New stores coming to Duluth, anyone know of any? (home, purchase)

[MNpaddler]

Where was Gander Mountain previously located? Why did they move?

[newcastle]

It was located in its own building across from the mall on Hwy 53.

[duluthian2008]

That site that you heard was being development in the parking lot of Stone Ridge is not being developed. Griffin Companies of Minneapolis was going to develop it but Stone Ridge needs to have a certain amount of parking becuase you know THE PARKING LOT IS ALWAYS FULL! But do to that restriction nothing can be built. Next to AT&T is offices and ReMax will be located in one space. I also have same question about Maple Ridge Center. I know for Sure Bobs Golf will be but I heard Pizza Ranch also but I think their deal fell through.

[duluthian2008]

Gander Mt's old space is being leased by Chris Simmons and is said to be split up among many tenants.

[duluthian2008]

Does anyone have any new info on the Residence Inn or Duluth Hill, the land across from Home Depot?

[sivmac]

Texas Roadhouse is FANTASTIC!!!!! We use to live in Phoenix whe they had on and moved back to Andover, MN and now we have one in Andover too!! One of the best stakes, ribs and their green beans, bread and cinnamon butter are to die for. As for Panera etc, that sounds great too. We go up to Duluth at least once to twice a month, our favorite runaway spot and would love to have a Panera sandwich or a plate of noodles from Oodles!!

Originally Posted by duluthian2008

Haha. The Welsh Companies space that Texas Steak House and Culvers will be opening in is called "Duluth Hill." The concept plan has changed from the one online, I have the new version. Its the same just some things are different with the actual site plans of the buildings. Is Texas Steak House a good restuarant? Are they nice? What are their square footages? Also do you know when Culvers and Texas Steak House might start construction and be open? I have talked to Chris Simmons who is leasing the Gander Mt. space. He says no one is interested yet. They are talking about spliting the space up. Circuit City is the only place I could think of coming to Duluth, but being they are not doing very well I dont see it as soon. I really think Duluth needs Panera Bread, Noodles and Company, Chipotle, and more higher food places, also more freestanding sit down restuarants so we can give the college students a little taste of home.

[duluthian2008]

Thats great to hear!!! Aluminumpork is Texas Roadhouse still going to be built?

[duluthian2008]

Does anyone have any information about the Esko Town Center project?

[ScranBarre]

Never say never when it comes to your city being able to attract a chain. Scranton, Pennsylvania is almost a mirror image of Duluth in many ways. Duluth attracts a sizeable number of tourists in the warmer months from the Twin Cities to check out Lake Superior whereas Scranton and its environs attract a plethora of folks from Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York City for skiing in the adjacent Poconos. Duluth has declined sharply in terms of population, but Scranton has also nosedived from 145,000 to 70,000 today, more than a 50% decline. Scranton's median family income is a little higher than Duluth's, but it is still comparable. Duluth has a lot of "naysayers." So does Scranton.

As recently as the mid-1990s my area had very few national chain retailers or restaurants. Now I can rattle off hundreds, including (but not limited to):

• Abercrombie & Fitch
• Ann Taylor Loft
• Apple (Rumored)
• Banana Republic
• Barnes & Noble
• Bed, Bath & Beyond
• Bennigan's
• Best Buy
• Borders
• Bose
• Brooks Brothers
• Burberry
• Cacique
• Calvin Klein
• Chico's
• Christmas Tree Shops
• Coach
• Coldwater Creek
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Cracker Barrel
• Dress Barn
• Eddie Bauer
• Express For Men
• Gander Mountain
• Guitar Center
• Hard Rock Cafe (Okay! So I'm Kidding on This One! LOL!)
• Harry & David
• Hollister
• Home Depot
• Izod
• J. Crew
• J. Jill
• Johnny Rocket's
• Jones New York
• Kohl's
• Lane Bryant
• Liz Claiborne
• Logan's Roadhouse
• Longhorn Steakhouse
• Lowe's Home Improvement
• Macy's
• Movado
• Nautica
• New York & Company
• Nine West
• Olive Garden
• Outback Steakhouse
• Panera Bread
• Panchero's
• Perry Ellis
• Pfaltzgraff
• Puma
• Ruths Chris Steakhouse (Rumored)
• Samsonite
• Starbuck's
• Talbot's
• Target
• Timberland
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Uno Chicago Grille
• Van Heusen
• Yankee Candle
  ...Many More

However, all of these chains haven't come at a "price" though. Our local downtowns probably lack the vitality that Downtown Duluth apparently has in terms of independent merchants, as you can only stretch our local dollars so many directions. As others have said, be VERY careful what you wish for. You might initially like the influx of chains, but before long your area's outer periphery will become just as homogenized as the rest of America's suburbs. Don't sell your city's independent retailers and mom-and-pop restaurants out for corporate America the way Scranton has.

[duluthian2008]

Wait does Scranton have a lifestyle center or outdoor mall that contains many of these places? I could see many of those stores coming to Duluth soon. How big is the metro of Scranton?