Holidazzle Market

[MN Fats]

I'd be shocked if it wasn't at downtown east commons next year.

[amiller92]

I'd be shocked if it wasn't at downtown east commons next year.

I don't know. If the retailers are the primary funders (it's downtown council, right? So I don't know if they are), I could see then not wanting to move it so far away.

[MNdible]

The Commons is definitely closer to the core of downtown retail than Loring Park is, no?

[twincitizen]

I'd be shocked if it wasn't at downtown east commons next year.

I don't know. If the retailers are the primary funders (it's downtown council, right? So I don't know if they are), I could see then not wanting to move it so far away.

The Commons is definitely closer to the core of downtown retail than Loring Park is, no?

Depends what kind of retail you're talking about.

If you mean "shopping", that's pretty much limited to the 4 corners of Nicollet & 7th (IDS, Macy's, City Center & Gaviidae).

If you mean people coming downtown to spend money at restaurants and bars, that tends to skew a little further south on Nicollet Mall, down to 11th/12th, much closer to the edge of Loring Park/Greenway.

Nicollet & 7th is 3,000 feet from the nearest edge of The Commons. Nicollet & 7th is 4,000 feet from the nearest edge of Loring Park (Willow & Grant). I'm not sure that's a meaningful difference, considering that neither are super close to the shopping core. Nothing will pack people into the "shopping core" like the parade did. The Commons would have the advantage of being slightly closer, plus a direct walk or LRT trip down 5th to Nicollet Mall. Loring Park has the advantage of being directly connected to the south end of Nicollet via the gorgeous Loring Greenway.

[reeckman]

^^^Yet another advantage the Commons has is skyway proximity. The Loring Greenway on a normal winter would not be as good of access to downtown core shopping.

It would be interesting to hear from businesses whether downtown core shopping has even declined since the Holidazzle parade stopped.

[amiller92]

^^^Yet another advantage the Commons has is skyway proximity. The Loring Greenway on a normal winter would not be as good of access to downtown core shopping.

It would be interesting to hear from businesses whether downtown core shopping has even declined since the Holidazzle parade stopped.

Completely unsupported by any data, I don't think the parade goers did much shopping. Too many little kids in tow. Which I always assumed was why they went away from it.

[Didier]

When I was in Loring Park for Hollidazzle it felt very sleepy. I'd think the Commons would better capture the energy of downtown.

[xandrex]

Completely unsupported by any data, I don't think the parade goers did much shopping. Too many little kids in tow. Which I always assumed was why they went away from it.

They probably didn't do much for most retailers, but trying to get a seat at a restaurant nearby before or after the parade was a nightmare. And I worked at the downtown Target for a year during college and the Holidazzle rush was crazy, especially compared to other weeknights.

[amiller92]

When I was in Loring Park for Hollidazzle it felt very sleepy. I'd think the Commons would better capture the energy of downtown.

Agree. Went last night and was a bit undrewhelmed. Food options might have been slightly better than last year, but it felt like a lot fewer vendors. Also, being amidst all that open space made it feel really small.