urbanMSP

Chain... It's a local restaurant group...

According to a Strib article, Republic will be opening a second location in the old Independent space later this year! I'd throw in a link, but I'm on my phone. Regardless, great news as far as I'm concerned.

The Independent is gone? I kinda liked that one!

I liked it as well. Unfortunately they forgot to pay their taxes.

Do they have more than one other location? I feel like two bars does not a chain make.

Do they have more than one other location? I feel like two bars does not a chain make.

I agree, Yoda, although that may be the technical term. I'd say 3 is a chain, 2 is a successful business that wants to expand.

Best Calhoun Square news I've heard lately: http://www.startribune.com/entertainmen ... 24546.html

The Republic opening a second location in the old Independent space! Uptown badly needs a good beer bar (yeah, Williams isn't it) and Republic is fantastic. They're aiming for November opening, which would be damn quick.

Sounds like H&M should be open just in time to get a few of those Holiday Sales.

Article

H&M opened today. Calhoun Square was, what's the word? Hopping? No. Moderately busy? Yeah. It is nice not to have the huge vacancy there anymore.

Good to get the vacancy down. Now just a few more spaces that will bring in people.

I saw that the clothing store "Atmosfere" On Lake and Hennepin is relocating into Calhoun Square. I'm wondering if they will have street frontage in the mall? I do like their storefront on Lake street with its large glass windows. Will make a nice, visible location for another shop to open up in the neighborhood.

They will be located inside on the second level next to LA Fitness.

They sure move a lot. Didn't they used to be in Calhoun? I know they also used to have a location downtown.

Yep, they were in Calhoun Square before the remodel. Their lease was up in the Rainbow building and was not renewed. I went to the new location today. Rumor is that a floor/tile shop will go into their old spot in the Rainbow Building.

They are across the hall from H&M, so hopefully they can catch some cross-traffic, even though the price-points are vastly different. It's still pretty dead up there on the 2nd level.

Does anybody know what's going into Calhoun Square between AT&T and H&M? Looks like something is going on there.

^^^IMO, the vacant parcel next to Calhoun Square is way, way overdue for development. It's by far the worst gap in the urban fabric and feel of Uptown. It's such a great place for a hotel, residential, and/or retail mix. It really needs a more proactive owner with some vision and enthusiasm to get the train rolling.

Yeah, does anyone know the story there? I mean, this is just about the most slam-dunkiest parcel in the city. It's absurd it hasn't been developed. Someone please explain this to us lay-folk.

As a fellow lay person, I'd be happy for the more knowledgeable folks here to correct me, but isn't it as simple as the owner, looking at what's going on nearby, thinking that the longer he waits, letting more development happen nearby, the higher the land prices will rise, allowing for greater profits when the land is eventually developed.

That, or the owner is waiting for demand to catch up (or fill up) supply first before entering the market. Perhaps he/she was late to the game?

I thought that land was owned by the Calhoun Square people, and it was meant to be where an expansion was supposed to be but never happened? Now they just seem to be sitting on it.

THey bought high on the land cost bubble, so I think they want to hold out for a land price that they can either make a profit or cut their loses to a minimum. Not sure they will be the developer, I think they want out, but not too much red ink. I could be wrong though.

I thought that land was owned by the Calhoun Square people, and it was meant to be where an expansion was supposed to be but never happened? Now they just seem to be sitting on it.

That's right. The land is owned by Calhoun Square. Lord knows what they plan to do with it or what their timeline is.

I believe that the group was the Blackstone group from outside Minneapolis. They bought Calhoun Square and the other developable land to add another phase to the retail section and housing also. At that time the housing was Condos. Not long after they bought and tried to get a large development that was shot down by the NIMBYs, the condo market started to tank. THey kinda bought as the bubble rose and now have to wait until they can be for sure that they can get the most Bang for their buck.

Not long after they bought and tried to get a large development that was shot down by the NIMBYs...

The rest of the timeline you laid out seems right, but I honestly don't recall that this proposal was tied up in approvals, by NIMBY's or otherwise.