Walk into Har Mar Mall in Roseville and you’ll feel it immediately. That specific, unmistakable scent of floor wax, popcorn, and a decade you can’t quite put your finger on. It’s not a "ghost mall" like some of the crumbling ruins you see on YouTube, but it’s definitely not the Mall of America either. Har Mar occupies this weird, wonderful middle ground in the Minnesota retail landscape. People have been predicting its death for thirty years. They’re still waiting.
Har Mar Mall mn is a survivor.
The place opened its doors in 1961. Think about that for a second. Harold J. Slawik and his wife Marie—hence the name "Har Mar"—built this thing back when Roseville was basically the edge of the world. It was a massive deal. It was the first air-conditioned shopping center in the area, a literal oasis for suburbanites who were tired of trekking into downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis. Today, it feels like a neighborhood living room that happens to have a Burlington and a Barnes & Noble attached to it. It’s functional. It’s nostalgic. And honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle that it’s still standing.
The Architecture of a Roseville Landmark
Most people drive past the intersection of Snelling Avenue and County Road B without thinking twice about the low-slung, sprawling brick exterior of Har Mar. But the layout is actually a fascinating relic. Unlike modern "lifestyle centers" that force you to walk outside in a blizzard to get from a Gap to a Starbucks, Har Mar is a classic enclosed strip. It’s shaped like a giant, slightly bent rectangle.
You’ve got the massive anchors on the ends, and the "spine" in the middle.
The interior is where the charm hides. If you look up, you’ll see these geometric skylights that let in surprisingly good light even on a gray January afternoon. The flooring has been updated, sure, but the soul of the place is stuck in a time when malls were social hubs first and retail machines second. It’s a favorite spot for the "mall walkers" crowd. You see them every morning, usually before the actual stores open, getting their steps in on the flat, predictable carpet. It’s safe. It’s warm. It’s free. In a world where every square inch of public space is being monetized or turned into a luxury condo, there’s something genuinely radical about a place where you can just... exist.
Why Har Mar Mall mn Refuses to Go Under
You’d think that being located just a few blocks away from Rosedale Center—a massive, glitzy regional powerhouse—would have killed Har Mar decades ago. Usually, when a "super-mall" moves in next door, the smaller mall dies a slow, painful death.
But Har Mar is different.
It survived by leaning into being the "un-mall." While Rosedale focused on high-end fashion and trendy teenagers, Har Mar became the place where you actually get stuff done. You go to Rosedale to browse; you go to Har Mar to shop. This wasn't some grand corporate strategy from the jump, but it’s how it evolved. Look at the tenant mix. You have staples like Marshalls, HomeGoods, and Michaels. These are "destination" stores. You don't usually go to Michaels to "hang out." You go because you need a specific type of yarn or a picture frame, and you want to park close to the door.
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That’s the secret sauce.
Convenience.
The parking lot at Har Mar is massive and, frankly, a bit of a chaotic sea of asphalt, but you can almost always find a spot within fifty feet of an entrance. For a busy parent or someone who just hates the "Rosedale Crawl" through a three-story parking ramp, Har Mar is a godsend. Plus, it has the Barnes & Noble. This specific location is one of the most reliable bookstores in the Twin Cities. It’s big, it’s quiet, and it hasn't been "downsized" into a tiny boutique version yet.
The Survival of the Niche
Beyond the big names, Har Mar hosts some things you just don't find anymore. There’s a Foot Locker, sure, but then there are the service-oriented spots. You’ve got a post office nearby, a grocery store (Cub Foods) anchored on the periphery, and a bunch of health-related offices.
Then there’s the food.
It’s not a "food court" in the traditional sense. You won't find twenty identical stalls selling bourbon chicken. Instead, you have the Original Pancake House. It’s an institution. On a Sunday morning, the line stretches out the door. People aren't there for the mall; the mall is just the shell that holds their favorite sourdough pancakes. This kind of "community-first" tenancy is exactly what retail experts like Paco Underhill talk about when they discuss the future of physical stores. People want a reason to show up that isn't just "buying a shirt."
Dealing with the "Old Mall" Reputation
Let’s be real for a minute. Har Mar has a reputation for being "old."
Some people call it depressing. They see the empty storefronts that pop up occasionally or the dated signage and think it’s a goner. But "old" is just another word for "affordable." Because the rents at Har Mar aren't as astronomical as the ones across the street at Rosedale, it allows for a more eclectic mix of shops. It allows for stores that might not survive in a high-pressure, high-rent environment.
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There’s a certain gritty resilience to the place. It’s seen the rise and fall of Montgomery Ward. It saw Snyder’s Drug Stores disappear. It survived the Great Recession and the COVID-19 lockdowns. Every time a major tenant leaves, everyone whispers that this is "the end," and then a few months later, a new discount retailer or a gym moves in.
It’s a cycle.
The owners, currently Emmes Realty Services, have had to play a constant game of Tetris with the floor plan. They’ve broken up larger spaces into smaller ones to attract a wider variety of businesses. It’s not always pretty, but it works. The occupancy rates at Har Mar stay surprisingly high compared to other mid-century malls in the Midwest.
The Local Impact: More Than Just Taxes
If you grew up in Roseville, Lauderdale, or Falcon Heights, Har Mar probably played a role in your life. Maybe it was your first job. Maybe it was where you went to the movies back when there was a theater inside (RIP Har Mar 11).
That sense of history creates a loyalty that data-driven developers often miss. When a developer proposed a massive overhaul of the site a few years back—one that might have turned it into a more modern, open-air "lifestyle" center—the pushback wasn't just about traffic. It was about losing a piece of the city's identity.
Minnesota winters are brutal.
We need indoor spaces that aren't just for the ultra-wealthy. Har Mar provides a climate-controlled environment for everyone. It’s one of the few places left where you’ll see a group of retirees sitting on a bench chatting next to a group of teenagers from Roseville Area High School. It’s a "third space." Sociology 101: a place that isn't home and isn't work, where community happens.
Mapping the Future of Har Mar
What happens next?
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The retail world is shifting toward "med-tail"—a mix of medical offices and retail. Har Mar is already doing this. You’re seeing more clinics, more physical therapy spots, and more service-based businesses taking up residence. This is a smart move. You can’t get a physical on Amazon. You can’t get your glasses adjusted via a TikTok ad.
We’re also likely to see more "de-malling." This is the process of turning an enclosed mall into something where the stores face outward toward the parking lot. We’ve already seen parts of Har Mar move in this direction. It makes the stores more accessible and reduces the overhead of heating and cooling massive common areas.
But I hope they keep the core.
There’s something about that weird, winding hallway that feels human. It’s not optimized for "maximum throughput." It’s just... there.
Practical Tips for Your Next Visit
If you’re heading to Har Mar Mall mn, don’t expect a luxury experience. Expect a useful one.
- Timing is Everything: If you want a peaceful experience, go on a Tuesday morning. You’ll have the place to yourself, save for the aforementioned mall walkers. If you want energy, Saturday at noon is the time, especially if you’re hitting the Pancake House.
- Park Near Your Destination: Don't just park in the "main" lot. If you're going to Barnes & Noble, park on the south side. If you're going to Cub, park on the north. The mall is longer than it looks, and walking the whole length just to get a book can be a chore if you’re in a hurry.
- Check the Events: Har Mar occasionally hosts craft fairs, blood drives, and community events in the common areas. These are the lifeblood of the mall and worth checking out if you want to see the local community in action.
- Explore the Periphery: Some of the best spots aren't "inside" the mall. The outlots—those buildings in the parking lot—contain some great gems, including quick-service food and specialty shops.
- Look Up: Seriously, check out the skylights and the mid-century structural details. If you’re a fan of "dead mall" aesthetics but want to see a mall that’s very much alive, Har Mar is your textbook example.
Moving Forward
The best way to ensure Har Mar stays around is to actually use it. Buy your birthday cards at the Hallmark. Get your coffee at the Barnes & Noble cafe. Pick up your essentials at the discount stores.
We lose these spaces when we stop showing up.
Har Mar doesn't need to be "reimagined" into a glass-and-steel monstrosity. It just needs to keep doing what it does best: being the reliable, slightly quirky, incredibly convenient heart of Roseville retail. It’s a survivor. And in a world of constant, exhausting change, there’s a lot of comfort in a place that stays exactly the way you remember it.
Next time you need a new pair of shoes or a quiet place to read, skip the drive to the "big" mall. Pull into that familiar parking lot on Snelling. Walk through those heavy glass doors. Take a breath of that floor-wax-and-popcorn air. Har Mar is waiting.
Actionable Steps:
- Support the local service providers within the mall, such as the hair salons or optical centers, to help maintain the mall's diverse tenant base.
- Utilize the indoor space for winter exercise; the mall is open for walkers well before most store hours begin.
- Check the Roseville community boards for updates on any proposed redevelopment plans to ensure your voice is heard regarding the mall's future.
- Focus your "errand runs" here to consolidate trips; the combination of a grocery store, post office, and hardware-adjacent shops makes it an efficiency hub.