Har Mar Mall

Har Mar Mall is an enclosed shopping center in Roseville, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities. It is one of two enclosed malls in Roseville, alongside Rosedale Center, and occupies a site of roughly 50 acres. The mall contains more than 430,000 square feet of retail space and has approximately 45 tenants, combining national retailers, food and service businesses, specialty stores, and financial services under one roof. The mall originated with Harold J. Slawik, who wanted to create a large, modern shopping destination modeled in part on shopping centers he had seen during travels in Florida. The name Har Mar combines the first names of Harold and his wife, Marie. Construction began in 1961, with Minnesota architect Willard Thorsen involved in the design and Robert W. Fendler serving as architect and builder through Fendler Patterson. The completed center opened in 1963. Its original design was notable for unusually broad interior corridors, angled or zigzagging circulation paths, arched ceilings, and large windows that brought natural light into the enclosed mall. The initial tenant mix included JCPenney and several grocery operators, including Hove's and National Tea. Har Mar expanded during the 1970s as enclosed shopping centers became important regional retail destinations. A twin-screen cinema opened in 1970 and was later expanded repeatedly, eventually reaching 11 screens. At its height, the theater was one of the best-known and most commercially successful cinemas in the state, but it closed permanently after AMC opened a newer digital, stadium-seating complex at nearby Rosedale in 2006. Har Mar has experienced both retail competition and physical changes over its history. JCPenney left for Rosedale Center in 1977, and much of its former space was later occupied by Marshalls. A tornado struck the mall and surrounding area on June 14, 1981, causing primarily cosmetic damage to the mall itself and prompting subsequent repairs and renovation. A major 1988 expansion added retail space, a larger food court, and tenants including Highland Superstore and TJ Maxx. The former Highland space later became BizMart and then OfficeMax before being repurposed for other retailers. Barnes & Noble subsequently opened a prominent large-format store in space near the former theater, while HomePlace and later HomeGoods occupied other former anchor areas. During the 2000s, the center received a substantial cosmetic renovation under its previous ownership. A proposal to attract Von Maur did not proceed. In 2014, Burlington Coat Factory announced plans to occupy a large former Northwestern Books space, helping fill the mall's principal anchor locations. Current or recently identified anchor and major tenants include Famous Footwear, Michaels, Barnes & Noble, K&G Fashion Superstore, Cub Foods, H&R Block, Waxing the City, Elements Massage, and a Chase Bank branch. Staples, D'Amico & Sons, and other restaurants have also been associated with the center's later tenant mix. Har Mar Mall remains an active, comparatively compact enclosed shopping center. Its positioning relies less on luxury or destination-scale retail than on a practical combination of large specialty stores, everyday services, restaurants, and distinctive smaller businesses. The mall also has a place in local popular culture: musician Sean Tillmann adopted the stage name Har Mar Superstar after spending time at the mall during his youth, particularly around its food court.

Har Mar Mall was conceived by Harold J. Slawik as a large enclosed shopping destination for Roseville, Minnesota. Slawik reportedly drew inspiration from shopping centers encountered during travel in Florida. The mall's name combines Harold's name with that of his wife, Marie. Construction began in 1961 on approximately 50 acres near a heavily traveled intersection. Slawik died during the construction period in 1962, after which Marie Slawik continued overseeing the project. The mall opened in 1963. The design was associated with Willard Thorsen, known for other Minnesota shopping-center work, while Robert W. Fendler of Fendler Patterson served as architect and builder. Rather than using a simple straight corridor, the center used a series of angled passages. Wide hallways, arched ceilings, and large windows were intended to make the enclosed environment feel open and distinctive. Early anchors included JCPenney and grocery stores operated by Hove's and National Tea. The first Target store was built nearby in 1962, adding to the area's emerging concentration of retail activity. Har Mar developed further in the 1970s. A twin-screen movie theater opened in 1970 and was expanded in 1977 and again in 1981. The cinema eventually contained 11 screens and became a significant entertainment draw for the Twin Cities area. JCPenney moved to the newly developed Rosedale Center in 1977; its former mall space was later associated with Marshalls, while the former auto-center area became a Firestone operation. On June 14, 1981, a tornado struck the mall and nearby Roseville properties. The mall's damage was described as largely cosmetic, but the event was followed by repairs and renovation. A further expansion in 1988 introduced additional large-format space and a food court. Highland Superstore and TJ Maxx were among the tenants connected with this phase. Highland later became BizMart, which was acquired by OfficeMax in 1992 before the location closed in 1995. Other replacement tenants included HomePlace, later succeeded by HomeGoods, and a large Barnes & Noble store located near the theater. In the 2000s, the mall underwent a major cosmetic makeover under previous owner Emmes Realty Services. A possible Von Maur development was considered but did not materialize. The cinema's position weakened as movie technology and seating expectations changed. AMC opened a newer theater complex at nearby Rosedale in 2006, and the Har Mar screens closed permanently. The mall continued adapting its tenant mix. In 2014, Burlington Coat Factory announced a large store in space formerly occupied by Northwestern Books. Later tenant descriptions identify a mixture of national retailers, grocery, restaurants, personal-care providers, professional services, and financial businesses. The center is owned by the Vanbarton Group and managed by Vanbarton Services according to the cited reference. Har Mar remains open despite competition from larger regional centers, relying on convenience, accessibility, and a combination of everyday and specialty shopping. The property has also entered popular culture through musician Sean Tillmann, who performs as Har Mar Superstar. Tillmann has said that he took the name from the mall, which he frequented as a young person and where he spent time around the food court.

• 2014

  Burlington expansion announced

  [1]Har Mar Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Burlington Coat Factory announces a large store for a former Northwestern Books location.

• 2006

  Cinema closes

  [1]Har Mar Mallen.wikipedia.org

  AMC permanently closes the older Har Mar theater after opening a newer nearby complex.

• 1988

  Major expansion

  [1]Har Mar Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall adds retail space, a large food court, and new major tenants.

• 1981

  Tornado and cinema expansion

  [1]Har Mar Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A June tornado damages the property, and later that year the cinema reaches 11 screens.

• 1977

  JCPenney departs and theater expands

  [1]Har Mar Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney relocates to Rosedale Center, while the cinema is expanded into a triplex.

• 1970

  Twin-screen cinema opens

  [1]Har Mar Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A two-screen theater opens at the mall.

• 1963

  Mall opens

  [1]Har Mar Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Har Mar Mall opens with department-store and grocery anchors.

• 1961

  Construction begins

  [1]Har Mar Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Construction starts on Harold J. Slawik's planned enclosed shopping center in Roseville.

A convenient, community-oriented enclosed shopping center combining national specialty retailers, everyday services, grocery shopping, dining, and smaller independent or distinctive tenants.

• Apparel, footwear, books, crafts, discount goods, and specialty retail · 1963

  Retail shopping

  Har Mar Mall's principal offering is a multi-tenant retail environment. Its identified major stores include Famous Footwear, Michaels, Barnes & Noble, K&G Fashion Superstore, and other current or historical national retailers. The mix emphasizes practical shopping and specialty categories rather than luxury goods.

• Grocery retail

  Grocery and everyday shopping

  Cub Foods is identified among the mall's anchor or major tenants. Grocery retail has been part of Har Mar's tenant history since its early years, when Hove's and National Tea operated stores connected with the center.

• Restaurants and food service · 1988

  Food and dining

  The property includes restaurant and prepared-food options, including D'Amico & Sons in later tenant descriptions. A food court was added during the 1988 expansion, reinforcing the mall's role as a combined shopping and dining destination.

• Services

  Personal and professional services

  Service tenants identified for the center include H&R Block, Waxing the City, Elements Massage, and a Chase Bank branch. These businesses broaden the mall's function beyond discretionary retail and support routine local visits.

• Movie theater · 1970

  Former Har Mar cinema

  The former Har Mar theater began as a two-screen cinema in 1970, expanded to three screens in 1977, and reached 11 screens in 1981. It was operated by General Cinema and later AMC, and closed permanently in 2006 after competition from a newer Rosedale complex.

• 2014

  Large former bookstore space leased to BurlingtonStrategy

  Background

  The mall sought to maintain full occupancy of its major anchor areas after changes among earlier retailers.

  Action taken

  Burlington Coat Factory announced plans to lease the former Northwestern Books space.

  Aftermath

  The Burlington opening helped complete the leasing of the mall's anchor locations.

  Source

• 2006

  AMC replaces the mall cinema with a nearby modern complexStrategy

  Background

  The Har Mar cinema had become dated in projection technology and seating compared with newer multiplexes.

  Action taken

  AMC opened a digital theater with stadium seating at nearby Rosedale and permanently shut the Har Mar screens.

  Aftermath

  The former cinema space became available for subsequent retail and other tenant uses.

  Source

1. 1Har Mar Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Har Mar Mall official websiteharmarmall.com