Monday, January 5, 2009

KOP wins Auntie Anne's bet with MOA


The two largest malls in the United States made a friendly wager over yesterday's Eagles-Vikings wild-card playoff game. Officials from King of Prussia Mall (largest in retail space) and the Mall of America decided to make the friendly bet, similar to mayors of large cities, as a publicity stunt to help stimulate sluggish retail sales.

The King of Prussia Mall(KOP) is located in King of Prussia, PA, roughly twenty-five miles northwest of Philadelphia. The Mall of America (MOA) is located in Bloomington, MN, approximately thirteen miles south of Minneapolis.

"We're basically a city within ... a mall," said Gene Luftin, King of Prussia Mall's operating officer. "I have actually spent weeks here without leaving."

KOP bet a $25 GAP gift card, a $20 Auntie Anne's Pretzels gift card, and a box of treats from Cinnabon that the Eagles would win. MOA offered a $20 FYE gift card, a $25 Sunglass Hut gift card and a box of goodies from Arby's on the Vikings.

"I love Auntie Anne's so it was a tough bet to lose," said Rachel Halls, Mall of America's public relations director. "I feel a little better knowing that [MOA] has sixteen Auntie Anne's franchises."

Part of the bet also included that the loser must "hang out" at the winner's mall for a day and wear the opponents jersey.

"I guess I'll hang out in an Eagles jersey near the food court for eight hours. I hear there's a Chick-fil-A," said a disappointed Halls.

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