BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — When folks want to shop till they drop, Mall of America remains the center of the universe for consumers. 

MOA announced that the mall set a new record for its busiest Black Friday on record. More than 235,000 people walked through the doors on Nov. 28, an uptick of more than 8.5% from 2024, and nearly 2% more than the previous high-water mark, set back in 2019. 

The new mark comes despite the fact MOA was open for three fewer hours (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.) than it was in 2019. 

Taking the entire extended holiday weekend into account, more than 500,000 visitors came from across the country – and the globe – between Wednesday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Nov, 30, to shop, eat, and enjoy attractions like Nickelodeon Universe, SEA LIFE and the Crayola Experience, among others. 

Mall officials say Black Friday guests began forming a line at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, with 14,000 people entering MOA during its first hour of operation that day. 

Once inside on Black Friday, visitors spent an average of three hours.