Downtown Retail & Restaurant News

[uptownbro]

https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/San ... 854041.php
"I think a lot of people aren't closing [bars] yet because they're waiting to see what happens — and they're basically going deeper and deeper and deeper into debt,” Bleiman told SFGATE. “So it's not like people are just pulling the ripcord and saying, 'I'm done.' They're just not paying rent. … I think you're going to see a lot of closures between now and the vaccine, for sure. But you're also going to see once the vaccine comes out and people kind of wake up from this fog, we're going to see absolute devastation."

I do get it in a way. Many are already so deep in that really there is not that much more risk in just trying to hold on until they can see if there is any aid money coming.

[squrtis]

https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/San ... 854041.php
"I think a lot of people aren't closing [bars] yet because they're waiting to see what happens — and they're basically going deeper and deeper and deeper into debt,” Bleiman told SFGATE. “So it's not like people are just pulling the ripcord and saying, 'I'm done.' They're just not paying rent. … I think you're going to see a lot of closures between now and the vaccine, for sure. But you're also going to see once the vaccine comes out and people kind of wake up from this fog, we're going to see absolute devastation."

I do get it in a way. Many are already so deep in that really there is not that much more risk in just trying to hold on until they can see if there is any aid money coming.

Brutal.

[TroyGBiv]

Downtown has been like this since I started actively going there in 2013. Gap closed and was an empty space for 2 years. City Center had a crappy Office Max in its space, which is now another poorly designed store, and Sports Authority lasted less than a year. Barnes and Noble was good, then it was replaced by some crappy steak place that covered all their windows up and stuck a bathroom on the corner of Nicollet. Walgreens was in a dumb 1 story building and has since moved to a nicer 2 story space.

I could keep going with the weird examples of changes happening downtown, but this year is no exception, and I'm really tired of people on here claiming this is the rapture of downtown because they're noticing our disparities that have ALWAYS existed. People are slowly coming back downtown, but the social issues will persist until we get real leadership on the matter. What's annoying is that businesses continue to use this as a reason why they have problems downtown, and not blame poor management, strange hours or lack of effort put into a space. I'm really happy with the new DGX, and I hope that becomes the model for what should exist on Nicollet. We need a range of retail, and honestly the pandemic highlighted just how many bloated restaurant spaces cater only to the office folks.

You raise very good points! Retail has changed and we won’t see the era of department stores lining Nicollet like when I was younger, but you don’t see them anywhere anymore. There has been so much development - the entire East town is just a couple years old really, and still so many more residential projects continue to change the urban mix. I think we’ll see people back in town, neighborhoods “maturing” and better positioned retail throughout the expanding downtown.

[amiller92]

Also - even though I shopped at the Target liquor store on Nicollet, I was never a fan of it opening, considering the number of homeless people and those who obviously had drinking problems whom were already loitering in the area. Bad part on the city for allowing it to open. I thought that per the city ordinance liquor stores weren't allowed to be so close to one another Think it hurt sales at Haskells down the street.

I think it opened after the one in the skyway closed.

As you note, Haskells was down the street for those "loitering" in the area.

[twinkess]

Angel Food Bakery will not reopen Downtown. Decamping to St Louis Park: https://www.instagram.com/p/CMVfJYTlMbm ... _copy_link

[Anondson]

Is there anything you can share for those who don’t have an Instagram account?

Maybe a screenshot?

[grrdanko]

Is there anything you can share for those who don’t have an Instagram account?

Maybe a screenshot?

Just click the link. You can look at it without an account.

[Anondson]

I don’t know why you assume I didn’t try before I asked.

I just tried yet again.

All I see is an Instagram login request. No option by cancel or bypass and just see whatever it was.

[Carlos]

From angelfoodmn

"Almost a year to the day that covid unexpectedly closed everything down, we finally have a fun announcement about Angel Food’s future!

But first, with the continuing blows about offices & business not coming back any time soon, I have exhausted all my options for the business surviving in the downtown area. I adore Minneapolis and cannot wait to see it shine again, but, unfortunately, after just shy of 9 years it is time for us to say goodbye to downtown.

But have no fear! I have decided to move Angel Food Bakery to St. Louis Park in the GORGEOUS, newly renovated Texa Tonka Shopping Center! We will have all the bakery goodies you know and love, pre-orders will be back and all of it will be complimented by an amazing, kick-ass coffee bar featuring @follycoffee (brewed, espresso, tea lattes, cold press & kombucha on tap and more!). There will be plenty of seating, a full outdoor patio and ample free parking (yayayay!). Oh, and did I mention that we’ll be right across the patio from the brand new Revival location?!? Good thing I stopped wearing jeans last year, cause those burgers & hush puppies are THE BOMB.

We hope to open sometime early summer in the bright and airy new space… and WAIT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! If all of this isn’t exciting enough, we’ll also be sharing the location with our sister company FrioFrio! You may know @friofriomn from the past 5 years, where my husband Chris and I have been slinging frozen treats out on the streets. FrioFrio has developed a small and mighty cult following with fun and delicious Ice Lolly flavors like Strawberry-Balsamic-Basil, Avocado-Lime (if you know, you know) and the ever popular Piñata (lemon-lime w/ sprinkles & gummy bears). FrioFrio’s first home in St Louis Park will have an expanded menu including Ice Lollies, Shaved Snow Ice Cream & other delicious frozen goodies. For those of you 21+, we’ll also be working with our favorite distilleries and mixologists to bring a rotating menu of frozen boozy delights. We like to think of it as an ice cream speakeasy in the back.

Cheers to a light at the end of the tunnel and we are looking forward to sharing a donut, a cup of coffee or a frozen treat with you!"

[Anondson]

Thank you so much!

I live in Hopkins but track SLP a ton. With Revival announced months back, landing this is quite a change for Texa Tonka.

[Silophant]

Hell's Kitchen, on the other hand, is not only staying put, but "The restaurant also says it's planning a "wildly cool" replacement in the upstairs space once Angel Food leaves."

I guess it makes sense, since Angel Food was spun off of Hell's Kitchen in the first place, but I didn't realize they were subletting the space.

[twincitizen]

Strib: Minneapolis skyway retailers stuck in limbo: 'It's been absolute devastation'

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis ... 039326/#14

[MinnMonkey]

Strib: Minneapolis skyway retailers stuck in limbo: 'It's been absolute devastation'

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis ... 039326/#14

Went for a walk in the Skyways on Thursday at lunch time, and probably half of the restaurants were open, but everyone that was open had a few people in line, so hopefully we are seeing the tail end of this.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[John]

In my frequent walks of the skyways ( near Nicollet Mall ) the corridors are virtually empty of people with the majority of retail spaces vacant. Not as rosy a scenario as described above. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the city's tax revenue next year. A significant shortfall in for our city budget is in the making, even with a transfer of property taxes to pissed off homeowners already weary from increased crime and civil unrest. You don't hear much about that in the media, nor by the majority on our city council.

I do think Downtown Minneapolis will recover partially after the pandemic subsides. But there is a very strong perception in the public eye that it has become dangerous and unsafe. That perception is a little exaggerated but it will take some effort to improve that image, and that won't happen until after all the trials are over, and the issue of what happens to our police department/city council is resolved after the November election. What and who you vote for next fall will determine this city's future for decades...

[StandishGuy]

Oof! It's so depressing. According to the article, Banana Republic in IDS closed earlier this year and the Juut Salon in Gavidae will close soon.

I do think the Star Tribune has produced an disproportionate number of articles about downtown Minneapolis. What's the future of the 494 office strip, which I imagine is just as empty as downtown buildings? How about Southdale or MOA, which aren't the healthiest retail locations either right now? The health of retail everywhere is pretty awful right now due to the pandemic, some context would be helpful...

[John]

^^Agree, there has been some exaggeration and over-focus on downtown. Some of the retail will recover on the skyways this fall. My bigger concerns would be if Target closes its store or if some of the grocery stores close due to more unrest etc. That would be an ominous sign for downtown being in for an long term, protracted decline. Not saying it will happen , but it's in the realm of possibility. Times have changed. The smug sense of economic vitality we take for granted in our city is just not a "given" anymore.

[phop]

Businesses like grocery stores are not going to abandon a customer base (downtown residents) that continues to grow. That would be like saying, "no we would prefer to make less money". I'm not too worried about the businesses that cater to the needs of residents.

[Didier]

It’s interesting the Juut landlord would refuse to even negotiate. Must either be confident in finding a replacement, or big picture having those spaces occupied isn’t all that important to them. The latter seems more likely and is kind of a bummer.

[seanrichardryan]

Looking at Gaviidae's website leaves me with more questions than answers http://www.gaviidaecommon.com/

[MinnMonkey]

The Pizza Hut at 11th and Hennepin has re-opened. Not sure why they closed in the first place, maybe they reconfigured there space.