King of Prussia (mall) facts for kids
King of Prussia Mall entrance between Neiman Marcus and Macy's, 2017
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| Location | King of Prussia, Pennsylvania |
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| Coordinates | 40°5′18″N 75°23′25″W / 40.08833°N 75.39028°W |
| Address | 160 North Gulph Road King of Prussia, PA, 19406 |
| Opening date | 1963 |
| Management | Simon Property Group |
| Owner | King of Prussia Associates, Simon Property Group (now 100%) |
| No. of stores and services | 425 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 8 (7 open, 1 vacant) |
| Total retail floor area | 2,793,200 square feet (259,500 m2) |
| No. of floors | 2 (3 in The Pavilion and anchors besides Dick's Sporting Goods, Lord & Taylor, and Primark) |
| Parking | 5 parking lots, 3 parking garages, valet parking with 13,376+ spaces |
| Public transit access |   SEPTA bus: 92, 99, 123, 124, 125, 139 at the King of Prussia Transit Center The Rambler |
The King of Prussia Mall is a huge shopping center located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the largest malls in the United States, known for its many stores and fancy shops.
The mall first opened in 1963. For a long time, it was actually two separate buildings called The Plaza and The Court. But in 2016, a big project connected them, making it one giant mall!
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Where is the King of Prussia Mall?
The King of Prussia Mall is in a place called King of Prussia, which is in Montgomery County. It's about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Philadelphia.
The mall is easy to reach because it's close to several major highways. These include the Schuylkill Expressway (Interstate 76) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
You can also get to the mall by public transport. SEPTA buses have routes that stop at the King of Prussia Transit Center right at the mall. There's also a local shuttle called The Rambler that serves the area.
Near the mall, you'll find other shopping areas like the Overlook at King of Prussia. This center has a movie theater, a Best Buy, and even an indoor skydiving place! There's also the King of Prussia Town Center, which has a Wegmans grocery store and other shops and restaurants.
What's Inside the Mall?
The King of Prussia Mall has over 400 stores! It's famous for its many high-end and luxury shops. Some of the main department stores, called "anchor stores," include Nordstrom, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Primark. There used to be a JCPenney too, but it closed.
The mall is owned and managed by a company called Simon Property Group. It's a popular spot for tourists visiting the Philadelphia area, with millions of visitors each year.
You'll find lots of places to eat, from quick bites in four different food courts to over 40 casual and fancy restaurants. The mall also offers services like valet parking and a concierge desk to help visitors.
The mall used to be two separate parts: The Court and The Plaza. The Court side has Macy's and Bloomingdale's. The Plaza side has the other big anchor stores. Now, a special covered walkway connects them, making it easy to walk between all the different sections.
History of the Mall
The King of Prussia Mall started small. The first part, called The Plaza, opened in 1963. It was an outdoor shopping center with stores like JCPenney and a grocery store. Over time, it grew and became partly enclosed.
In 1981, a second, fully enclosed mall called The Court opened across the street. It had its own big stores like Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Around the same time, The Plaza was also fully enclosed, and a Sears store was added.
By the early 1990s, people wanted even more luxury stores. The company that owned the mall decided to make The Plaza just as fancy as The Court. They rebuilt much of The Plaza, making it two levels and fully enclosed. New luxury stores like Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom opened there in the mid-1990s. A pedestrian bridge was also built to connect The Plaza and The Court, making it feel more like one big mall.
Over the years, some of the original anchor stores changed. For example, Sears closed its store in 2014, and parts of its space were taken by Dick's Sporting Goods and Primark. JCPenney also closed in 2017.
In 2011, plans were announced for a huge expansion to finally connect The Court and The Plaza with a new section. This new area would add more stores and dining options. Construction began in 2014, and the new connector opened on August 18, 2016. This made the King of Prussia Mall one of the largest single shopping centers in the United States.
The western part of the mall (The Plaza) was updated in 2018 and 2019. It got new floors, lighting, and seating areas to make it even nicer for shoppers.
The King of Prussia Mall continues to be a major shopping destination, always changing and adding new experiences for its visitors.
Images for kids
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King of Prussia entrance between Neiman Marcus and Macy's, 2017
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The Pavilion
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King of Prussia Mall near Bloomingdale's
