News from the Downtown Alliance
April 22, 2021
A note from the president

Friends,
 
It’s been an emotional week, with all eyes across the globe on the Twin Cities as the results of the Derek Chauvin trial were revealed, and Daunte Wright being laid to rest this afternoon. As we continue to process these events and move forward as a community, we hope that everyone is finding ways to come together with their neighbors and fellow Minnesotans to connect and heal.
 
If you haven’t had the chance to read the piece from earlier this week in Finance & Commerce titled “Reclaiming the Urban Office,” I'd recommend you check it out. It was great to hear from our partners at Wells Fargo Place, The 428 and Saint Paul BOMA, who shared their wins and insights about what the future of commercial office space.
 
The groundswell of excitement and momentum downtown is growing, with Black Dog Café extending their daily hours; Barrel Theory reopening their patio; Meritage and Dark Horse reopening next weekend; and a brand new steak house in Lowertown welcoming guests (more on that below). This summer is sure to be one for the books.
 
Before I sign off, I want to call your attention to a few things this week:
  • Our partners at the City launched a new website that's a one-stop shop for all of the public projects taking place in downtown – be sure to check it out.
  • In honor of Earth Day, I'd like to invite you join us downtown for our spring cleanup this Saturday morning.
  • And finally, the Downtown Alliance has partnered with the International Downtown Association to survey downtown users from around the country to gauge how people are feeling as restaurants, events and more begin to reopen. It's a unique opportunity to benchmark Saint Paul against cities from around the country and I'd be grateful for your time if you'd be willing to fill it out and share with your networks. Keep reading to learn more.    

Enjoy the sunshine,

Joe Spencer
President
Saint Paul Downtown Alliance
Participate in a national COVID-19 sentiment survey
The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance is asking for a few minutes of your time and feedback.

We want to hear from our Saint Paul community - residents, employers, employees, students and friends -about your feelings/comfort level of getting out and about with COVID-19 vaccinations, the status of local policies/restrictions, mask requirements, shopping, dining and attending special events and more!

We've partnered with the St. Paul Area Chamber, RRC Associates and the International Downtown Association to conduct this completely confidential community sentiment survey.

The feedback we receive will help us make decisions about our summer programming and messaging.
What to know about public realm projects in downtown
There are a lot of improvements planned for downtown Saint Paul over the next several years. This week, Saint Paul Public Works launched the Downtown Projects page where you can learn more about the specific projects and how to get involved. The site includes a map of all ongoing and upcoming construction as well as details about each project. We recommend bookmarking it and checking back throughout the summer.
Welcome Bullvino's!
Construction has been underway for the past several months at Market House Collaborative building in Lowertown. This Saturday, the wait will be over as Bullvino Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse if you're not familiar) throws open it's doors. The restaurant, which has been posting tantalizing sneak peeks for weeks on their Facebook page, will serve traditional Brazilian recipes and is now accepting reservations.

Happy Earth Day! Final reminder to register to volunteer
Last spring we hosted our first Downtown Cleanup Day with volunteers filling every available shift. We were blown away by the community support. This year we're partnering with the City of Saint Paul Department of Parks and Recreation for the 35th annual Citywide Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 24.
 
Trash bags and gloves can be picked up from Kellogg Mall Park, Mears Park, or Rice Park from 9-11:30 a.m. After you've picked up your materials, head out around downtown to fill your bag. Once you’ve registered for the spring cleanup day, we encourage you to sign up to cover a specific downtown zone.

Downtown restaurant and retail options
Stumped for where to order dinner from these days? Or who has a patio to visit?

Have questions?

Banner photo cred : Visit Saint Paul