In downtown St. Paul, the elegant but long-vacant Pioneer-Endicott buildings — which are being restored into apartments — are poised to get some new commercial tenants on the skyway level.
That probably shouldn’t come as a surprise. Between that development and the Lofts at Farmers Market, the Penfield, the Rayette and the post office tower being redeveloped into apartments over the Mississippi River, there’s about 1,000 new residential units coming online within the next year or two, most or all of them market-rate.
New residents will demand new amenities, which is just what Jeff Huff is counting on. Huff, who sold off a small liquor store in St. Anthony Park 1 1/2 years ago, plans to open a wine shop in the skyway level of the Pioneer-Endicott at 4th and Robert streets, possibly by the end of the year.
This won’t be just any wine shop, says Huff. He’s foreseeing a “livingroom-like” space, with local art, wine books, chairs and custom-designed lighting and fixtures, as opposed to typical metal liquor store shelving. “I envision people from the residences coming down at night, plopping down and reading a wine book,” Huff said.
Given Minnesota’s “seven months of winter,” Huff thinks the area’s only skyway liquor store will have something different to offer from downtown’s two existing shops, the Liquor Vault and Lowertown Wine and Spirits, which are both on ground level.
Stylist Brian Horst, who runs a hair salon on St. Peter Street, is looking at opening a second “Details” hair salon in the Pioneer-Endicott skyway next year, as well.
Here’s a message to the Scoop from Horst:
Thanks for reaching out…and yes we are planning a smaller boutique salon. We will be offering hair, skin, waxing and makeup services along with premium salon spa products. Due to construction timing we are looking at an early Spring 2014 opening and inviting residents to see us at our Lowry location prior to this. Let me know what other information you need from me and thank you for covering this! I am the founder and director of the Music in Mears concert series and a lover of downtown St Paul!
Brian Horst
Know of any other interesting businesses eyeing downtown St. Paul?
