Twin Cities Premium Outlets — Attraction in Eagan

Black Friday deals are insane!!!

Title: The Mystery of the Missing Heirloom

Once upon a time in a bustling metropolis surrounded by the charm of the Mississippi River, there stood two cities, known as the Twin Cities. These cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, were not only connected by bridges but by the heart of their citizens. Among the urban sprawl, there was an oasis of shopping known as Twin Cities Premium Outlets. It was a place where people from far and wide came to find the finest deals and the most exquisite items.

In one of these cities lived a young woman named Elara. She was an antique enthusiast with a keen eye for spotting the rarest and most beautiful treasures. Her grandmother, a wise and elegant woman, had left her an heirloom of incalculable value - a stunning locket that had been passed down through generations of strong, independent women. The locket had a mysterious inscription on the back that read: "Where two rivers meet, a treasure waits."

Elara's life was forever changed when she lost the locket during one of her many visits to the Twin Cities Premium Outlets. The locket had not only sentimental value but also contained a secret that could unlock the future of her family's destiny. Desperate to find it, she retraced her steps, but the locket remained lost in the maze of designer stores and discount racks.

Days turned into weeks, and Elara had almost given up hope when she stumbled upon a peculiar little shop called "The Enigma Emporium," nestled between a luxury handbag outlet and a high-end shoe store. The shop was known for selling the most unique and curious items, but it was the enigmatic old man behind the counter who truly intrigued her. His name was Thaddeus, and he had a reputation for helping those in search of lost treasures.

Elara approached Thaddeus with her story, and the old man listened intently. His eyes twinkled with the spark of adventure as she spoke of the locket and its cryptic message. Thaddeus nodded solemnly and said, "Ah, I think I know where this treasure awaits. But it will not be easy to retrieve. Are you ready to embark on a quest?"

Without hesitation, Elara agreed. Thaddeus handed her a map of the Twin Cities Premium Outlets, which had been marked with a series of riddles and puzzles that would lead her to the locket. "Solve these," he said, "and you will find your way to the treasure."

The journey began with Elara deciphering the first puzzle, which led her to a fountain in the center of the outlet mall. There, she found a coin with an etching of a compass rose. She flipped it, and it landed on a direction, guiding her to the next store. Each clue grew more cryptic as she ventured deeper into the shopping center.

Elara faced challenges that tested her wit and her knowledge of the Twin Cities. She had to navigate through a labyrinth of mannequins dressed in the latest fashion, solve a Sudoku puzzle made entirely of store discounts, and even haggle with a stubborn vendor for a "key" to the next clue.

Along the way, she encountered a diverse cast of characters: a street magician who performed an illusion to reveal the next riddle, a talented artist who painted her a map to a secret passage, and a young boy who had a knack for finding lost things. Together, they formed an unlikely team, each with a special skill that brought them closer to the heirloom.

The final puzzle led them to the mall's food court, where the locket was supposed to be hidden. But when they arrived, they were met with a crowd gathered around a stage. It was the mall's anniversary celebration, and a talent show was underway. The grand prize was an all-expenses-paid trip around the world, and the contestants were eagerly showcasing their talents.

Thaddeus's final clue was to find "the voice that sings of unity." Confused, Elara and her new friends watched as a young woman took the stage. She sang a beautiful ballad about the Twin Cities and the unity of their people. Her voice resonated through the food court, captivating the hearts of...

Great addition to the middle of the metro, so it's easier to get to than the outlets north, south, and west. The parking ramp is the best I've seen, really high ceilings, nice to have coverage with our MN winters, and a lot of spaces. The stores are set up in race track flow and side by side. So if you go, park in the middle of the ramp on street level, then you can go in and take a right or a left, depending on the stores you want to visit. After making the first loop, it doesn't require much backtracking to drop packages off at the car. Back in and go the other direction to hit the other stores.

The food vendors are quite busy based on not having many to choose from, so you may benefit from bringing snacks/cooler for the car. There is a McDonald's about two blocks down and a few smaller places in a strip mall on the other side of McDonald's, plus a nice sized convenience store and gas station. There were a couple of food trucks on site for the grand opening, it would be nice if they would be there on weekends, for more options.

The traffic flow in is hard to avoid no matter which way you are coming from once you get off the highways. There is a metro station across the street at the far end of the mall, so it is more convenient to take metro transit than I thought it would be.

I recommend studying the map prior to going, especially if you don't want to do the entire area, so you know where the stores are you want to visit. Wear comfortably shoes for sure! The entire walking space is not covered but there is some coverage, so if it rained, you would get wet! It will be interesting to see how it evolves and settles...

I was disappointed with the accessibility situation at this outlet mall. I counted roughly 10 handicap parking spots in each lot (north and south sides), totaling only about 20 accessible spaces for the entire massive facility. While this may meet minimum ADA requirements from decades ago, it fails to acknowledge the reality that the disabled population has significantly increased in recent years as states have closed group homes and moved away from institutional placements.

The current ratio of accessible spots compared to regular parking seems woefully inadequate given today's needs. Meanwhile, there seemed to be many more spots reserved for energy-efficient vehicles and their 'Upfront Plus' program, which speaks volumes about their priorities.

It's particularly frustrating that people with disabilities would essentially have to pay for the Upfront Plus service to access properly located parking. The Americans with Disabilities Act is not a suggestion—it's federal law designed to ensure equal access, and while minimum compliance might be met, the spirit of accessibility is certainly not.

I would strongly encourage the mall management to recognize the changing demographics and needs of shoppers with disabilities and increase their accessible parking accordingly. Until then, I cannot recommend this location to anyone with disabilities, whether visible or...