The Eden Prairie Center has been an iconic location southwest of Minneapolis since it first opened in the 1970s. The two-story mall has nearly 70 shops and restaurants and is home to some fantastic community events that the whole family can enjoy. People living in nearby condos or lakefront homes in Eden Prairie can take care of all their shopping needs in a single trip. It can significantly boost a person’s quality of life to have easy access to this fantastic shopping mall. Here are some of the best perks of living near the Eden Prairie Center.

Get All Your Shopping Done in One Trip

Virtually everything imaginable on a person’s weekly shopping list can be found at the Eden Prairie Center. Not including restaurants and eateries, this massive indoor mall in Eden Prairie—often mentioned among Minneapolis’ best suburbs—has nearly 70 stores offering everything from groceries to clothing, apparel, electronics, and much more.

Target is one of the leading anchor stores at the mall for general merchandise, groceries, and household essentials. Major department stores at the mall include JC Penney, Kohl’s, and Von Maur. Shoppers can then check out more specialized clothing and apparel stores, like Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, DSW, Claire’s, LOFT, and Men’s Wearhouse.

Home goods, decor, and appliances can be found at Home & Beyond or at Kitchens. There are multiple options for shoppers to get their hair or nails done, pick up a new pair of prescription glasses or contacts, or have a massage. Pick up something to read at Barnes & Noble, or stop by one of the jewelry stores to browse. Even after all that, there are still some stores that a shopper will miss, but there will be time to check them out on the next visit!

Satisfy All Your Cravings at Every Visit

The Eden Prairie Center Food Court is nothing short of amazing. Some good restaurants and eateries are outside the food court, including Wildfire Steaks, Chops & Seafood, the Greek Grill & Fry Company, and Crave. Don’t forget to stop for baked pretzels at Auntie Anne’s in the JC Penney Wing.

But it’s tough to beat the Food Court for a beautiful location to sit down and enjoy a quick meal on the run during a shopping trip. The lofty ceilings allow tons of natural light into the food court, and it has real plants and trees to create a lovely atmosphere. And it may seem strange to include this bit of information about a food court, but people rave about how clean and well-kept the restrooms are.

As for the food, there are a lot of different choices on the menu, including:

• Mario’s Pizza
• El Burrito
• Leann Chin
• Melts & Burgers
• Potbelly Sandwiches
• Subway

Some restaurants even have gluten-free options for diners, so there’s a little something for everyone at the Eden Prairie Center Food Court.

Always Find Something Fun to Do at SCHEELS

The Eden Prairie SCHEELS store is a truly one-of-a-kind shopping and entertainment experience. For starters, it’s hard to miss the 45-foot tall Ferris wheel in the middle of the store. The Ferris wheel only costs $1 per person, and for many children in the Eden Prairie area, this will be their first experience on an amusement ride like this. Kids under four feet tall need an adult to ride with them.

Next, browse the 16,000-gallon saltwater aquarium at SCHEELS. It has more than 700 species of saltwater fish, coral, and other undersea vegetation. The colorful candies at Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory will satisfy any sweet tooth in the family. Hockey is a massive sport in Minnesota, and SCHEELS has a small, synthetic ice rink inside the store where shoppers can try out all their hockey gear.

The store also has a shooting range game, an archery range, some rollerball lanes (like bowling, only with smaller lanes), and an arcade with classic and modern video games to try out. After a day of entertainment, stop by Ginna’s Cafe at SCHEELS to grab some dessert or a specialty coffee.

See the Latest Flicks in High Def

The AMC Eden Prairie Mall 18 is one of the premier movie theaters near the city of Minneapolis. Located at the Eden Prairie Center, it has 18 screens showing the latest movies and timeless classics in excellent high definition. Visitors can purchase tickets online and get reserved seats in the leather-covered recliner. Moviegoers don’t have to worry about others stepping on their toes in these spacious theaters.

Coca-Cola Freestyle at AMC Theaters offers more than 100 soft drink choices. Food and drinks can be ordered directly to a moviegoer’s seat using the AMC mobile app. Movie fans can join the AMC Stubs Premiere Club for $15 a year and receive discounts on food and drink sizes (large drink for the medium price, medium drink for the small price, etc.). Adults can kick back with a movie-themed craft beer, a cocktail, or a glass of wine from MacGuffins Bar at the theater.

Private theater rentals are also available for birthday parties or other events. Moviegoers can now catch their favorite films on the big screen with greater comfort and more amenities than ever before.

Enjoy Truly Engaging Community Events

The Eden Prairie Center is great to meet neighbors and participate in truly engaging community events. Throughout the year, stores at the mall host special events that people love to attend, year after year. For example, holiday photos are offered to families with children every year for Christmas and Easter.

The annual Cub Scouts’ Pinewood Derby for K–5 students is held at the Center Court. Kids get a wood block, four nails, and four wheels to create a derby/race car. The makers of the fastest and coolest derby cars earn trophies and move on to compete in the District and Counsel Derby Races. Local dance troupes come to the mall on the weekends in March and perform Irish Dance routines in the leadup to St. Patrick’s Day.

There are a lot of Minnesota Twins fans in the city of St. Paul, Minneapolis, and city of Eden Prairie. Bring the kids to SCHEELS at the Eden Prairie Center for the annual Bat Demo day. Kids get a free T-shirt and a discount on the baseball or softball bat of their choice. Every participating child gets to work one-on-one with a staffer to determine the perfect size and brand of bat for their hitting style.

Hi-Five Mommy and Me is a special “sports” introduction for kids between 18 months and three years of age with their moms. Kids get to improve their balance and motor skills while being introduced to different types of balls and equipment from their favorite sports.

Living Near Eden Prairie Center is a Dream

There are a lot of malls across the US, but the Eden Prairie Center has been a local favorite for decades in the Minneapolis area. In fact, when deciding between Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the Eden Prairie Center’s location can help to guide homebuyers interested in proximity. Since its beginnings in 1976, the mall has expanded to more than 1.4 million square feet of retail and dining space. Living near the mall provides one-stop shopping and wonderful events for the whole family. Stop by the mall to see why it is such a great shopping and entertainment center to live near.

Ready to move to Eden Prairie? Contact Kris Lindahl Real Estate at 1-(855) 967-7653 to reach a local real estate agent who can help you find your perfect home.