‘ EDINA, Minn.—Could America’s oldest mall become the mall of the future?

To make that leap, mall giant Simon Property Group is spearheading
 a $400 million spending spree to make Southdale 
Center in suburban Minneapolis much more than just shopping. Over the past dozen 
years, Simon has built a growing list of amenities in remote corners of its parking lot: 
luxury apartments, an extended-stay hotel and a Shake Shack. It knocked down a 

JCPenney and replaced it with a high-end fitness center and co-working space. 

Another defunct department store made way for an upscale grocer and a high-tech
 minigolf operator. A cluster of luxury shops is under construction for retailers
 including Gucci, Burberry and Moncler. 

The Southdale overhaul reflects big shifts in how Americans are going to the mall—once
 an iconic place to hang out for hours and buy everything from soap to suits. “