Corner of Lexington and Larpenteur (Roseville, Excelsior: tenants, construction, live)

[Pisces69]

Anyone know what's being built there? Used to be an MGM Liquor Store and headquarters.

[spectre000]

Originally Posted by Pisces69

Anyone know what's being built there? Used to be an MGM Liquor Store and headquarters.

I believe it'll be a new Walgreens.

[StanleyVegas]

Originally Posted by spectre000

I believe it'll be a new Walgreens.

I just went to that MGM last month to find it closed. There a Walgreens right across Larpentueur on Lexington (Roseville side). Maybe it's moving? Seems like they're already everywhere.

[Globe199]

That's right, it's a new Walgreens. I'm glad to see it, as the existing store just north of there is dated and shabby (late 1980s, I think). Only problem is that it's more vacant retail in an area that already has too much retail.

What's funny is that every Walgreens in the world must have the same layout. I was just inside one of their stores in Wasilla, Alaska and I knew right where to go for everything. They even had the exceptionally dim-witted person working the checkout. At least they're consistent.

[pannierpacker]

This is a very needed improvement. The sidewalk used to be quite narrow between the stoplight pole and the old beer building. Yeah, the Walgreens isn't the best looking facility, but someone else can reutilize if it Walgreens ever leaves

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by Globe199

That's right, it's a new Walgreens. I'm glad to see it, as the existing store just north of there is dated and shabby (late 1980s, I think). Only problem is that it's more vacant retail in an area that already has too much retail.

What's funny is that every Walgreens in the world must have the same layout. I was just inside one of their stores in Wasilla, Alaska and I knew right where to go for everything. They even had the exceptionally dim-witted person working the checkout. At least they're consistent.

You think the late 1980s is old?!

[Globe199]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

You think the late 1980s is old?!

I more meant that the interior of the existing Walgreens is dated and shabby. The exterior of that strip mall isn't bad.

[Pisces69]

Larpenteur could be a nice area but instead it's a blah area. They had a chance to make this a walkable area, especially with the Rainbow foods. The citizens of Roseville and Saint Paul wanted the Rainbow at the street, with the parking lot behind. But it didn't happen because of some issue with the trucks would have to drive around the back and unload. Seemed like a cop out. All these old strip malls could be torn down and new street level businesses with parking behind could be constructed ala Excelsior/Grand St Louis Park. If they could do higher density commercial, they could perhaps get all the businesses over at Har Mar over here, and make that area residential. We have too much retail sprawling around Roseville, there's not any coherent places. All of our malls except Rosedale have large vacancies, and are ugly old and dilapidated looking. Rosedale is a hodge podge of indoor and ourdoor mall and is a parking nightmare.

[Globe199]

Well, there have been some minor improvements to that area, such as that crappy old Robert Paul TV building getting a re-do. It's much nicer now. But the strip mall on the east side of Lexington needs to be completely redone. It took them forever to finally get around to repairing the parking lot surface.

All in all, there are way too many strip malls, though that isn't a problem unique to Roseville To me one of the bigger blights is the former Circuit City space. God only knows if that place will EVER be permanently occupied.

Did you notice that the former Ultimate Electronics building got re-done as well? Looks like another (!) updated mini-strip similar to the Robert Paul building. Good grief. (I haven't been over there for a while, so I don't know if there are any tenants.) Also good to see Cost Plus moving back into their old location.

[MDTA4]

Hey, as long as we own the land, and the businesses we want to put on it, and the strip malls we want to tear down, and the stores we want to move out of HarMar, no problem... oh wait... that land is privately owned and those businesses are privately owned, and neither the City of St Paul (where the construction is happening) nor the City of Roseville (where the current Walgreen's and Har Mar are) actually own any of that. Funny how it works. The concept of private property is so incovenient for those of us who know best how everyone else should live.