New stores coming to Duluth, anyone know of any? (Rochester: apartment, townhouses)

[duluthian2008]

Yeah I sorta agree but I dont think most business's are going to wait two years to open a location. Plus the hotel has already started to clear land. MN Dot project wont be done for a while.

[duluthian2008]

Does anyone know whatever happened to the Members Cooperative Hermantown Branch being built? They were suppose to start in May building their new branch next to Hom Furniture but I haven't seen any activity. Anyone have any info?

[ComeToDuluth]

Dollar Days in the Village Square has signs up saying they are closing and everything is 20% off....the thing is they did this once before and ended up selling soo much stuff with the sale that they stayed open...but if they do close that will open up a new prime area for a new store. Anyone have any info on this?

[duluthian2008]

Starbucks names first 50 closings of 600 store locations, seven of which are in Minnesota. Its great neither of Duluth's made it onto the list but I am still wondering about if they will. Does the downtown one do that well? I know the Miller Hill Mall one does well. The closings in Minnesota are in Albert Lea, Rochester, Red Wing, Blaine, Brooklyn Center and two in Coon Rapids.

[ComeToDuluth]

Originally Posted by aluminumpork

I wonder which "national electronic chain" this is? It pretty much has to be Best Buy I suppose. Unless it's a little remodel of Radio Shack or something.

Duluth, Minnesota - Retail Construction Lead

I believe this was for Best Buy after all. I was inside the store today and they had a big section closed off by the car audio area they were remodeling. I know I never walked back by this section too often so whatever they are doing i'm sure they are trying to increase the traffic to that area.

[nateduluthnative]

Originally Posted by duluthian2008

Does anyone know whatever happened to the Members Cooperative Hermantown Branch being built? They were suppose to start in May building their new branch next to Hom Furniture but I haven't seen any activity. Anyone have any info?

Isn't there enough banks and credit unions in the area? I think there is, but there isn't enough good dining and shopping options for an area this size. I do believe the economy, gas prices and road construction on the Miller Trunk may stall a few projects for awhile.

[fromupthere]

Originally Posted by duluthian2008

Starbucks names first 50 closings of 600 store locations, seven of which are in Minnesota. Its great neither of Duluth's made it onto the list but I am still wondering about if they will. Does the downtown one do that well? I know the Miller Hill Mall one does well. The closings in Minnesota are in Albert Lea, Rochester, Red Wing, Blaine, Brooklyn Center and two in Coon Rapids.

I don't think it necessarily will have to do with whether or not they do well. The Macaroni Grill in Rochester was always packed but because corporate was having financial issues they closed it. Sad when stuff like that happens to a place that is doing well.

[duluthian2008]

Well these locations in Minnesota were underperforming locations. The Rochester one had no one in it ever when I went to that Starbucks. I do remember when I went to Romanos it was packed and yes that company was not closing stores due to sales. But with the Starbucks closures it is based of the amount of sales they complete.

[fromupthere]

Originally Posted by duluthian2008

Well these locations in Minnesota were underperforming locations. The Rochester one had no one in it ever when I went to that Starbucks. I do remember when I went to Romanos it was packed and yes that company was not closing stores due to sales. But with the Starbucks closures it is based of the amount of sales they complete.

That's interesting considering people down here are saying that Starbucks was very successful. I'd base my impressions of it on the people down here who frequent the place.

How does the one by the mall do in Duluth? Seems like there's hardly any parking there and the one time I went there with my sister (which was probably less than an hour before closing) it was dead. That was a while ago and I'm not a big coffee drinker myself so I don't keep track of these things.

[duluthian2008]

Well the problem with Starbucks in Minnesota is that this is Caribou Coffee territory. Minnesota has the second largest amount of Starbucks closing in the country, the first is California with 8. They feel that Minnesota's large amount is due to the fact that Minnesotans generally choose Caribou Coffee or Starbucks.

The mall one does extremely well I think. I am more concerned for the downtown location, but I am not down there often so I dont know how well it does. The parking is a major problem at the Miller Hill Starbucks location. I often see cars parking on the frontage road for Starbucks do the the lack of parking in the designated parking lot. I always see it busy during the day. But who knows anyone one of us could be surprised.

Also I have driven past that Starbucks in Rochester many, many times. I never see anyone in their parking lot. I feel there is one major contributing factor to this. Their location is so far off the beaten path that most people dont find it or dont want to venture out there. Once that area gets more built up with more retail, offices and houses I think they would do very well. You never know, if these closings do well for Starbucks they may reopen some of their closed stores such as Rochester's in the coming years.