urbanMSP

I remember a few details about it. I remember that it was the first location for both Goodfellows (top floor) and Tejas (basement). It also had Minnesota's first Banana Republic, back when it was more kitsch-y and safari themed.

I'm impressed with the picture of an escalator because if I recall correctly, the floorplan/layout of the conservatory was confusing and people had difficulty getting from one floor to another. No flow.

Video of its implosion: http://lileks.com/mpls/conserv/11.html

It was a beautiful building both inside and out in my opinion. But the lack of sight lines to other floors and the erratic and, to some, hidden escalators did not help at all. But you have to love all that beautiful marble on the inside!

I remember it as gorgeous too. Yes, the inside seemed odd. I remember looking down at the restaurant in the basement.

Just reprocessed some more photos. Speaking of Nicollet Mall, here is a pic I took of the LSGI model when they had it on display.

1988 LSGI Nicollet Mall concept model by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

Oh my lord LSGI, that was a hell of a near miss.

Does anybody know of an article or book that goes into more detail about the LSGI plan and ensuing legal fiasco?

There's some good background info on LSGI in the court paper here: http://openjurist.org/44/f3d/629/genera ... ent-agency

Here is a photo I took of a clown outside the Conservatory in 1988. You can see the store Harold is behind him. Dayton's is down the block.

1988 Clown in front of the Conservatory 8th and Nicollet Mall Minneapolis by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

Hundreds of people talking. Not one cell phone.

May 1988 Northrop Mall at U of MN by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

crazy that people used to have to say "hashtag" out loud, seems so weird in retrospect

I believe it was "pound sign"

How about all those 80s white shirts and white shorts? Reminds me of a John Hughes movie.

No love for "octothorpe", *sad trombone*...

Here's a skyline shot from over by Cedar-Riverside. Norwest Center still under construction.

1988 Minneapolis skyline from east of Metrodome by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

No love for "octothorpe", *sad trombone*...

Somehow my roommates and I managed to find some of the absolute worst music known to man back in college. Octothorpe is a really sh!tty band, I highly recommend them. http://www.allmusic.com/song/hotel-mt0026677898

A photo I took of Jimmy Carter in City Center in 1988.

Jimmy Carter Minneapolis City Center 1988 by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

I took this photo of the demolition of the Minneapolis Auditorium standing on Grant St looking east. Central Lutheran Church is in the background.

1988 Minneapolis auditorium demolition Grant St looking east by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

Nicollet Mall with all the trees and people. I was standing on the roof of the old parking ramp where Excel Energy HQ is now.

1988 Nicollet Mall Renaissance Square Minneapolis by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

I can't explain why, but that is a great photo.

Probably a combination of the composition and the reflection off Renaissance Square ha ha. Thank you!

I reprocessed this photo of Nicollet Mall. Don't worry, the guy laying down is not injured. Ritz Hotel on the left, ugly parking ramp and McDonald's straight ahead. No RBC Plaza (Dain Rauscher Plaza) yet, or anything on the west side of Nicollet either.


1988 Ritz Hotel block Nicollet Mall Minneapolis by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

What was the point of tearing down that block three decades before anything would be built to replace it?