Search found 2102 matches

by John
March 13th, 2023, 10:54 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Restaurant News
Replies: 1261
Views: 520333

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Restaurant News

The good news is Zelo is reopening and they must have confidence the restaurant will succeed on Nicollet Mall. The glass is probably resistant to breaking and smashing. Things are somewhat better now, however, the reality is we live in a different era with a decline in public safety, so we will see ...
by John
December 27th, 2022, 9:30 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 472776

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

The Dayton's Project which (I think) was supposed to open in early 2019 was one of the first concrete steps in the right direction to revitalize retail downtown. Really, it was the first development in decades that IMO had merit to really have a strong impact on Nicollet Mall. Unfortunately, the Cov...
by John
December 27th, 2022, 3:14 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 472776

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

Agree Alexchief, there needs to be some concrete, fresh ideas that are more than just talk. I certainly hope some of the landlords of the large complexes adjacent to Nicollet Mall are also part of the workgroup. Improving Nicollet Mall is more than just painting murals and creating pop-up stores dur...
by John
December 24th, 2022, 11:46 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 472776

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

Excellent idea mnmike! Ikea and Uniqlo are both examples of retail chains that are entering downtown markets at a time when so many are leaving. They see opportunity where others just can't make it work for a variety of reasons. Mayor Frey has started a workgroup to study attracting retail to downto...
by John
December 13th, 2022, 8:43 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 472776

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

Well, maybe not as dead as we think. Uniqlo is moving into downtown Seattle in the vacant Macy's department store space: https://secretseattle.co/uniqlo-downtown-seattle/. In another article I read, it stated Uniqlo is well aware of downtown Seattle's issues from both the pandemic fallout and public...
by John
December 8th, 2022, 7:21 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 472776

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

Not completely rock bottom but close lol. At this point I doubt the Nicollet Mall Target store will close. It's still popular with nearby downtown residents and the office workers that remain. It does have an odd feeling on the second floor with so much merchandise locked in cabinets due to the high...
by John
March 28th, 2021, 11:53 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 472776

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

^^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 fo...
by John
March 28th, 2021, 8:35 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 472776

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

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...
by John
January 26th, 2021, 12:54 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 472776

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

They could do something as simple as stick a piano there and have an artist play it during peak times. Give the space the aura that this isn't somewhere to hangout. Support a musician during COVID
Not a bad idea.
by John
January 26th, 2021, 1:18 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News
Replies: 1432
Views: 472776

Re: Downtown Minneapolis Retail News

I'm growing a little more concerned the Target Store at 9th and Nicollet will close at some point. There continues to be a great deal of loitering , with not infrequent reports of crimal acticvity at the intersection. And there have been late afternoon disturbances in the rotunda with fights breakin...
by John
November 17th, 2020, 10:39 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Nicollet Mall
Replies: 1466
Views: 533688

Re: Nicollet Mall

Austinite, I think you're absolutely right. Covid and George Floyd aside, some of the uptick in crime this summer has been festering for years, particularly around the LRT Station at 5th and Hennepin. My hunch is having Hennepin Ave closed for reconstruction has moved some of the unruly crowds/behav...
by John
April 2nd, 2020, 8:33 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis - News & General Topics
Replies: 2027
Views: 770494

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

From my balcony tonight:

Image
by John
February 6th, 2020, 10:32 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Nicollet Mall
Replies: 1466
Views: 533688

Re: Nicollet Mall

Sometimes a building looks better than the rendering , other times not so great. One thing I've noticed over the years is how frequently proposals for landscape architecture /park projects fall short of the expectations from the renderings. A lot of the issue comes down to the reality of budgetary c...
by John
February 2nd, 2020, 11:15 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: City Center
Replies: 395
Views: 83143

Re: City Center

It looks better and gives the complex a more prominent entrance on Nicollet Mall and 7th. But why didn't they just carry this through and renovate the whole Nicollet Mall side? It certainly needs it.

Image
by John
December 15th, 2019, 1:06 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Nicollet Mall
Replies: 1466
Views: 533688

Re: Nicollet Mall

The Christmas Market should be on the Mall. Not in Peavy Plaza as it originally was (although that's better than in Loring Park), but along the length of the Mall, where it can provide a reason to stroll the length and visit the businesses (such as they are) next to it. That's a whole point of doin...
by John
December 6th, 2019, 8:59 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Nicollet Mall
Replies: 1466
Views: 533688

Re: Nicollet Mall

^^Putting up lights on the trees/ light posts to give the mall a more uniform seasonal appearance would go far to brighten it up. I mean , even the trees on Nicollet Ave south of Grant Street have lights on them! Many more business owners do need to step up to the plate. And there should be more coo...
by John
December 6th, 2019, 2:24 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Nicollet Mall
Replies: 1466
Views: 533688

Re: Nicollet Mall

I got a kick out of business owners on Nicollet complaining about the lack of holiday displays. Have they tried... their own holiday displays? I felt like the holidays were in full swing on Nicollet the past week. A comprehensive light display in the public realm ( i.e lighting up the trees on the ...
by John
December 6th, 2019, 1:16 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Nicollet Mall
Replies: 1466
Views: 533688

Re: Nicollet Mall

Not sure what you mean, Mall of America has plenty of holiday lights... :lol:
Yeah , I guess there's no hope for the "other" mall. lol
by John
December 6th, 2019, 12:45 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Nicollet Mall
Replies: 1466
Views: 533688

Re: Nicollet Mall

Agree with most of your assessment of Nicollet Mall. However, right now I'm a bit peeved there's no seasonal lighting scheme spanning the mall's 12 blocks to give it a more festive, bright atmosphere for the holiday season and our darkest time of year. It currently looks pretty bleak and desolate at...
by John
October 20th, 2019, 11:43 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: 1500 Nicollet Avenue - Dominium Development - 6 stories / 184 units
Replies: 144
Views: 50139

Re: 1500 Nicollet Avenue - Dominium Development - 6 stories / 184 units

There already is Nicollet Diner at 15th & Nicollet that is inexpensive and good neighborhood place, so wouldn't want to put them out of business. Maybe more of a convenience/deli/small grocery would do well and a smaller, sit down restaurant???? The Nicollet Diner is great. But I'm sure there's...