We don’t often think of the complexities of shopping when we are out and about. Retailing affects every part of our lives. Just think of how many daily contacts you have with retailers when you eat meals, furnish your apartment, and buy clothing for a party or job interview. Often people think of retailing only as the sale of products in stores, but retailing also involves the sale of services such as an eye exam, a haircut, and a home-delivered pizza. U.S. retail sales are over $4 trillion not including retail sales of cars and repairs.

Although the majority of retail sales take place within large chains, most retailers are small local businesses. Of the over two million retail firms in the U.S., 95 percent of them run only one store. Furthermore, of all the sectors of the economy, retail, food service, and drinking establishments employ the most workers.

The shopping mall is a global phenomenon that has its roots in ancient outdoor bazaars where people would go to buy goods from local artisans, farmers, and craftsmen. In 1785, the first purposely-built shopping center was created, but it was not until 1916 that a shopping mall as we know them today was built in the United States.

We in Minnesota led the way for the industry. Edina’s 72 store Southdale Shopping Center opened in 1956. Not only was it the first fully enclosed and climate-controlled shopping mall in Minnesota but also in the nation.

The first phase of the Moorhead Center Mall was constructed in the 1970s as a part of the urban renewal project and as a response to the West Acres Mall in Fargo; however, not without conflict and controversy according to newspaper reports at that time. The ambitious urban renewal project involved demolition of a majority of buildings in a 96-acre area. The original idea was to clear a deteriorating residential neighborhood, which experienced frequent flooding. It was reported at the time that businesses, profits, and tempers were lost, as entire blocks of businesses were demolished. Companies such as Woolworth and Coast to Coast were closed for good and others such as Wallwork’s Ford agency left the city.

Greater Moorhead Development Company, which was the financing source of the Moorhead Business Association, shared in the financing of some original businesses in the Center Mall by assisting them with their Small Business Administration loans. The Moorhead Theatre located at 412 Center Avenue was open in the early-1930s with seating listed at 671.

However, that was yesterday. Today, optimism fills the hallways of the Moorhead Center Mall, as it is now one of approximately 48,000 shopping centers in the country. It is the home to 23 stores, restaurants, and services. Melissa Rademacher, newly appointed mall general manager is driven to revitalize the Moorhead Center Mall by making it a destination where people of all ages can find something unique and by offering the perfect blend of businesses.

Rademacher certainly has all of the credentials for success. Born in Detroit Lakes, MN and a graduate of NDSU in Fashion Apparel & Textiles with a minor in business, she is up to the task. With her experience in NY and CA managing fashion retail stores, she not only brings a level of management skills to the table, but essential retail experiences on both sides of the counter, “I eat, breathe, and love to shop” states Rademacher. In addition to meeting the daily challenges of retail life, she also declares that she loves to win in all aspects in life and the Moorhead Center Mall will be another one in the win column.

As mother of 5-year old son Caden, she has just the Right Stuff to make the mall soar above the Moorhead retail world.

Moorhead Center Mall

510 Center Avenue

Moorhead, MN 56560

Phone: (218) 233-6117

Web: www.moorheadcentermall.com