Living in the Mall of America

Did anyone else see this article? It's about a guy who lived in the Mall of America for a week. His self-imposed rules:

• I was not to leave the building for any amount of time during open hours.
• I was to at least step foot in every one of the mall's 520-plus stores.
• I was required to sleep a minimum of one night in the mall. Somehow.
• No outside food, water, or alcohol. Everything consumed must be purchased onsite.
• No iPod or other distractions allowed.

It's an interesting and entertaining read. Here are a few money-related parts of the story I enjoyed:

• He met a woman who claimed to spend $104,000 every year in the Mall of America.
• The booths in the Mall cost $50,000 a year to rent.
• Total spent: $404.16

Take a spin through the items he bought (at the end of the piece.) Man, it's expensive to live in the Mall of America!

I don't have a whole lot to add to this story, I just found it to be an interesting commentary on how shopping is so ingrained in our society -- so much a part of us that someone would actually think of spending a whole week in a mall! ;-)

Comments

[Traciatim]

Wow, and to think, if my S.O. drags me to the mall I'm whining to leave in under an hour. If I had to spend a week at a place like that I'd probably go nuts and start screaming about the downfall of society watching all those people consume trash they don't need.

[Mrs. Micah]

*shudders* Malls make me nervous. They're full of people and they want you to buy stuff. No thanks.

[Edmund]

I have been living in Minneapolis for a couple of years now. I'm happy to say I have only been to the Mall of America not too many times : )

[Tim]

We lived in Minneapolis for 4 years and believe it or not, the Mall of America (MoA) was our destination of choice for shopping. Although it is intimidating the first couple of visits, it soon became rather convenient once you become familiar with the mall and you know exactly where you are going.

Tim

[~Dawn]

I truly get anxious with the thought of having to go to a mall. I can handle outdoor malls or running into one of the anchor stores, but tell me we are going to go INTO a mall to 'grab something' and I freak out and will stay in the car listening to music just to calm down.

[Diva]

Wacky...

[Jacobey]

WOW! I think I would love it only for the shopping but, other than that I would die!!!