urbanSTL

Cool. I didn't know there were "express" Target stores.

Even if downtown St. Louis didn't get a full City Target - a Target Express would be a good addition.

I think the MX District space on Locust St. would be a great fit as well.

cool stuff, arch. here is the Times article on the urban express stores, with a 20K sq. footer just opening in Minneapolis:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/busin ... .html?_r=0

Seems like they are targetting young adults and students, and perhaps something like this would work real well in CWE or Midtown as well as downtown.

roger wyoming II wrote:cool stuff, arch. here is the Times article on the urban express stores, with a 20K sq. footer just opening in Minneapolis:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/busin ... .html?_r=0

Seems like they are targetting young adults and students, and perhaps something like this would work real well in CWE or Midtown as well as downtown.

I'd much rather see the full Target at the Federal Mogul site.

I know some people will want to punch me in the face for suggesting this: but the Delmar Loop would be ideal in my book.

sirshankalot wrote:Not trolling, just trying to be realistic. A good start for DT STL would be if one, just one, of these monlith suburban HQ's would pack up and move DT....hello Monsanto, let your office space become research space and move the offices DT....

I'm not trying to antagonize you at all, but what's "realistic" is quite subjective from person to person.

Personally, I don't think the city is doing enough to lure retail to downtown. There's no strategy or initiative, it seems. There are certainly enough workers and residents downtown to have more low and middle-end retail than it currently does.

However, I agree with you on Monsanto. Any positive traction for downtown - whether retail, jobs, corporations etc. - is good traction.

Have to agree with sirshankalot, in that companies will locate their stores only where they can source enough customers to justify their investments. And, with the sporadic population of Downtown for professional workers, I'm not anticipating Target wanting to build a Target Express anytime soon there. I'd like it, no doubt, but I'm not holding my breath.

The excitement should stay with what's going in at the former Federal Mogul site. The area around FPP & Vandeventer is the most exciting place for retail in the City, and I'd anticipate any new big stores building and/or locating proximate to this corner.

Start me off with a Dunkin Donuts in Downtown. Maybe some news on Union Station later.
But until then, my eyes are on Midtown.

And: I also have hope that Monsanto will reconsider locating their Administrative HQ in Downtown, and the resultant boom in daytime population throughout the Downtown street grid. And all the new tax revenues. And how such a move could be a catalyst for more companies to locate in Downtown. Imagine what a City we'd have...

gone corporate wrote:Start me off with a Dunkin Donuts in Downtown.

Even a little thing like a downtown DD would be good move. Downtown Chicago has like a dozen: why can't we have just one?

^ ^ At 1/5 the size of a CityTarget, I wonder what market demographics are required (and what exactly they sell) for Target Express. Sounds like maybe a glorified CVS or something. I could see something like this work around M/X.

Anyway, I'm with you on the Dunkin Donuts. Oh, and a Jamba Juice.

Amens all around. I'm a sucker for DD's coffee.
If I had the money, I'd buy the LaSalle Building, move my company into it, and locate a Dunkin Donuts on the ground floor.

Does anyone remember the little kiosk structure near the Mansion House complex that once housed a Dunkin' Donuts? I believe it was at the corner of 4th & Pine, right in front of what is now the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Not sure if it was part of the original complex or not. It was an awesome urban little building-- reminded me of something you'd see in New York or something-- designed for busy commuters buzzing in and out. I also remember the street hustlers who used to gather outside of it and played card games on the newspaper dispensers. I can't seem to find a pic of the building anywhere, but it existed, I swear!

I do remember that little kiosk!! I loved it. I have vivid memories as a kid. There was a Bi-State stop nearby, a Post-Dispatch newspaper dealer (they were big, metal, school-bus yellow boxes that padlocked shut, maybe thats where they hustled) and the Mansion House had a TWA ticket office. It feel very 'downtown.'

gone corporate wrote: If I had the money, I'd buy the LaSalle Building, move my company into it, and locate a Dunkin Donuts on the ground floor.

can anyone say, "kickstarter!"

shadrach wrote:I do remember that little kiosk!! I loved it. I have vivid memories as a kid. There was a Bi-State stop nearby, a Post-Dispatch newspaper dealer (they were big, metal, school-bus yellow boxes that padlocked shut, maybe thats where they hustled) and the Mansion House had a TWA ticket office. It feel very 'downtown.'

Yes!!! I remember all of it vividly!