urbanMSP

Why not? I was excited to see a new restaurant in the neighborhood.

Why not? I was excited to see a new restaurant in the neighborhood.

A restaurant doesn't serve the foot traffic at the station particularly well and has too large of requirement for parking. Two smaller businesses would drive stronger foot traffic and potentially activate the public space. As a resident of this building, I would prefer a deli/cafe that could provide grab and go options to commuters.

I agree. Ignoring the sideshow on parking/parking permits, the restaurant wasn't a good idea for the spot. I think a cafe/coffee shop would be a better fit. However, I wish there were more restaurants in the area.

Would Locavore have taken up the entire retail space here? If so, then I'd agree that's not an ideal fit.

Are they looking for space elsewhere in the neighborhood then?

Would Locavore have taken up the entire retail space here? If so, then I'd agree that's not an ideal fit.

From the plans I saw, yes they were planning on taking up the available space. Edit: Seen below.

^That image doesn't load. It just says "Image"

Despite my excitement followed by disappointment regarding Locavore, like to see something that is a little more casual. I have had to wait 20-30 minutes countless times at 46th Street station to catch my 46 home from the airport. Nothing says welcome home like standing on a little concrete island with a little shelter to wait for a bus to take me the last two miles home after being on planes, a tram, and the light rail. A coffee shop or something similar would really help out.

^That image doesn't load. It just says "Image"

Despite my excitement followed by disappointment regarding Locavore, like to see something that is a little more casual. I have had to wait 20-30 minutes countless times at 46th Street station to catch my 46 home from the airport. Nothing says welcome home like standing on a little concrete island with a little shelter to wait for a bus to take me the last two miles home after being on planes, a tram, and the light rail. A coffee shop or something similar would really help out.

Try this

Yeah, we need more 40 seat restaurants and fewer 80 seat restaurants. This would be much less risk for everyone involved if it was two spaces. Not sure why landlords are always so eager to rent out consolidated storefronts... It seems like risk at any point is lower if they had more leases on fewer spaces.

You know why we don't have 40 seat restaurants. Because the ordinances discourage them.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/licensing/WCMS1P-134239

Time to bring that up to the council members, esp. Frey?, to get that revisited and made easier to achieve a 40-seat restaurant.

It says in there that a restaurant has to have seating for 25 people if they serve liquor. Or am I missing something?

They're going through the process of changing it right now from 50 to 25.

But aside from that, there are a lot of sunk costs when you're opening a restaurant (most notably all of the commercial kitchen equipment) that you'd like to spread out over more seats.

They're going through the process of changing it right now from 50 to 25.

But aside from that, there are a lot of sunk costs when you're opening a restaurant (most notably all of the commercial kitchen equipment) that you'd like to spread out over more seats.

I read somewhere zoning and conservative developers are holding back small, cute retail and dining, not economics.

People are pretty boring.

Ugg boots? Really, Nick?

Also, a barber.

Otherwise, well done.

I second the barber recommendation. Ask for an appointment with Paul. I may have been in there at the same time as a more prominent member of this site quite recently.

Ugg boots? Really, Nick?

I'm a classy lady!

They're going through the process of changing it right now from 50 to 25.

But aside from that, there are a lot of sunk costs when you're opening a restaurant (most notably all of the commercial kitchen equipment) that you'd like to spread out over more seats.

Sorry, yes, I wasn't clear that the link was to Frey's proposal to change the ordinance. But really, why 25? Why any limit? Why not just allow people to open restaurants of whatever size they like, particularly ones that are serving liquor.

I would have thought that given the local Lutheran disdain for having fun with alcohol, and especially large numbers of people having fun together with alcohol you'd want to make it easier to open smaller venues. But apparently not.

So, is the management just holding onto hope of renting this giant space someday? Such a shame it's still empty. They should split it up.

Was meaning to ask the same! Especially since I just made the biggest purchase of my life 3 blocks away!

Something really awesome (or even just useful) going in here would go a long way towards helping me not feel like I overpaid.