Corporate Interview Blueprint

OURSTORY

A passion for real estate development led three brothers to form a small business in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1960. That same year, led by founder Melvin Simon and his brothers Herb and Fred, Melvin Simon & Associates opened its first community center in Bloomington, Indiana. By 1965, they had developed the first enclosed malls in the state: Mounds Mall in Anderson and College Mall in Bloomington. As the company grew, so did its reputation. The Simon ® name became synonymous with fair dealing, honesty and integrity—a legacy that has lasted to this day. It wasn’t long before the brothers realized that to be the best in the business, they had to grow their portfolio. Owning the best malls in the best markets and building a portfolio of quality shopping centers would be critical to negotiating the best deals. Over the next several decades, the company entered into a robust growth phase and, by the 1980s, was opening an average of three centers a year. And not just any centers. As shoppers demanded more entertainment as well as great places to shop, Simon delivered. The brothers were pioneers in creating malls as experience destinations. Built around a theme park, Mall of America ® in Bloomington, Minnesota, was an example of their talent for dreaming big. In 1992, the company opened its first luxury center, The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace ® in Las Vegas, Nevada. With fountains that come to life and a sky that changes from day to night as shoppers walk along cobbled streets reminiscent of Rome, the center is the ultimate blend of retail and entertainment. It remains a phenomenon even today. In 1993, under the leadership of David Simon, Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) was formed with an initial public offering (IPO), becoming the largest real estate investment trust (REIT) IPO in U.S. history to date.

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