New stores coming to Duluth, anyone know of any? (Minneapolis: statistics, transportation)

[duluthian2008]

Today I found some more retail developments that are planned for the area, although these are on the smaller size.

In Cloquet we all know that there is Superior (Whitewater) Crossing being developed, but there also is the Cloquet Business Park that will have some retail in it. I have attached the site plan for the development. They have a little half a cul-du-sac of commercial lots for sale, so far two have sold. Below is the link for the site plan.
http://www.co.carlton.mn.us/Departme...20ED%20Web.pdf

In Esko there is a retail development planned called "Esko Town Center", it is a 50 acre newly designed private retail park along Interstate 35. Now this seems a little sketchy to me being the site plan does not look very professional and the first and second phase do not quite make sense. Plus there are not facts or figures on this development. To me it seems like the developer of this development has not planned out the phases very well. Usually a succesful development will put the big box retailers in first in order to draw people to the development. Then they will put in the smaller retail buildings. This development has their phases the opposite way. Doesnt really make sense to me. Here is the site plan.
http://www.co.carlton.mn.us/Departme...nter%20PDF.pdf

And the final retail development I found was in Moose Lake. This one is a little far off from us in Duluth, but for those of you who live closer to Moose Lake I thought I would post this. This development is called "Moose Lake Retail Park" and is a development of commercial and retail outlots. The site already has a retailer that is open, Alco. The site is a 60 acre Retail Park under development with a 17 acre Phase I retail development and a 35 acre Phase II commercial development. The second phase is a lot of land, I could see Walmart Supercenter building here. The site also will have a new Moose Lake School to the south of it.
http://www.co.carlton.mn.us/Departme...20Web%20ED.pdf

[chublake]

I love this, you guys are awesome with your investigations. Personally speaking, I (we - my husband should be included here....) may want to rethink selling our lakehome on Chub Lake even though I would never dream of moving back there. I'm so happy to see that development is robust in the Esko, Cloquet and Moose Lake area (big expansion of the prison). Take that Duluth.... perhaps you will learn. Duluth 2008 you need to run for something!!! You are more in touch with what's going on than anybody up there. Go guy go...

[duluthian2008]

There is a lot more happening in the surrounding areas around Duluth then I thought! Its actually really nice to see! That way more development should be happening in these areas and Duluth actually might start to get a notable metro! Cloquet so far is leading in retail development! They have a ton of stuff going on and the addition of Superior Crossings is going to be huge! I would love to run for something! Hmmm maybe I should! Thanks for the thought!

If I find anything new out soon Ill let you guys know!!

[nateduluthnative]

Originally Posted by duluthian2008

I was just researching today on some retail developments happening in cities around the same size as Duluth with metros that are also around the same size also. I came across Souix Falls and Rapid City, ND. Souix Falls is larger than Duluth but about 40,000, but Rapid City is around 40,000 smaller than Duluth. What I found interesting was both of these cities have huge retail developments being built right now. Souix Falls has a smaller metro than Duluth, but has four huge retail developments (600,000+ sqf) and one that is being built that is over 1 million square feet of solid retail. The city also is gaining doubles of many of its largest retailers in these developments. Rapid city also has a few large retail developments going on. So this once again peaked my interest into why Duluth has nothing like this happening. Supposedly these cities have these developments going on because they are the largest cities in the state, which I believe, and also due to the distance from other large cities. But isnt that the same thing with Duluth? We are the fourth largest city in the state and we are a great distance from the other large cities in the state. Why dont we have any retail developments developments happening that are as large as Souix Fall's or Rapid City's developments? I believe this once again could be due to retailers fear of failing in the city. It just doesnt make sense to me. Anyone else have any thoughts?

I am trying very hard to find some new retail information out for us. Seems as if Duluth is in a little lull right now.

It's because South Dakota is a free state and businesses and people have been fleeing Minnesota for Sioux Falls for years-I can't wait to get the hell out of here! Retailers go where people will spend their money at them, the average Duluthian has no money after the city, St. Louis County, Duluth public Schools, the State of Minnesota and the Federal Gov't keeps picking their pockets. Duluth and Northern Minnesota have been run by communists for years and until there is a major revolution at the polls you will not see your favorite retailers or restaurants locate there anytime soon. Sorry folks, but facts are stubborn things!

[duluthian2008]

I agree with you nateduluthnative. I think its going to be a while until Duluth changes, if ever. It just makes me so angry to see how Duluth has all this potential and it pushes away everything and anything that wants to invest in it. There could be some really cool retail centers here and other venues and attractions if the city would lighten up and accept that Duluth is dying and needs to grow and that we cant save every tree in the city.

I think Duluth really needs a lifestyle center next to sames club. That site can hold 400,000 square feet of retail if it was in a lifestyle center format. It would be perfect. Also I think there should be a retail center with big box retailers and smaller retailers on the corner of Arrowhead and Haines. That site is 40 ares for sale right now zoned commercial, but they could also expand more south and it would top 80 acres. That site would be another perfect site for a large retail development.

[duluthian2008]

I started a Super Target petition, not that it is going to do much or get one here, but I just thought it would be interesting to see how many people believe we need one. Feel free to sign it if you want, dont feel obligated to! In reality I probably should have done one for Chipotle, Noodles and Panera too!

Bring a Super Target to Duluth, Minnesota!

[duluthian2008]

Below is a picture of a two story Super Target with parking on top of the store and escalators leading into the store. This is what needs to happen to Duluths Target. Heres what Target needs to do. Remodel and expand the Target in Superior, then close the Duluth location, tear it down and rebuild it as a two level store, like the one below. When Duluth's is closed people can either visit the new remodeled Target in Superior or venture to the Super Target in Cloquet (which would be open in 2010). Then Target will be able to build a new Super Target in Duluth and satisfy everyones needs. One of my co-workers friend worked on the Duluth Target board and they remember when a two story Target plan was introduced. Target wanted to make ours a Super Target and knew they did not have enough room to expand on the sides to make it one. So they decided they would go and try to build a two story Super Target, like they have done in other cities. But of course the city denied it because of height restrictions. Now I really do not get this myself when the current Target store does not even come up to the street level of Best Buy. Now if Target was to build a two story store it still wouldnt be as tall as Best Buy. Now this has me wondering if Best Buy was fighting it because it would cut off their visibilty? What are everyones thoughts?

[chublake]

Hate to burst your guys bubble about a two story Target. I have been to several and they are a nightmare. Go to Tampa and see theirs - ish. Try Philadelphia's and you won't get out of the shower for hours to get yourself clean. Believe me, you don't want one. A Super Target is great, two stories, nah - you wouldn't like it.

As I have said before, the place to put new development should have been at Spirit Mountain, but that is stupid now because of Cloquet and Esko doing their thing. Miller Hill is a pain to get to. Central Entrance - HELP.... So, where to expand? Downtown would be great, but up the shore, just outside of town would be great (plus, I also had previously mentioned the Central High School site for an upscale shopping center).

I still love John Fedo's idea for a shopping center over the freeway downtown. Now, that would be a great idea. And... I'm not a democrat - I'm a conservative!!!! Forget the playground (which can be anywhere) down there.

Build it and they will come. With a view - they will love it.

[duluthian2008]

I've been to a few two story Targets, including Nicollet's Malls in Downtown Minneapolis. So far all the ones I have seen are clean, and just because the ones you have been to were dirty doesnt mean they all are .

You cant develop land out by Spirit. Spirit Mountain owns a large amount of the land surrounding it and that area is were environmentalists really fight development. There are only two places you can build, both are right next to the freeway with great visibility, but are also far away from a free way entrance or exit. Plus the landscape is so rocky and hilly that it is really expensive to build. But both parcels for sale are over 40 ares, they really could hold some nice retail development. Hopefully those will sell! The Miller Hill Mall areas roads are all being expanded at the current moment to ease traffic and plans for Central Entrance are in the works too. Downtown Duluth would have to be a two or more story Target and it would have to go in a pre built building. There are no open lots. Walmart tried to build a Supercenter back in early 2000 outside of town just up the shore and the communities and towns out there shot it down before it could get off the ground. Central High School is an option, but that wont be available for a while. We'll just have to wait and see!

[aluminumpork]

The DTA's new multi-modal transportation center that is being planned will address the "mall over the freeway idea" slightly. DTA's new transportation hub will include rail, bus and taxi connections and will connect to an expanded skywalk system. Most notably, a widened and remodeled skywalk connection to the DECC, over I35. Wide enough to house shops and other retail. It would be no mall, but would be very cool!