Best of 2011: Reinventing Southdale Center

Editor's Note: With 2011 now in the history books, we're taking a few moments to look back at five of our favorite stories. Be sure to stay tuned all week, as we continue to count down the best stories of 2011.

For as long as I can recall, the state of Southdale Center—the nation's first indoor shopping center—has been on the forefront of Edinans' minds. So it was a no-brainer to set aside a few days and put together a deep look at the current and future state of the polarizing shopping mall.

Here's a quick excerpt from that piece:

The mall has had "ups and downs over the years," but the story is the same at almost every mall across the country, said Southdale Center General Manager Laurie VanDalen.

"As a whole, the mall concept has evolved," VanDalen said. "We're more of a community gathering place than a shopping center at this point. It's not just another building—we're an important part of the community."

If you happened to miss it the first time, of course you can find installments and in our archives. And as an added bonus, check out our coverage of opening day of the .