walkers, but then we also see another peak around the lunch hour," says Jill Renslow who is the mall's chief business development and marketing officer.
Renslow says many people just want to escape the frigid temps this time of year, which showed up in a big way on Wednesday.
"Saw a couple of times on weekends in October, November when it's unseasonably cold, but then we definitely, January and February are our power months where we get a lot of indoor walkers," she explains.
And walking brings in dollars whether it's a cup of coffee, breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
"What I love is the window shopping," says Renslow. "Even this time of year, you can come in early and get your steps in and start getting some ideas for gifts. And so naturally they're gonna come back and enjoy some shopping with us as well."
Renslow also says many are taking part in the mall's wellness and insiders program.
"Get 50 points every time you check in, and those points go towards cashing in for the rewards, whether they're restaurant appetizers or discounts at our restaurants or attraction offerings," Renslow added. "So we want to reward people for coming here whether they're shopping, they're playing, they're walking, they're enjoying events for everything you do at the mall."
Just walking the biggest mall in the U.S. - and the entire Western Hemisphere - is not a small task. If you do a lap on each of the three levels you've walked nearly the equivalent of a 5K.
The mall also opens three hours early to accommodate those looking to get a few steps in.
"It's about connecting with our restaurants and eating healthy, we have so many athleisure stores, so it's even dressing comfortable and healthy," Renslow explains about their wellness program. "So there's so many different layers, and we recognize that the audience, the diverse audiences, that benefit from wellness are really important for us to connect with everybody. Not just those early morning walkers, but really throughout the year and throughout the entire day."
You can learn more about the Mall of America's wellness program here. If you're looking to get out to the mall this Thanksgiving week, they'll be closed Thanksgiving Day, but open extended hours on Black Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.