A longstanding Kmart site that’s now vacant is the center of multiple discussions, as talks to continue whether or not the lot could be used to reconnect Nicollet Avenue from south Minneapolis to downtown.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The intersection of Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue is both literally and figuratively at a crossroads.
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Now the public is getting a chance to weigh in on what direction a prime piece of real estate at that intersection will take.
“I’m just more interested in them opening it up. What that’s going to do to the community,” said Dixon Martin who lives near the former Kmart building.
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The City of Minneapolis hosted an open house to get feedback on the Nicollet Redevelopment Project, which would demolish the Kmart building that has cut Nicollet Avenue in two for more than 4 decades, and reconnect the popular thoroughfare with Lake Street, along with housing, retail, and public spaces.
“We’ve heard overwhelmingly that folks would like to see greenspace, greening, trees. As you can see, there is none of that on the site right now,” said Adrienne Bockheim with the City of Minneapolis.
The city asked visitors their thoughts on 3 different concepts of where green space should go on the 10 acre lot.
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It also wants input on four concepts of what the new stretch of Nicollet Avenue could look like and whether it should have street parking, a median, and be open to general traffic or just bus lanes.
“There’s lots of views out there. I’m not surprised, with the street being closed for 50 years, there’s lots of room for new visions and new ways to use the street space,” said Kelsey Fogt with the City of Minneapolis.
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But for many, anything that will reconnect Nicollet Avenue is a move in the right direction.
“It’s exciting to see progress here and I hope we make the right decisions,” said Jesse Burndt, who lives near the former Kmart building.
MINNEAPOLIS — The menu offers plenty of options, but fans of the Red Dragon say they’ll miss how the restaurant really nourished their souls.
“It feels like family,” patron Kathleen Spitzer told WCCO. “Everybody — the servers and bartenders — are so nice. It feels like a home away from home.”
Red Dragon’s current owner, Phil Wong, said the restaurant and bar will shut down on Sunday after nearly 50 years in business; it first opened on Dec. 29, 1976.
“People love this place. They like to come here and drink and hang out,” Wong lamented. “I love them all. They show a lot of love to us and they enjoy our establishment.”
The Red Dragon restaurant on March 18, 1994.
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According to Wong, 73, finances and his longevity were contributing factors. The former engineer took over the business from his brother in 2007.
“It costs a little bit more — the food, the meat, the vegetables,” he added. “Minneapolis, too, the minimum wage went up.”
Still, Wong said he leaves with no regrets.
“I feel good about it. I think it’s time to move on,” he said. “We’re ending on a good note.”
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Red Dragon is the latest of several Twin Cities eateries to shutter in 2024, including the St. Paul staple Tavern on Grand. Even newer restaurants, like Kim’s from award-winning chef Ann Kim, also in Uptown, could not survive.
Jonah Kaplan
Jonah Kaplan is WCCO and CBS News Minnesota’s investigative reporter and has built a strong reputation for his balanced and in-depth coverage of high-impact issues including the economy, immigration, education, public safety, and the military, among others.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Dozens of flights were delayed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Friday morning.
Dozens of flights delayed
By the numbers: According to MSP Airport’s website, as of 11:51 a.m., two departures were canceled and 36 were delayed. Meanwhile, 11 arrivals were canceled and 16 were delayed.
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FlightAware says there have been more than 19,000 delays and 525 cancelations globally, while there have been more than 3,400 delays and 525 cancelations within, into or out of the United States as of 11:57 a.m. on Thursday.
The weather forecast: This comes as a dense fog advisory is in effect until noon on Friday across Minnesota, and rain is expected for much of Friday and Friday night. There are also storms on the east and west coasts that could cause some travel problems.
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Several airports across the United States have ground delays due to weather, according to the FAA’s website.
Increased travel at MSP Airport
What they’re saying: The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) expected a 6% year-over-year increase in screened passengers between Dec. 20, 2024, and Jan. 6, 2025. Thursday, Dec. 26, was expected to be the busiest day during the stretch, with nearly 50,000 people expected to pass through security at MSP.
This week’s Fab Five photo display includes highlights from Minneapolis South’s 88-84 boys basketball victory over Minneapolis North on Wednesday, December 11.
The photos include two South players who led them with 22 points each (DeAmontre Scott and Eugene Brown), the player who scored 22 points to lead North (JMarion Sanders), North’s point guard who scored 14 points (Allen Hill), and a former Marshall University High School and Augsburg University great officiating the game (Ronnie Henderson).
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
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