Visions For Vacancies: The Old Dunn Bros.
Well it's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new installment. What's your vision for this space? Let us know in the comment stream below.
Ok, here it is. Our Wednesday installment of Visions For Vacancies.
This property is the latest Arbor Pointe shop featured in Visions. Why Dunn Bros. didn't succeed here is a bit confusing. Obviously it's across the street from Caribou Coffee, so perhaps it was simply poor business planning. But it seems like a great location—just minutes from Highways 52 & 55—which includes a drive thru window.
What do you think would work here? Secondary question: Why are there so many Arbor Pointe vacancies?
Here's what people said about other vacant spots in IGH:
- This one is great for a sit-down, family restaurant
- This one is in a tricky location but could be ideal for a Chipotle
- This one didn't get much feedback. It remains a cliff hanger
- People said this one would be good for Arby's or Bruegger's
- Was it management or concept that led to this one's failure?
- No one really knows much about Johnny The Hub
- Good for an Olive Garden or Red Lobster
Connie Siebers
7:57 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Starbucks Would be awesome! Caribou sucks!
MJB
8:45 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The layout is already perfect for a BRUEGGERS!!!!
Al Tate
8:52 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Brueggers would be good. We already had one failed coffee shop, so no Starbucks please! Or maybe a massage parlor! hee hee
Jeff Roberts
9:03 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Hmm ... the old massage parlor suggestion, eh? If anyone from the EDA or Planning Commission is reading, what are the chances Al will get his massage parlor? 1 in a million?
Jeff Roberts
8:53 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I like the Brueggers idea! I still don't understand why so many shops are vacant in that little corner of the city. It seems like a great business location. Anyway, great suggestion!
Jim Edward
9:16 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Jeff, I think stopping for a cup of coffee is, a lot of the time, a spur of the moment decision. I don't think about having a cup of coffee in the middle of the day unless I happen to see a Caribou sign and then the thought hits me. In fact, any sign but Starbucks brings on the urge for a cup. When people are heading for work in the morning they seldom want to take the time to go to an out of the way coffee shop. Granted, it wouldn't take but 2 minutes longer to go there, but we live in a hurry up society. That's the reason for the success of so many fast food chains. Given it's track record, if I had money to invest, I wouldn't put it in Arbor Point center.
Anna Schier
8:58 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
What about an independent coffee shop? I'd love to see Black Sheep expand and open up an Inver Grove location.
Jeff Roberts
9:31 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Thanks for the insights, Jim!
Keith Joyce
9:43 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Dunkin' Donuts or Bruggers would get my vote.
Ken Coy
11:46 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The issue with that location is lack of decent traffic flow. It's not intuitive for people who aren't familiar with the area. So, any business that would go in there would have to be something that would be a destination business (yoga studio, spa, massage studio, etc). Shops that rely on drive-by traffic or are spur of the moment types (coffee shop, bakery, donut shop, etc.) will have a much more difficult time there. It's also not big enough for a bagelry or bakery that makes their goods on-site.
Jeff Roberts
1:23 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
A great assessment, Ken. And STOP THE PRESSES! Al agrees with Ken AND Jim. I've not even been in IGH very long but this has got to be a first! :)
Al Tate
12:23 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I know this is a first - but I completely agree with Jim and Ken and they are spot on with their assessments about this area. They couldn't have said it any better.
Scott Allen
12:43 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Cigar bar / Cigar shop
Jeff Roberts
1:27 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I've not heard that one before. I think those are popping up more and more around the suburbs. You'd likely face opposition from some people but I know a lot of people—men and women—that enjoy their local cigar shop.
MJB
3:13 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Scott, you are the "Prez"...turn one of them empty 2 bedrooms into a cigar bar. :)
Connie Siebers
10:28 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
No way...smoking should be against the law!!
MJB
7:53 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Why should smoking be against the law? It is already banned from resturants, bars, parks and MANY other public places. If people choose to smoke, they choose to smoke. You really want to put a ton of tax payer's money into making smoking illegal? You really want the police force to focus on someone smoking a cigarette when they could be using their time fighting real crimes? If you are going to make smoking illegal, then why not go all the way and get rid of alcohol, greasy/fatty foods, soda, candy etc. etc. etc.??
Scott Allen
2:24 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
If you don't like cigars, don't go to the cigar shop. seems like a simple enough solution to the opposition
Kathee
2:57 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Panera would be good...
oldman@thegym
12:08 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
My vision several months ago, when I was attempting to purchase Anytime Fitness (in the same complex) was to start a "healthy" restaurant that had tie-ins to the gym. My focus are foods/meals that near a 40% carb, 30% protein, 30% fat (max of 5% saturated fat), with an eye to sodium and sugar content as well. There would also be options for diabetics, gluten intolerant, etc. Sure, there's Subway nearby, but plenty of unhealthy choices there, and their sliced turkey (as an example) pales compares to say Boar's Head Oven Gold turkey.
Does anyone think this concept could fly in this town? When entertaining the idea, many said what has been stated here previously, no one wants the inconvenience of hopping the median or maybe finding it...so I would ask, how is that Verizon store doing lately? That might be telling...
Jeff Roberts
11:11 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I've often that a fast food place that serves healthy food, actually healthy food at the ratios you describe, could succeed. Give people a healthy alternative to the Subways, Wendy's etc. and you might have something there.
J
1:00 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I would hope that there isn't a businessperson dumb enough to locate a store in that area. Access is terrible, thanks to ridiculous enviromental laws the developer had to contend with.
Rachel Hanson
3:38 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I think this would make a great bookstore! I would love to have a bookstore in our community.
Jeff Roberts
9:10 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
A small, locally-owned new/used bookstore would be a great addition to Inver Grove Heights. Throw a couple comfy chairs in there and serve wine after 5pm and you might just have that destination business!
Rosie
12:03 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I would love to see a Starbucks in this area. There probably will be one in the new Target...but a stand-alone Starbucks would be great. I go out of my way to stop at Starbucks a couple times a week.
Jeff Roberts
9:26 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Hi Rosie! Think a Starbucks would work across the street from a Caribou?
Rosie
9:28 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
There are 2 Starbucks (1 stand alone & 1 in Target) and a Caribou right across the street from each other in Bloomington off 494 (Caribou is right in between the 2 Starbucks). Also in Edina there is a Starbucks in the Galleria and then a Caribou right across the street. I think it's all a matter of taste. People seem pretty biased towards one or the other.