[Archived] Uptown Retail & Restaurant News 2012-17

[Wedgeguy]

I'd put the rent they want as a big reason why they have remained empty. I'm sure that they are looking at outdoor seating in the alcoves of the Blue. I guess that I did not realize that the retail across the street was still empty. This will help increase foot traffic west of Lyndale down to Buzza.

[seanrichardryan]

They are finally getting rid of that ugly tomato mural though they've kept the faux mansard facing Hennepin and resheathed it in corrugated metal :/

[seanrichardryan]

They were very poorly designed for retail uses. The windows are set into a dark area, behind columns, with window mullions that impede and sort of visual connection to the street. It's no wonder at all. The spaces across the street seem to be filled, but they also are poorly designed with vinyl double hung windows and cartoonish awnings. I've been working on something that includes these two buildings as poor examples of retail frontage.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/W+Lak ... ab9ce18a1b

(also, where is the Share URL link in the new google maps? rarg.)

[TommyT]

http://www.louieswinedive.com/minneapolis.html

Hmmm, Bar Louie and Louies Wine Dive just blocks from each other... maybe we should rename the neighborhood to Louie's.

[anders]

http://www.louieswinedive.com/minneapolis.html

Hmmm, Bar Louie and Louies Wine Dive just blocks from each other... maybe we should rename the neighborhood to Louie's.

Shouldn't that be Louieville?

[Chef]

Usually when a retail space on a busy street stays empty for a long time it is because the owner has misjudged the market or the value of their space and wants too much for it. If the rent is low enough the space will always fill.

[twincitizen]

They were very poorly designed for retail uses. The windows are set into a dark area, behind columns, with window mullions that impede and sort of visual connection to the street. It's no wonder at all. The spaces across the street seem to be filled, but they also are poorly designed with vinyl double hung windows and cartoonish awnings. I've been working on something that includes these two buildings as poor examples of retail frontage.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/W+Lak ... ab9ce18a1b

(also, where is the Share URL link in the new google maps? rarg.)

Glad I'm not the only one. By "working on something", I hope you mean a Streets.MN post! Go for it dude.

Also, the new Google Maps is garbage. I couldn't find any of the useful features so I went back to classic. Huge misfire by Google.

[John]

They were very poorly designed for retail uses. The windows are set into a dark area, behind columns, with window mullions that impede and sort of visual connection to the street. It's no wonder at all.

Yes, the retail base of Blue is an introverted scheme which has poor connection to the street or pedestrian. Building highly visible and transparent spaces for retail frontage in dense urban neighborhoods should be a given in this city.

[twincitizen]

Opens March 7: http://www.vita.mn/crawl/247328261.html

[seanrichardryan]

No details, http://finance-commerce.com/2014/02/top ... estaurant/ New 6-story pied-e-terre?

[TommyT]

No details, http://finance-commerce.com/2014/02/top ... estaurant/ New 6-story pied-e-terre?

Call me simple... but I'm not familiar with what a pied-e-terre is and get very little luck with googling it. Can someone explain?

[FISHMANPET]

Literally the first result in Google is the correct meaning, I believe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-%C3%A0-terre.

I'm not sure what it means in this context without being able to read the article.

[Nathan]

Literally the first result in Google is the correct meaning, I believe

Unnecessary typed inflection? The link was helpful, thanks.

[FISHMANPET]

*shrug*
I googled it the same way it was originally spelled. So I have no idea what that means in this context. This is going to be a building built purely for second residences? I'm guessing the original poster or the article in question used the term wrong.

[seanrichardryan]

Jesus, 6 story apartment building. I was suggesting the restaurant could be redeveloped to denser use, possibly housing. Don't read too much into it.

[twincitizen]

I read it as Sean was joking.

It was reported elsewhere (Eater or Heavy Table) that the site is not being redeveloped. Just different owners for Fuji Ya. The family that's owned Fuji Ya (multiple current and former locations) since the 60s is getting out of the business.

I doubt that small parcel could be redeveloped without the City getting involved and selling off their LynLake district parking lot (which they should, as long as public parking is provided in the development)

[twincitizen]

Country Bar is dead for real this time. http://m.vita.mn/crawl/?&id=248608401&c=y

[seanrichardryan]

That may be true, but the stench of Shorty & Wags will never leave.

[seanrichardryan]

http://www.vita.mn/crawl/248608401.html

[Wedgeguy]

According to the new mural on the front of the Bone Yard, "Evil chickens lay devil's eggs!" They should be open by the end of the month .