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Description
Mayor Frey Announces Workgroup Focused on Future of Downtown Storefronts.
The Mayor will announce his new workgroup focused on exploring opportunities to reinvent the storefront experience in downtown Minneapolis. The Mayor’s Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup will analyze current storefront space, along with local and national trends, to consider how those can be applied downtown – looking at both the street and skyway levels.
The workgroup will begin meeting in January 2023.
Press event was held at Holiday Market in the Young Quinlan Building (81 South 9th Street).
B
All
right
well
good
afternoon,
everyone,
so
many
of
the
changes
that
we've
seen
over
these
last
couple
of
years
have
been
inevitable,
but
they
got
expedited
by
about
six
to
eight
years
because
of
a
global
pandemic.
This
whole
concept
of
hybrid
or
remote
work
was
inevitable,
but
got
expedited
by
a
global
pandemic.
B
B
Multi-Story
department
store,
like
retail,
was
a
dying
model,
but
retail
in
and
of
itself
was
not
dead
at
all
and
is
not
dead.
In
fact,
it's
alive
and
well,
but
it's
changing.
We
need
now
to
be
willing
and
able
to
change
with
the
times
that
we're
seeing
before
us.
People
are
no
longer
going
physically
into
a
space
to
purchase
very
basic
Goods
like
underwear
and
t-shirts.
However,
they
are
looking
for
an
amazing
experience.
B
In
doing
so
so
you
know,
and
what
I
want
to
say
is
is
if
you
look
around
our
city
and
in
other
cities
we
are
seeing
models
of
of
success.
Now
no
neighborhood
is
the
same.
No
city
is
the
same,
but
for
instance
in
North
Loop.
Right
now.
As
an
example,
you
see
storefronts
that
are
jam-packed,
you
see
minimal
vacancies
and
you
see
people
by
the
droves
that
are
shopping
both
during
the
weekday
and
on
the
weekend.
B
That's
something
that
we
can
move
towards,
but
in
a
different
fashion,
giving
the
different
dynamics
that
we
are
now
have
and
experience
in
our
downtown
core
in
the
long
Nicollet
Mall.
So,
along
with
this
group
work
group,
we've
got
many
of
the
top
top
experts
in
this
field
in
this
group,
and
members
are
all
here
with
us
today.
These
are
local
business
owners.
These
are
community
members
Brokers.
B
They
all
have
extensive
experience
and
knowledge
on
this
topic,
and
so
I
want
to
give
a
big
thank
you
to
each
and
every
member
of
this
work
group
for
being
part
of
this
Coalition.
This
work
group
will
be
chaired
by
by
Steve,
Cramer
and
and
Gabrielle
Greer
and
Steve.
Kramer
is
really
no
stranger
to
downtown
work.
B
It's
so
important
at
this
critical
moment
in
the
city
and
I
appreciate
all
of
you
being
here
with
us,
and
you
know
I
tell
myself
this
every
morning
and
it
is
in
fact
the
truth.
It's
an
opportunity
every
day
is
an
opportunity
to
do
things
differently
and
better.
It's
an
opportunity
not
just
to
get
back
to
the
old
normal,
but
to
blow
by
that
normal
and
to
get
to
True
transformation
in
our
city
and
I'll,
say
it's
it's
about
time.
B
So
with
that
I'd
like
to
hand
it
over
to
our
council
members
who
have
been
working
extensively
for
years
on
the
vibrancy
of
of
downtown
and
the
storefront
space
before
I
do
so.
I
do
want
to
acknowledge
council
member
Emily
Koski
from
the
11th
ward
who's,
not
a
downtown
council
member,
but
cares
enough
to
be
here.
Thank
you
for
your
presence
and
behind
me.
B
C
I
I
want
to
Echo
the
mayor's
thanks
and
especially
to
Andrea
Brennan
from
cpet
and
her
staff,
who
will
be
so
involved
with
this
and,
of
course,
to
the
Business
Leaders
Steve
Kramer
Melvin
Tennant
is
behind
me
Sarah
Anderson.
The
private
sector
is
really
the
key
to
understanding
how
we're
going
to
go
forward,
and
there
is
no
denying
and
we
can
never
deny
that
Minneapolis
is
the
economic
engine
of
Minnesota
and
really
the
Upper
Midwest.
So
we
have
to
protect
that
engine.
We
have
to
fine-tune
it
right
now,
because
the
mayor
is
right.
C
D
Mayor
well,
I
want
to
thank
thank
you,
mayor
for
convening
this
group
and
and
the
council
members
for
their
consistent
support.
Lisa
there
you
are
I,
do
think
this
is
a
great
roster.
We
may
be
adding
a
couple
of
more
working
with
your
office
in
cped,
but
we've
got
a
great,
a
great
Core
Group
here.
That
will
will
help
this
process
along
and
it's,
as
you
said
mayor,
it's
a
perfect
time
to
pull
this
working
group
together.
I,
don't
think
just
to
Echo
your
comments.
D
I,
don't
think
any
of
us
are
interested
in
kind
of
wringing
our
hands
about
what
we
no
longer
have,
but
also
not
interested
in
ignoring
the
current
situation
and
just
hoping
for
the
best.
So
the
idea
is
to
kind
of
focus
on
what
city
policy
can
do
to
help
move
us
forward.
What
building
owners
can
themselves
do
to
help
kind
of
move
us
forward?
D
D
What
is
possible
and
I
also
want
to
thank
Bob,
Greenberg
and
sue
for
the
incredible
investment
they
made
as
an
owner
to
kind
of
create
this
space
people
may
remember
the
old,
JB,
Hudson
jewelry
store,
which
was
a
wonderful
business
in
Downtown
Minneapolis
for
many
many
years,
but
it
also
was
inward
looking
and
it
was,
it
was
insular.
It
had
to
be
by
the
nature
of
their
business,
and
this
space
is
everything
anything,
but
that
I
mean
it
opens
to
the
street.
It
creates
energy.
D
D
Let
me
conclude
by
maybe
anticipating
just
a
couple
of
questions:
we
don't
have
a
vacancy
number
for
you,
but
we
are
right
now
engaged
in
a
very
thorough,
comprehensive
inventory
of
all
of
the
space
at
the
storefront
and
the
Skyway
level
working
with
c-pad,
so
that
we
will
know
kind
of
what
is
available,
who
the
owners
are.
What
some
of
the
expectations
those
owners
are,
that
can
be
an
important
input
into
the
work
of
the
of
the
working
group.
D
I
can
also
tell
you
that
while
there
have
been
some
notable
closures,
there
are
409
businesses
open,
as
displayed
on
our
website
open
in
downtown
restaurants,
retailers,
entertainment
venues
and
that
number
has
increased
dramatically
in
recent
years.
So
there's
there's
plenty
of
stuff
going
on
and
plenty
of
business,
people
that
are
doing
their
best
to
kind
of
bring
services
and
goods
and
excitement
to
the
downtown
and
and
finally-
and
maybe
most
importantly,
no
skyways
are
not
going
anywhere.
So
with
that
mayor,
I'll
turn
it
back
to
you
and.
B
Thank
you,
Stephen.
As
I
mentioned,
we've
got
a
number
of
really
talented
individuals
from
Brokers
to
council
members
to
former
mayors
in
in
RT,
and
a
lot
of
people
that
care
deeply
about
the
city
and
about
downtown
among
them
is
our
other
co-chair
Gabrielle
Greer,
who
has
done
some
extensive
work
at
juxtaposition
arts
and
has
been
really
at
the
Forefront
front
of
of
creative
thought
and
design
in
the
city.
E
All
right
all
right,
good
afternoon,
everybody,
my
name-
is
Gabrielle
Greer
and,
as
I
mentioned,
I
am
the
managing
director
at
juxtaposition.
Arts
I
identify
as
an
artist
and
a
community
engagement
leader,
I'm
grateful
to
be
a
part
of
this
vibrant
Workforce
group
and
to
really
think
about
the
opportunity
to
be
able
to
serve
as
co-chair.
E
I'm
really
happy
to
be
able
to
think
about
the
reinvigoration
and
Reinventing
what's
possible
for
downtown
I.
Think
the
big
part
of
juxta
is
that
our
work
stretches
Beyond,
just
Workforce
youth,
Workforce,
Development
planning.
We
do
a
lot
of
authentic
Community
engagement
and
really
think
about
what
it
means
to
design
and
invest
with
people.
Our
experience
is
partnering
with
a
variety
of
different
stakeholders
that
includes
people
thinking
about
different
types
of
expansion
and
really
what
is
possible
in
terms
of
partnering
for
change
with
the
community.
E
We
use
basic
design
methods
tools
to
amplify
really
the
neighborhood
voice,
build
community
knowledge
and
really
interrupt
patterns
of
disinvestment
within
our
city.
We
have
partnered,
with
several
organizers,
engaged
a
variety
of
different
members
around
things
like
urban
planning
and
development
projects
throughout
the
Twin
Cities
research
projects
that
focus
on
experiences
of
black
business
owners
across
the
city
and
really
thinking
about
accessibility
in
housing
and
eviction
resources
in
the
Twin
Cities.
E
Most
recently,
our
work
has
been
around
organizing
different
Community
leaders
for
the
Dante
Wright
Memorial,
with
the
city
of
Brooklyn
Center,
we've
partnered
with
the
Emerson
Village,
affordable
housing
project,
that's
in
West
Broadway
and
really
have
partnered
with
the
city
met,
Council
and
other
community
leaders
for
the
blue
line.
Extension
I
think
the
biggest
thing
is
that
we
look
forward
to
thinking
about
different
various
forms
of
collaboration,
really
to
think
about
how
important
it
is
to
keep
culture
and
people
at
the
center
of
what
we
do.
E
That's
a
big
part
of
how
our
community
stay,
vibrant
and
I'm
really
excited
about
being
able
to
partner
with
Steve
and
the
rest
of
the
workforce.
To
do
that.
As
mayor
fry
mentioned,
we
kick
off
in
mid-January
and
the
goal
is
to
be
able
to
wrap
up
and
have
final
recommendations
to
everyone
in
April.
Thank
you.
B
Well,
first
I
want
to
just
point
out
the
obvious
differences.
North
Loop
was
used
by
way
of
an
example,
but
is
not
necessarily
the
the
the
one
and
only
strategy
for
how
we
would
utilize
retail
space
somewhere
else,
but
I
will
tell
you
one
reason
why
North
Loop
has
been
successful.
It's
a
diversity
of
use.
B
You
know,
I
was
the
council
member
of
North
Loop
in
the
Third
Ward
going
back
six
eight
years
ago,
and
one
of
the
things
that
we
really
pushed
for
was
to
have
all
of
it
in
one
neighborhood,
a
commercial
residential
retail
entertainment,
even
light
industrial
all
in
a
single
neighborhood,
and
with
that
you
have
this
beautiful
inflow
and
outflow
of
people
through
a
space
at
any.
Given
time
you
have
somebody
working
the
night
shift.
That's
coming
back
to
their
home.
You've
got
someone
who's
going
out
for
dinner.
B
You've
got
someone
who's
getting
up
early
and
heading
into
the
office.
It's
this
beautiful
inflow
and
outflow
of
people
through
the
space
and
that's
something
that
I
think
can
be
replicated
not
just
in
North
Loop,
but
throughout
the
city
and
as
our
downtown
transitions
as
some
commercial
or
office
space
is
shifted
to
residential
from
commercial.
That
is
something
that
obviously
we
need
to
be
looking
at
as
well.
Now
that
goes
beyond
the
the
concepts
that
this
particular
work
group
will
be
looking
at,
which
is
predominantly
around
the
vibrancy
of
storefront
retail.
B
But
obviously
the
presence
and
inflow
and
outflow
of
people
through
the
space
has
an
impact
on
a
customer
base
which
in
turn
has
an
impact
on
the
success
or
failure
of
any
individual
entity.
So
I
think
a
lot
of
those
lessons
from
North
Loop
are
broadly
applicable,
but
we
fully
recognize
that
it
is
a
different
neighborhood.
B
Or
other
kind
of
pop-ups,
so
the
question:
is
there
any
appetite
for
a
city-owned
space?
I'm
not
going
to
be
prescriptive
on
any
of
this,
and
so
the
work
group
is
gonna
is
gonna.
Take
the
recommendations
that
that
is
not
influenced
by
politics
or
individuals,
they're
going
to
bring
those
recommendations
to
me
and
and
city
hall
and
then
we're
going
to
try
to
implement
them.
I
mean
that's
the
direction
that
we're
going
to
go.
So
it's
not
off
the
table.
It's
not
on
it
either.
G
Yes,
mayor,
you
mentioned
earlier
this
week
about
the
need
to
cater
to
downtown
workers,
perhaps
bringing
daycares
to
the
street
level
things
along
that
nature.
That
might
require
some
changes
to
the
the
city
code
or
something
that
would
need
to
you
know
be
done
to
allow
that
at
the
street
level.
Is
that
anything
you
see
as
a
potential
barrier
or
will
that
be
easy
to
fix?
Or
what
do
you
think
about
that?
So.
B
That
is
an
idea
that
I
think
we
should
definitely
look
at
and
a
dynamic
that
you
are
seeing
Nationwide
right
now
is
when
people
come
into
work,
they
want
to
have
a
convenience
in
doing
so,
and
so
the
whole
idea
is
people
have
children.
Those
children
need
to
have
supervision,
even
when
someone
is
physically
in
a
workspace
and
speaking
as
a
parent
who
has
a
kid
in
a
downtown
daycare.
B
It's
really
convenient
and
I
want
to
make
sure
that
that
convenience
is
broadly
accessible
to
everyone,
and
so
is
that
something
that
we
would
look
at
daycare
for
children.
Yes,
we'd
also
look
at
daycare
for
people
that
have
dogs
like
council,
member
Lisa
Goodman,
who
brings
her
dog
into
the
council
chambers.
You
know.
So
that
is
not
one
prescriptive
recipe
but,
of
course,
that's
an
option
because
we
want
to
make
it
really
easy
and
exciting
and
fun
to
come
downtown.
B
B
That's
it
and
you
know
I
I
there
I'm
open
to
anything
what
I
am
not
interested
in
doing
is
going
back
to
an
old
model
that
is
on
its
way
out.
You
know,
I
I,
think
you
know
the
the
times
of
a
massive
square
footage,
Sports,
Authority
and
Barnes
and
Noble
and
Marshalls,
and
then
that's
it
and
there
aren't.
Other
options
is
probably
on
its
way
out:
I'm
open
to
being
wrong.
F
B
We
already
do
have
some
forms
of
assistance
and
subsidy
that
run
through
the
downtown
Council
in
smaller
form,
as
we
get
some
of
these
pop-up
locations
set
up
to
begin
with.
Now
it's
a
it's,
a
relatively
smaller
amount
of
money
than
than
would
than
would
be
helpful
in
a
broad
scale,
I'm
interested
in
it's
the
same
answer,
which
is
I'm
very
interested
in
what
the
work
group
has
to
say:
I'm,
not
putting
anything
on
the
table,
but
I'm
not
taking
it
off
either.
B
You
know
there
have
been
quite
a
few
studies
that
have
come
out
showing
that
you
know
Minneapolis
is,
is
contributing
a
Lion's
Share
proportionally
of
funding
Statewide
that
other
areas
of
the
state
benefit
from.
We
want
to
help
other
areas
of
the
state.
In
fact
we're
proud
to
help
other
areas
of
the
state
and
simultaneously
we
need
to
keep
that
engine
churning
and
before
I.
Take.
The
next
question
is
councilmember.
Goodman
mentioned
to
me
in
my
ear,
a
big
question
is
also
you
know:
what
do
residents
want
in
downtown?
B
We
have
a
ton
of
residents
that
people
going
back
and
before
RT
Ryback
pushed
to
get
in
downtown.
We
have
them
now.
We
want
to
keep
them
and
we
want
to
keep
people
and
more
residents
coming
downtown
which,
by
the
way,
is
continuing
to
happen.
People
want
to
live
in
a
thriving
and
vibrant
area,
and
people
continue
to
move
to
residential
areas.
So
that's
one
of
the
things
we're
looking
at
as
well.