Downtown Retail & Restaurant News

[SurlyLHT]

Although different markets and food genres, if I were them I would go look at Cossetta's in St Paul. They have three different businesses in the same building and did a good job at differentiating entrances and where each is located and signage. I understand the Nicollet Diner probably has a smaller budget...but they can learn a few things.

[Silophant]

Like pillsdoughboy says, I'm pretty sure that the finished product will look a little different from that N64-quality rendering. We'll see how it turns out. If nothing else, having a 24-hour diner right in the middle of the convention district should be a win for everyone.

[uptownbro]

Butcher and boar will reopen in may. It will be under craves management. The building is undergoing a face lift

[seanrichardryan]

But not 'Butcher & the Boar.' That name is owned by Jester Concepts.

[seanrichardryan]

'Butcher's Tale'
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/c ... uxbndlbing

[grant1simons2]

Afro Deli is reopening, Vellee Deli is back open and Green + Grain has a long line that wraps into the skyway during lunch. Downtown isn't dead yet!

[dimabima]

Afro Deli is reopening, Vellee Deli is back open and Green + Grain has a long line that wraps into the skyway during lunch. Downtown isn't dead yet!

A nuclear bomb could go off downtown and Green + Grain would still have a line that wraps around the skyway. Good news on the other restaurants!

[grant1simons2]

Still waiting for Taco John's to reopen. There's paper up on the glass of the former Dunn Bros space across from Taco John's. Not sure what might be going in...

Starbucks has cleared out of their Nic on Fifth space, so RIP to the leasing team for that building. They're back to square one!

[Silophant]

MSPMag confirms that Kaskaid will be opening The Butcher's Tale in the old Butcher and the Boar space in May, and also that Jester has secured the Butcher and the Boar trademark, and has their eye on a space and a chef to open the new Butcher and the Boar later this year.

[mattaudio]

Starbucks has cleared out of their Nic on Fifth space, so RIP to the leasing team for that building.

That was my fav Starbucks downtown because it wasn't in the skyway.

[grant1simons2]

Always the Commons one! Which seems to be doing okay so far...

[seanrichardryan]

So maybe not every store should have an urban format.

https://twitter.com/MplsPedestrian/stat ... 9510581252

[twincitizen]

Having flashbacks (probably documented in this thread) from when the building owner came to the city asking for a variance to turn part of the space into non-retail, saying that they would never be able to attract a restaurant due to the building's lack of any loading dock. Surely the city prohibits them from pulling trucks up on the sidewalk (or even using Nicollet Mall for access).

The best (and only?) solution is probably to park the truck on 5th street and just block all car traffic while they unload. They would also need to put down some traffic cones at Marquette, so that any cars using 5th Street are forced to turn onto Marquette (preventing them from being forced onto Nicollet Mall). In that scenario, the only possible vehicles that could get detoured onto the Mall during unloading would be those coming out of the parking garage exit onto 5th (current RBC Plaza). Depending on the time of day they deliver, that could be near zero cars. That's certainly a better solution than this nightmare.

[grant1simons2]

Well that explains how the sign got dented. I go there a couple times a week, and was really curious about how a sign that high up was crunched.

[Silophant]

You wouldn't need to block all car traffic on 5th, just shunt it over to the other side of the LRT tracks. They'd have to turn right on Hennepin then instead of being able to turn left or continue straight, but that doesn't seem like a huge deal for, what, maybe an hour or so?

[grant1simons2]

Yesterday I saw the guy using an electric assist pallet, parked on 6th St.

[MinnMonkey]

Star Tribune had an article talking about how most downtown business are planning on starting to remove the boarded up windows starting next week.

They interviewed the owners of City Center, and they said they are leaving the boards up at 7th and Nicollet as they prepare the space for a new tenant. Does anyone recall who that tenant will be?

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[uptown82]

Sounds like Bell Bank is opening a branch at city center. Glad to see spaces filled but this does not add any shopping excitement to downtown

[twincitizen]

A bank branch is a perfect use of skyway level space. Hopefully something more interesting fills the ground-level former Sports Authority

[MinnMonkey]

Farmers Market will be returning to Nicollet Mall starting June 3rd.

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