Mall of America to unwrap big new attraction

Bloomington, Minn. -- Mall of America is adding a big experiential retail destination.



Crayola plans to open an interactive attraction that combines retail and entertainment in the nation’s largest shopping mall. The 60,000-sq.-ft. Crayola Experience is slated to open at the Bloomington, Minnesota, mega-mall in the summer of 2016. It will be the third location for the format, which recently opened in the Florida Mall, in Orlando, Florida. (The original Crayola Experience is in the company’s home town of Easton, Pennsylvania.)



Although best known for its iconic crayons and markers, the 112-year-old company now has more than 1,500 proprietary products and technologies, many of which serve as the inspiration for the Crayola Experience format.



"Mall of America is known as a family destination, and Crayola is a family brand loved by both parents and kids," said senior VP of attractions and retail Victoria Lozano. "But beyond that, Crayola Experience is a family attraction that engages families in hands-on creative experiences, and we are really excited to bring this unique concept to this new, dynamic region."



Similar to the existing locations, the Mall of America’s Crayola Experience will have a retail store along with some 25 hands-on activities. Patrons will be able to name and wrap their own Crayola crayon, star in their own coloring page, paint with melted wax, and bring their coloring page to life in 4-D. They will also be able to learn how crayons are made in the live Factory Show.



In addition, the space will host private events, field trips and birthday parties.