Ridgedale Center

This past year Ridgedale has done some major revamping. They have added Nordstroms as an anchor and other high end retail stores. They have given it a well needed face lift. And, the part in most excited for, they are expecting new cuisine within these many walls. I’m hoping that they bring all the good things. With a solid mall this close to home, I may never move again.

Took my 4 small children for a day trip to The Ridgedale Mall. We are from a small town so yes this is a big mall to them. I wanted then to try Gadiva chocolate for the first time. The lady working was short with me and acted like I couldn’t afford the chocolate for the kids she didn’t offer me help but instead ask a lady behind us if she could help her. My children got to see first hand how not to treat people based on looks.

Was soooooo looking forward to this store opening. Ridgedale is a 5 minute drive for me and having a Nordstrom’s almost in my back yard, well… what could be better than that? Since we were away traveling when the store first opened, it took me until last week to get there and check it out. I wear petite sized clothes and when shown the 2 – 3 racks of rather mundane petite size offerings, I was totally turned off. There was absolutely nothing different, interesting, or unusual in the selection. (Give me a break… NYDJ took up the most petite sized space.) I’m back to Von Maur in Eden Prairie even tho it is a longer drive. Unfortunately, I am really, really disappointed.

You know, it’s funny. Childhood holds a great deal of power.
What does that have to do with this review? My childhood.
Ridgedale is the mall of my youth. This was a place that once held retail locations like Woolworth’s (which I miss) and JoAnn Fabrics (my mom’s favorite place), as well as 4 escalators in the central mall area (just beyond the department store located near those corners)…something that shoppers would be surprised to learn these days (and if you’re not surprised, well, so much for me attempting to be dramatic).
I happened to be at Ridgedale on the night of the Nordstrom’s opening. Before I go any further, you MUST KNOW I hate shopping, malls, trying on clothes, etc. Release me to go food shopping and I’ll be thrilled with giddy tears, but when one reads the book, «The Life-​changing Magic of Tidying Up» by Marie Kondo and then gets rid of 75% of their wardrobe because it doesn’t «spark joy,» then it’s only a matter of time before you have to cave in and by a pair of black pants that will live up to this standard (and to be perfectly honest, I’d rather just wear sweatpants and a hoodie if I could get away with it). I was on the hunt and wanted to increase my chances of finding the perfect joyful pair. Btw, those black pants weren’t at Nordstrom’s, but more surprisingly (& affordably) at JCPenney.
I’ve seen the changes and the image upgrades over the last 3+ decades and it’s intriguing to watch them go through this next shift. As I write this, there are MANY empty retail sites… BUT most of the sites are spoken for and are being filled with pretty classy retailers. Ridgedale has done a great job in «keeping up with appearances» compared to any other mall that I’ve been to in the Twin Cities (Rosedale, Knollwood, Brookdale, Southdale).
And even though I mentioned I hate shopping, I can still see myself coming back in the next couple of months to see the changes and to people watch.

meh! its like southdale meh I think the only good thing that’s going to happen for Ridgedale is Nordstrom I mean its about time! but other than that Ridgedale is not all that I come here because I live a block away and I come here like once every 2 months or else you catch me at MOA.
I worked at Macys tho Mens Fragrance woot woot! they need to bring Taco Bell back! I hate driving all the way to Louisiana Ave for it!

I mainly shop online and try to avoid malls whenever possible.
But when my girlfriend found out we could take pics with our pup sitting on Santa’s lap (and after my woman broke through my «Great Wall of No» by begging me in to submission) I caved. Damn it.
After 15 to 20 minutes of driving from Minneapolis, we arrived. Like all other suburban malls, it’s clean, chains fill the place throughout, and most importantly, it has an Aunt Annie’s Pretzel…
I love Aunt Annie’s Pretzel…
*****
In the middle of the mall madness resided Santa, and his teenie-​bopper elves, in this makeshift wooden house-​without-​a-​roof structure. We waited behind other crazy dog owners and their four-​legged friends for only ten minutes.
When we arrived at the front we sat on both sides of «Santa,» while he held Cranberry. I tried to talk to the brotha, but he just kept weirdly and nervously chuckling. Seriously, he just kept laughing like I was about to steal his lunch money, and I’m unsure of whether or not he could speak. Kind of sad. Okay…
We paid an exorbitant amount of money ($ 32.10) for seven poor quality photos THAT WERE ALL THE SAME. The lighting and zoom could have been better.
So why thee stars?
They have Lids, and I love my Minnesota sports teams (even though I’m sure they’ve caused me to grow those two white hairs in the back of my head). I got myself a black-​on-​black Vikes fitted, and my boo a purple and gold knitted beanie.
I won’t return for those pictures with Santa, though.

Between my kid tripping on the beat up sidewalk on our way in and be charged $ 20 to see Santa — this place has really gone downhill. For the record, we decided to go to a restaurant that wasn’t part of the mall because we didn’t feel like sticking around.

DO NOT get your hair cut at All Pro Sports Barbershop. The last two times I have gone there to get my haircut I have come out with ringworm about a week later. Don’t get me wrong the barbers there are good but when you get ringworm twice from the same place yeah something needs to be changed.

Ridgedale seems to be getting a facelift as stores are moving around.
Macy’s is currently under construction and it has made the parking a nightmare.
On the upside, my favorite store Nordstrom is moving into this mall! Not sure the date, but I will welcome with open arms!

Why is it so hot in there in the summer? Remember when malls were air conditioned? You could actually try on clothes then instead of sweating to death in a little stifling fitting room. Worst experience, I left buying nothing, hot, irritated, and deeply annoyed.

This is our local go-​to mall. I appreciate having the Apple store, Caribou Coffee, Gap, Children’s Place, Gymboree and Macy’s nearby. My kids like the play area, but I wish they would renovate it. The carpet is looking worn and faded. I really like the family restrooms. Always clean and orderly. Good amount of parking. The food court could be better, only a few (not very tasty) choices available.

Nice little mall. Last time I was there, there was some annoying rap talent show going on… yuck. It was so annoying it. It brought me back to the 80’s. All the sound was distorted and I seriously thought about buying a pair of ear muffs at the kiosk and then heading to the bar so I could tolerate being there. Anyways, they have your basic mall stores minus the Mall of America crowd. Macy’s is probably the best part of the mall as they have a ton of mens clothing at good prices. I guess if you like malls and walking around aimlessly this might be your next stop. Nothing negative about the mall but nothing too spectacular either.

Ridgedale is a pretty typical regional mall. There’s a nice variety of stores, it’s well kept for its age. I do think it’s great in a way in this area because it offers quick in and out as opposed to the quagmire that is the Mall of America. It’s a less stressful and cumbersome shopping experience, but it just comes down to what you need and want at the time. If you’re running in and out for one item, Ridgedale is great. If you’re looking for a shopping «experience,» MOA would be the place to go.

I like Ridgedale Center a lot… mostly because of the proximity to my work. It is more of a ‘get in, get out’ type of place though. Not a mall I would go to simply to browse.
One big shout out to the Coach Store in particular. The ladies there are so nice and accommodating (as they should be with expensive products). They let me exchange a ring that I had purchased months ago with no questions asked, and no receipt.
I also really like the Sephora store. I find myself going in there just to poke around and listen to their store music.

I have been going to Ridgedale for my various shopping needs over the past 30+ years. Over those years, it has remained a viable place to go despite the always changing nature of the retail environment. It has a nice mix of stores and restaurants. Your taste in clothing or other shopping needs are likely going to be answered by some of Ridgedale’s stores. I also find it to also be a nice atmosphere to shop in. Outside of the sheer size and scope of the Mall of America, I feel Ridgedale is the best suburban mall in the Twin Cities.

Ridgedale is a pretty typical suburban mall. It’s not my favorite in the metro though… that would be Rosedale.
I do like avoiding the hassle of MOA though. I also like the center commons area where you can take a load off your feet and just listen to the sound of falling water.
I don’t really like how the Macy’s store is segregated with Men’s & Home in one corner of the mall, and Women’s in another; and it’s my general impression that most stores in this mall don’t have as much space or as wide of a selection as the same stores at Rosedale or MOA. So, I don’t find myself shopping here often – just when it’s convenient.

This mall was featured in Juno! haha
Man, I grew up with this mall. This is where I got my first pair of flared low rise jeans, my prom dress, first victoria secret purchases, etc. This would be the place to go on weekends and you’d definitely run into your friends here.

Of all the malls in the twin cities area Ridgedale is my fav! Recent remodel gives this shopping center an upscale feel with stone, metal scuptures and fountains galore. All the stores everyone likes without the difficult parking mall of america has. Be sure to check out Oragami Sushi

Oh, my dear mall. You have a warm spot inside my heart. This is the mall where I used to «hang out» when I was in high school. That was three degrees ago and $$$$ grand in student loans, but Im none of the wiser and still love this place. The location is great as it is surrounded by a whole bunch of stuff you may need. Theres dicks and macaroni grill. Oh, the grill, the site of my first first date!
The mall itself has a simple layout. There is Search, Kohls, and Macys, used to be Marshall fields. Caribou, Express, Bebe, Jamba, Bath and Body works, Lenscrafters, Vision world, Victoria secret, Love from Minnesota, The Limited, the limited too, J. Jill, Ann Taylor, Amercomie, Coach, Godiva, Aveda and one of my favorites stores, THE AFTERNOON, if you are there you must check it out. And they have chipotle, yes!
There is a whole bunch of jewelry stores, every possible cart and cellphone provider. Bunch of Asian ladies selling wigs and crocks.
Overall, shoppers paradise.
The food court is standard, but you have choices, Chipotle, for moi. Or Sushi. There’s Godiva there too.
Beware lots of teens and tweens go there, so avoid it on weekends.
They try to keep it clean and nice. Bathrooms are nice. The waterfall elevator is a little tacky, but its ok. There are even a few security guards there, who partol. Man in uniform, what can I say, this place has it all.

Sears, Jamba Juice, Caribou Coffee, Bath & Body Works, Express, Alta (when I can afford it), Victoria’s Secret, Hot Topic and my all time favorite store Love from Minnesota.
Seriously, I would come here just for Love from Minnesota.
I’ve never had a problem with any of the staff and the service has been pretty good. I hate shopping and even this place makes me a fan.