Giordano's is set to open a new location inside Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, on July 16, extending the Chicago-based deep-dish brand's footprint into one of the most visited shopping destinations in the United States.
The new outpost will serve Giordano's signature stuffed deep-dish pizza alongside grab-and-go options and a selection of retail exclusives — a format designed to capture both sit-down diners and the high-volume foot traffic that a major mall environment generates.
High-Traffic Hospitality Play
For restaurant operators watching QSR and fast-casual expansion strategies, the Mall of America move reflects a broader industry trend of established regional brands using landmark retail venues to accelerate national awareness. Mall of America draws tens of millions of visitors annually, giving Giordano's a built-in audience of tourists and out-of-state consumers who may encounter the brand for the first time.
The grab-and-go component is particularly relevant in today's foodservice environment, where operators are increasingly layering convenience-oriented service formats alongside traditional dine-in to maximize revenue per square foot. Adding retail exclusives further diversifies the revenue mix — a playbook that aligns with how beverage and food brands are approaching experiential retail across the hospitality sector.
Brand Context
Giordano's, founded in Chicago in 1974, has built its identity around the stuffed deep-dish pizza format — a thicker, more labor-intensive style than standard deep-dish that has become a calling card for Chicago culinary tourism. The brand has steadily grown beyond its Illinois roots, and a Mall of America presence positions it in front of a national and international visitor base without requiring a traditional standalone real estate investment.
For regional chains considering similar moves, the Giordano's model illustrates how hospitality brands can use high-footfall, non-traditional venues to test new markets and service formats simultaneously. Industry observers tracking restaurant expansion and nontraditional venue growth will find the Mall of America opening a useful case study in balancing brand integrity with accessibility.
The location opens July 16.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.