Mall of America Secures Financing for Expansion

BLOOMINGTON (AP) - The Mall of America has secured financing for a $300 million expansion.

The mega mall, with more than 400 stores, plans to break ground this month on a project that includes a luxury hotel, office tower and additional retail and food space. Mall spokesman Dan Jasper says the addition could be finished by August of next year.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community earlier announced that they were in talks with the mall about partnering on the 330-room hotel included in the project. The tribe or mall representatives aren't commenting on whether the Shakopee are a financial partner.

It's the second big hotel project anchored at the mall. The first was a $137 million Radisson that opened last March.