Downtown Retail & Restaurant News

[Nick]

Having a more approachable, grab and go thing in that space would be a huge draw. And if it were more of a Sea Salt-type deal, you would hope they would be able to work something out where they could use the first floor space with the door facing the river.

[MNdible]

I don't agree with everything in this article from MSP, but the discussion of summer vs. winter operations was something I hadn't thought about previously. Sea Salt, for example, just completely shuts down during the winter, but that probably isn't acceptable for this location. So it maybe needs to be two concepts in one -- one, a very outward facing summer concept that can serve the masses, and the second a smaller winter time cafe.

[Nick]

The new Cardigan location in the former Wuollet's space in the US Bank building is now open. Very good stuff.

[UrsusUrbanicus]

Today I saw some activity in the former patisserie / panini place on the skyway level of the Soo Line building, and it appeared to be beyond ordinary cleaning or maintenance. Hopefully this betokens some kind of new opening soon!

[Didier]

This is a few days old but Key's Cafe is closing.

https://www.startribune.com/end-of-an-e ... /601515220

[MN Fats]

The street level Brueggers in Gaviidae closed earlier this month. Honestly surprised it lasted this long.

https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... loses.html

Also, walked through Northstar at lunchtime today and it appeared everything was closed downstairs. The convenience store there has been "temporarily" closed for quite a while.

[Nick]

Noticed today that there is a whole bookstore in the Mar Ten ramp at the corner of Marquette and 10th:

https://www.lauriebooks.com/

I remember this being on Nicollet Mall back in the day, sounds like it was in the North Loop before moving back over here. They didn't even block off all the windows with the backs of bookcases as would be expected around here--it looked nice lit up in the dark!

[MN Fats]

Nur House Cafe going in the former Starbucks space in Edition at 5th Ave & 4th St

[Oreos&Milk]

Nur House Cafe going in the former Starbucks space in Edition at 5th Ave & 4th St

Who else had to Google WTF "Nur" meant?

Or did everyone else already know it's Arabic and German usages? Or did we all just have no clue and just assumed that it looked fancy and that it MUST be good coffee or something. Just curious.

[Silophant]

To be honest, any time I see a sign for new business, I assume it's a coffee shop until proven otherwise.

[Tiller]

Imo in this case it's probably "Nur" as in someone's name.

[BikesOnFilm]

The LaSalle food hall was granted a liquor license by the legislature in the Liquor Omnibus, which is a promising sign of life for that project.

[MN Fats]

I think Bar Zia next to (in?) the Haaf Ramp has been closed for quite a while, but I noticed the other day that they finally removed the patio enclosure and all the signage.