Best Buy Opens 45,000-Sq.-Ft. Mall Of America Store

By TWICE Staff -- TWICE, 8/6/2008

Minneapolis — Best Buy is opening a 45,000-square-foot store at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., along with an additional area called the Best Buy Rotunda at Mall of America.

Best Buy said the Rotunda will provide as a platform to stage a variety of entertainment from musical performances and celebrity appearances to game launches.

The store will be located on the third floor of the mall’s West Market; it will officially open at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug 7. Beyond the main store, a Best Buy sales kiosk featuring selected products will also be located within the Rotunda.

According to Maureen Bausch, Mall of America’s executive VP, the mall sees more than 40 million annual visitors.

“Mall of America is one of the world’s premiere shopping and tourist destinations. Becoming part of the Mall of America community means that we are able to give people from around the globe the opportunity to interact with our great employees and experience Best Buy,” said Brian J. Dunn, president/COO, Best Buy. “We are excited to bring the latest in technology and services to this popular venue. Our new 45,000-square-foot store gives us a prominent presence within the mall, which is only a short distance from our U.S.-based headquarters. We are looking forward to hosting a number of special events at the Mall that will provide our customers with amazing and inspiring entertainment experiences.”

To celebrate the opening, Best Buy has a series of events scheduled over the next few days.

Prior to tomorrow night’s opening, the retailer will award 25 winners of its “Go On Get Out There” sweepstakes with $1,000 gift cards for an exclusive one-hour shopping spree before the store opens. Then, when the store opens at 6 p.m., the first 100 customers in line will receive free gifts.

A grand-opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Friday morning, Aug 8. The event will feature an appearance by businessman and former NBA player Magic Johnson, whose Magic Johnson Enterprises has a strategic relationship with Best Buy “to strengthen Best Buy’s urban market presence and deepen relationships with multicultural customers.”

Johnson will speak with Best Buy associates, called BlueShirts, prior to the ribbon cutting on “the value of diversity among their colleagues and customers, and encourage them to contribute to the team’s success and service the community.” Later, Johnson will also meet with 200 youths served by various local community agencies to discuss the importance of formal and informal education.

Also taking place on Friday will be a performance and autograph signing by New Kids on the Block in the Best Buy Rotunda at Mall of America. Limited-edition autograph passes to secure a spot in the autograph line will be available with a pre-order of the band’s next album, “The Block,” which will be available Sept. 2. Best Buy said pass quantities are limited and the offer is exclusive to Best Buy at Mall of America.

Other Best Buy-sponsored events at the Mall of America over the next couple of days will include the Best Buy Madden NFL Tailgate Party and Debut of the Best Buy ’08 Madden Challenge on Monday, Aug. 11. During the event, consumers will be able to participate in the presale of the Madden NFL ’09 at the Best Buy kiosk in the rotunda as well as a tailgate party in the rotunda.

The tailgate party is expected to include multiple gaming stations to provide fans a chance to play Madden NFL ’09 prior to the release; a display of the game on a 65-inch plasma in the Best Buy Lounge; appearances by “Vikings legends” Joey Browner, Robert Griffith and John Randle, as well as Viking Cheerleader performances; and live music by Quiet Drive and PopRocks! At midnight, Madden NFL ’09 will be released in the Best Buy store.

Next weekend, on Saturday, Aug. 16, a Best Buy Twins Players Event will take place, featuring appearances by Carlos Gomez and Harmon Killebrew at 7 p.m. Best Buy said the event will be an autograph and photo opportunity.