Places

Shopping in St. Paul

Posted on by Teresa Boardman
empty store frony
Empty storefront

We all know that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. A couple of decades ago, there was concern about big-box stores replacing small businesses. In some cases, that happened, but today even the big-box stores have left St. Paul.

I don’t recall ever having a Best Buy in St. Paul. At one point, there were a couple of Radio Shack stores.

The only big-box home store we have is Menards. There are no Lowes or HomeDepots.

There are some large grocery stores. Cub and Aldi, but we have never had a Hy-Vee.

There used to be a Kmart and a Walmart, but now there are none in St. Paul. There is no Penny’s store, and we all remember Dayton’s and Marshalls that used to be here. We had a couple of Powers stores in town and a Donaldson’s store downtown.

I don’t think we ever had a Khol’s store, but maybe we did at some point.

We never had a Joanne Fabrics, but we once had Hancock Fabrics and Minnesota Fabrics.

No Michael’s stores or Hobby Lobby’s in St. Paul, and there aren’t any of the large sporting goods stores, but there are small businesses that carry sporting goods like bikes and golf clubs. Remember “Frank’s Nursery and Crafts”; there were a few in St. Paul, and now there are none since 2004.

The last office supply store burned during the civil unrest following the brutal murder of George Floyd. I go to Eagan or order online when I need paper and toner for my business.

There was a Herberger’s in the midway area. They have been gone for a decade.

There are a couple of Target stores in St. Paul. As far as I know, they are not closing anytime soon. I stopped shopping there when they got rid of their DEI policies. My money, my choice.

These days, I do most of my shopping online and at local small businesses. Much of my clothing comes from a local thrift store. I buy my husband’s clothes at the same thrift store and through a major online retailer.

I have never been to a Costco store, and there aren’t any in St. Paul. There used to be a few shoe stores; now there is one. I have been getting my shoes online for many years.  I take a smaller size and they have always been hard to find in stores.

It isn’t at all unusual for me to have to go to a few stores before I find what used to be common household items and cleaning products. There are many big box stores in nearby West St. Paul, which is why property taxes are lower there than in St. Paul.

There are many vacant storefronts in the city. There are plenty of taprooms, bars, and breweries.  Many of the fast food restaurants are gone, but I have to say we have many wonderful restaurants.

The current administration in Washington isn’t what I would call small business-friendly.  There are tariffs, and a portion of our labor force is being deported or is denied entry into the US. Health insurance premiums are unaffordable for small businesses and workers alike. Our health insurance system and the high cost of health care act as deterrents for entrepreneurs.

Happy Shopping.

Throw Back Thursday – Downtown Lunds 2014

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

It is hard to believe but it has been ten years since the downtown St. Paul Lunds store opened. It was indeed a big deal. The population of downtown St. Paul had grown and a grocery store was and is most welcome.

The store has been in the news this week. Starting next week store hours will be shortened by 5 hours. It will open at 10:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM.  The area around the store can seem scary early in the morning. There is always a police officer in the store.

Some folks are claiming the reduced hours create a “food desert”. People who depend on the store will need to adjust and possibly be inconvenienced.  The store is open 7 days a week.

Lunds Grand opening
Musicians – Grand opening May 2014
Lunds store construction
Lunds – late 2013

Throwback Thursday – Fire station 3

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

I am a fan of historic preservation. This old fire station is the home of Hope Breakfast Bar. The food is wonderful and so is the restaurant. The old fire station, built in 1872,  sat empty for years and was used for storage and almost demolished.

It sits on the corner of Grand Avenue and Leech Street and is surrounded by a newish hotel and luxury apartments. There are some coffee shops and a clothing store across the street.

The area has become a destination on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The street in front of the restaurant has been turned into an outdoor dining area.

before and after fire station
Fire Station becomes a restaurant

Hope breakfast bar

Minneapolis St. Paul isn’t a place

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

There is no such place as Minneapolis St. Paul. There is the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. There is a Minneapolis Minnesota and a St. Paul Minnesota and there is a Twin Cities.

I can immediately tell when people are not familiar with the Twin Cities or if they are journalists because they call St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minneapolis – St. Paul, or even St. Paul – Minneapolis.

Also, I get a kick out of how when I write St. Paul it is sometimes rejected as part of an address, and sometimes “Saint Paul” is rejected. “St. Paul” seems to work online more often than “Saint Paul” but you just never know.

That reminds me there is no “East St. Paul” but there is an “East Side”.  It isn’t a huge deal but we can tell the natives from the non-natives because there is no “East St. Paul”. South St. Paul, North St. Paul, and West St. Paul are outside the city limits of St. Paul and each is a city with its own city government and mayor.

St. Paul has a “West End” and a “West Side”. Two different neighborhoods on opposite sides of the river.

The Twin Cities are not really twins. Minneapolis has a nightlife and they even have public fireworks displays on July 4th. St. Paul is where people go to get a good night’s sleep except on July 4th when everyone has their own fireworks display.

Minneapolis has more bike lanes and paths too but to be fair Minneapolis is not nearly as hilly as St. Paul, which is why the real athletes bike in St.Paul.

St. Paul is the last great city of the East and Minneapolis is the first great city of the West. The cities are not in the same county but both are in Minnesota.

Minneapolis is larger than St. Paul but St. Paul is the state capitol.

Minnesota state capitol building
MN State Capitol

 

 

Rice park isn’t getting many visitors

Posted on by Teresa Boardman
Rice Park
Rice Park
Rice park fountain

I took the pictures downtown during what used to be rush hour. The library is closed because of the pandemic and there isn’t any water on in the park. People used to cut through the park on their way to work and there were always people sitting on the benches.

The fountain is empty and so is the park except for that one lone pigeon who is probably hungry.

If you are looking for a quiet place that isn’t crowded where you can enjoy the outdoors I have found it.