Downtown St. Paul The namesake of the Robert Street Bridge
River cruises return
Page 6
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Volume 26 | Number 7
Robert Street Bridge closure begins July 11 Tim Spitzack Editor
If you are one of the estimated 18,000 people who cross the Mississippi River each day on Robert Street, you’ll need to find a new route beginning July 11. That’s when MNDOT will close the Robert Street Bridge to seal coat the deck, add a layer of blacktop and cement, and do other preventative maintenance work to improve drainage. The bridge will be closed through August. The bridge has served motorists for nearly 100 years. It was built in 1926 to replace a wrought-iron bridge that spanned the river since 1885. Noted for its rainbow arch design, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This is the first of several projects along Robert Street from Annapolis Street to Interstate 94 that will take place through 2026. Work will include: • Resurfacing and striping between Annapolis Street on the West Side and 11th Street in downtown St. Paul. • Striping between Plato Boulevard to the intersection at Cesar Chavez Street, reducing the number of lanes from five and four lanes to three lanes. This is intended to improve safety in an area that has seen many accidents involving pedestrians.
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Multi-family housing projects dominate downtown market
The Seven Corners Gateway project at 7th and Kellogg will feature a 144-unit apartment complex and 120-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel. Tim Spitzack Editor
S
t. Paul continues to see a surge in rental housing projects, and developers remain optimistic that the trend will continue. Proof is easily seen in the growing number of multi-family complexes now underway or scheduled to begin this year in and around downtown. These projects are a bright spot in a housing market that has seen its share of fluctuation this year. A new report by the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors reveals that the overall housing market in St. Paul was strong for the first quarter of 2020, but the second quarter was a roll-
ercoaster, as expected due to COVID-19. As of April, closed sales increased slightly more than 13% compared to last year, and virtually all sellers received their asking price. The median sales price increased about 12%, from $210,000 to $235,000, and new listings were up 11%, from 1,253 to 1,396. Reports continue to abound of sellers receiving multiple offers above their asking price, and low mortgage rates have helped sustain the market. Rates on a 30year fixed loan are at around 3.24%. “March started off strong, and that strength returned later in April and into May; however, the latter half of March Housing projects / Page 2
Robert St. Bridge / Page 6
July 2020
Cancellations and closures Roger Fuller Contributor
The Ramsey County Fair and the Blues Festival in Mears Park, both held annually in July, and the Irish Fair of Minnesota and Minnesota State Fair, each held in August, have been cancelled this year to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Lowertown Sounds also cancelled its 12week outdoor concert series held at Mears Park. St. Croix Cleaners has permanently closed its store on the skyway level of the US Bank Center, leaving the skyway system without a full-service dry cleaner. The store was one of St. Croix’s lowest performing outlets. The company still operates 14 other locations in the metro area. CapitolRiver Council postponed its annual meeting, normally held in June. Residents will be given a 2-month notice once a new meeting date is set. The two restaurants in the Park Square building have closed as the building owner, Madison Equities, converts the office building to apartments. Handsome Hog is moving to The Fitz space at 173 Western Ave. N., St. Paul, and Public Kitchen + Bar is closing permanently. Madison Equities plans to reopen a restaurant in the building once the 16-month project is completed. Pazzaluna, which opened in 1998 at 360 St. Peter St., closed permanently on May 31. Owner Morrissey Hospitality is investigating “new Cancellations / Page 3
Paddle Share: the perfect social-distancing adventure Ginny Contreras Sawyer Contributor
B
ack in March when Gov. Tim Walz implored all Minnesotans to shelter in place, I could practically hear the collective plea of the people: “We’ll give you March and April, maybe even part of May, but please don’t take our summer!” Unfortunately, this beast of a virus seems to be doing just that, although restric-
tions are loosening. As a nature junkie who enjoys all things outdoors, by early June I was starting to feel desperate and was drowning in self-pity at the prospect of a lost season. Then a life preserver was thrown in my direction when I learned of Mississippi Paddle Share. “The program has been around for almost five years but not many people know about it,” said Lauren De-
Gennaro, spokesperson for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), a division of the National Park Service that manages the program. “We’re hoping to get the word out better this year.” DeGennaro met me at the Paddle Share station at Pickerel Lake in Lilydale Regional Park to guide me through the process of renting a kayak and to answer my questions. In prepara-
tion for our meeting, I had scoured Paddleshare.org and learned that there are five routes stretching from Coon Rapids to St. Paul: Nature Route, Nature to City, City Plus, City, and Pickerel Lake, which is the one station not connected to the river. It’s an ideal place for novice kayakers to gain experience before venturing further afield. Paddle Share / Page 4
E conomic Development Housing Projects
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from page 1
and the start of April saw setbacks due to COVID-19,” said Patrick Ruble, president of the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors, in a statement. “Realtors are busy, and we’ve seen gains for both buyers and sellers in late-April and May.” As of April, the median Twin Cities home price increased just short of 9% to $305,000, a new high for the metro area. New construction sales rose nearly 5%, and single-family homes were up 11 percent. Townhome sales dipped 5%, and condo sales were the low performer, dropping 33%. In St. Paul, homes in the Summit neighborhood had the highest median sales price at $440,000. The North End had the lowest, at $176,000. Prices in downtown St. Paul increased slightly, from $210,500 to $215,000, and properties sold quicker. Average days on the market dropped from 84 to 63. West Side home prices jumped 10%, from $199,900 to $220,000,
with an average of 42 days on the market, down from 57. Prices in West St. Paul rose more than 11%, from $225,106 to $250,837, but homes took longer to sell, jumping from 35 days to 55. In Mendota Heights, median sales prices dropped about 14%, from $383,000 to $330,000. Days on the market decreased from 85 to 63. For more information, visit www.spaar.com. Here are several multifamily projects underway in our readership area:
Madison Equities Local developer Madison Equities remains bullish on the downtown St. Paul housing market. The longtime commercial developer, which owns 18 office buildings, has been turning its attention to the housing market recently to meet the needs of millennials and empty-nesters alike. Owner Jim Crockarell has these four projects in the works:
Minneapolis-based developer Reuter Walton Co. is building a 7-story, 136-unit apartment complex at 84 Water St., near Harriet Island. It will feature studio, 1- and 2-bedroom market-rate apartments, a fitness center, pool and community room. Rent begins at $1,100 and occupancy is expected in early 2021. Degree of Honor Building, 325 Cedar Ave. - Built in 1960, this former office complex will feature 80 market-rate studios, 1- and 2-bedroom units. Ameni-
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Page 2 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - July 2020
ties include a fitness center, lounge and pet spa. A childcare company is also expected to lease space in the building. The $25-$30 million project will be com-
pleted this fall, with occupancy in October. Park Square Court building, 400 Sibley St. - This historic 1880s-era building is one of the last
brick-and-timber buildings in St. Paul, according to Crockarell. Work will begin this summer on the $35-$40 million project to convert former office space into 100
E conomic Development market-rate apartments. Occupancy is expected in midto late-2021. Lowry Apartments, 345 Wabasha St. N. - This $25 million project is expected to be completed this fall. Over the past two years, the 11-story building has been converted to 150 marketrate apartments. Most are 1-bedrooms, with rents starting at $850. One of the signature features of the project is a rooftop patio and bar. The building also houses Gray Duck Tavern, owned by Madison Equities. Empire Building, 400 Robert St. N. - Next spring Madison Equities will begin work at the Empire Building and invest $35 million to create 150 units, predominantly studio and one-bedroom.
The Nicole
386 Wabasha St.
By July 1, the first tenants are scheduled to move into The Nicole, a 226-apartment complex in the former Ecolab University Center Tower at Sixth and Wabasha. Chicago-based Freedom Development Group LLC has
renovated the building to include luxury apartments, ranging from studios to twobedrooms. Pets are allowed. Amenities include free WiFi, resident lounge, fitness center, business center, in-unit washer and dryer, attached parking, 24-hour concierge, and a 12,000-square-foot Jet Foods supermarket on the ground floor, scheduled to open in September.
340 Sibley Lofts 340 N. Sibley St.
Commercial Investors Group of Maple Grove is investing $5 million to convert the former Station 4 bar and nightclub building at Fourth and Sibley into 23 marketrate apartments. The historic 1880s-era building will feature studios, 1- and 2-bed room units and live/work units, along with retail on the main floor. Rents range from $975-$2,025. Amenities include stainless steel appliances, white Shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, full wall windows, high ceilings and hardwood floors. The building is expected to open July 1.
Cancellations from page 1
opportunities for the Pazzaluna brand.” On a positive note, the former Happy Gnome restaurant at 498 Selby Ave. is expected to reopen this summer under new ownership as The Gnome. Brian and Sarah Ingram, owners of
the Hope Breakfast Bar, will create a supper club and beer hall atmosphere. On June 1, St. Paul joined its sister city in implementing a mask policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter mandated that people wear
Saints begin play in July
COVID-19 Readiness Plans approved by local health departments and government officials.
The St. Paul Saints will get back in action in July. The American Association has approved a hub city model for a 60-game season, with the Saints playing at the Sioux Falls Stadium until capacity restrictions for outdoor events are lifted and the team can return to CHS Field. The season will run July 3-Sept. 10 with six teams based in three separate “hubs.” The Saints will be grouped with the Sioux Falls Canaries at Sioux Falls Stadium. The Winnipeg Goldeyes are with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Newman Outdoor Field, home of the RedHawks. The Chicago Dogs are paired with the Milwaukee Milkmen at Ballpark Commons, home of the Milkmen. Each team and ballpark will enforce
Funding for Amtrak route A second Amtrak train between the Twin Cities and Chicago has received federal funding. Wisconsin received $12.5 million to pay for start-up costs. In addition, both Minnesota and Wisconsin are trying to raise a total of $25 million to qualify for $50 million in federal funds through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Program. Each state will also seek $10 million in bonding to pay for track and signal improvements. Amtrak’s Empire Builder route currently provides daily service from Union Depot to Chicago at 8 a.m.,
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241 Kellogg Blvd. The Gallery Minneapolis-based de- St. Paul
Rents range from $1,100 to $2,220. Amenities include 9-foot ceilings, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and private balconies. The site will have paved walking and biking trails, a public kayak launch and connections to the regional trail system.
Fitzgerald/ Viking Apartments
Gateway Place
veloper Reuter Walton Co. expects to open this 7-story, 93-unit apartment complex this fall. It will feature studio, 1- and 2-bedroom market-rate apartments, a fitness center and community room.
467 Wabasha St. Ed Conley of CCI Properties is renovating this 4-story 1890 Queen Anne-style building into 34 studio and one-bedroom apartments, featuring hardwood floors, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Studios begin at $850 and one-bedrooms at $1,095. Seven of the units meet affordable housing criteria. The building will have an exercise room and dedicated parking. The $2 million project is expected to open in September.
460 Wacouta St. Burnsville-based Chase Realty began work in June on a $25 million project to construct a five-story building with 140 market-rate studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. Rents range from $1,200-$2,200. Amenities include a gym, lounge, rooftop patio, and underground and surface parking. The building is expected to open in August 2021.
Waterford Bay Apartments
380 Randolph Ave. Chicago-based developer Stoneleigh Cos. is constructing a 243-unit building on the site of the former Xcel Energy Island Station power plant. The $60 million development is expected to open in the fall of 2021. It will feature market-rate micro, studio, 1- and 2-bedroom luxury apartments.
895 S. Robert St. West St. Paul The Dakota County CDA plans to begin work this summer on a new 54-unit workforce housing complex, featuring 21 studios and 33 1-bedroom apartments. The projected $10 million project will include a fitness room, community room and underground parking. Occupancy is scheduled for late summer 2021.
Oppidan Development Oppidan Development expects to start construction
in August on a $28 million 153-unit market-rate apartment complex in West St. Paul on the former Thompson Oaks Golf Course property near Thompson and Oakdale. The complex will have studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units and open in late 2021. Amenities include a fitness center, community room and patio, rooftop deck, media room with theater seating, concierge area, heated underground parking, dog wash and bike storage.
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and to Seattle at 10:20 p.m. If a second train is added, the eastbound train will leave at noon, and the westbound train in the late afternoon.
Angels at Landmark Plaza As of press time, the exhibit “Better Angels” was set to be installed at Landmark Plaza, next to the Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th St. It is comprised of several hundred blue and white pinwheels strung on horizontal wires to create an arched cloud tunnel of angel wings. The art evokes President Lincoln’s inaugural address, when he pleaded with a nation on the brink of civil war to embrace their “better angels” and unite as a country. The exhibit will be featured through Sept. 30.
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Downtown St. Paul Voice - July 2020 - Page 3
S ummer Fun Paddle Share from page 1
My first questions centered around safety protocols concerning COVID-19. She assured me that the Park Service and its partners take safety very seriously. “Kayaks are normally rented out every couple of hours but now our turnaround is 24 hours,” she said. “Besides disinfecting all the equipment and life vests, we figured letting the kayaks sit for some time wouldn’t hurt.” The rental station is located at the small public boat
access just off Water Street in St. Paul. It’s easily recognizable by the long silver lockers—each with its own keypad. If you weren’t looking for the place it might be hard to find, and even then it might not be clear what the lockers are for. As if to underscore the point, within a 15-minute timespan two people on bikes and one pedestrian stopped to talk to DeGennaro, who in her official green ranger uniform appeared both welcoming and
Your community news and information source knowledgeable. The passersby all expressed their surprise at never having noticed the lockers. I chuckled to myself, having said the same thing to her just minutes ago. “We’re going to be getting new signage soon,” said DeGennaro after they left. “With everyone hanging closer to home, if we do this well it could be our busiest summer yet.” Normally this is a selfservice experience, similar to the shared bikes and scooters seen around the city, and DeGennaro showed me how simple it is. She punched in a 10-digit code and opened
the door. Inside was one kayak, a paddle and a life jacket. Surprisingly, the locker reminded me of the black box Fisher Price magic set I had as a kid, but instead of a yellow foam bunny magically appearing behind the door it was a yellow kayak. (Perhaps the isolation of a 2-month quarantine has affected me more than I realize.) The Paddle Share website is simple to navigate, even for the non-tech-savvy like me. After clicking on Rent A Kayak, users are prompted to choose a route and pay online. The access code is sent to your email. Once you
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Page 4 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - July 2020
The Paddle Share website is easy to navigate. Users choose a route and pay online, then the access code is emailed to them. reach your destination, you punch in the code and voila, a day of paddling the river or lake is all yours. Pickerel Lake has some advantages. For one, the fee is about $10 cheaper: $20 for a single and $35 for a tandem. The station also has a kayak with adaptive equipment for paddlers with accessibility needs. Because each kayak is disinfected and left overnight, you can leisurely explore the lake for the entire day for the same price as the normal 2-hour rental window. As I paddled away from shore, I quickly noticed the monstrous powerline poles that cut across the northwest side of the lake. I couldn’t decide if they were kind of cool or just plain ugly. I leaned toward the cool end of the spectrum when I saw a bald eagle’s nest perched on top of one. On my outing, I also spotted a beaver’s dam, some painted turtles sunning themselves on a partially submerged log, and more
than a few large fish breaking the surface to feed on algae and insects. Paddling under a wooden railroad bridge on the north end of the lake was also fun. Honestly, I was just happy to be out of the house and away from my neighborhood for an extended period of time. The east side of the lake was my favorite. It was woodsy and quiet and far away from bike trails, roads and powerlines. I faced the kayak toward the east shore and tuned out the distant hum of traffic on I-35 to focus on melodic bird song, honking geese and the rustling of wind through the leaves. I closed my eyes and imagined I was kayaking in the Boundary Waters, and after a few minutes started grinning like an idiot. Boy was I desperate for nature! Although this wasn’t pristine wilderness, I had to admit it might be the perfect socialdistancing activity to get me through summer.
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S ummer Fun Capital City Bikeway expands The St. Paul City Council has approved the second leg of the Capital City Bikeway. It will supplement the first section, which is on Jackson Street between Kellogg Boulevard and 11th Street. The new segment will run along 10th Street from Dorothy Day Place to Jackson Street, and on Ninth Street from Jackson to Broadway. The Bikeway, a top priority of the St. Paul Bicycle Plan, adopted by the St. Paul City Council in March 2015, will connect to existing trails and on-street bikeways.
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River rides return Padelford Riverboats, moored at Harriet Island, is operating its narrated 90-minute public sightseeing cruises at noon and 2:30 p.m. daily, and 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. most other days. Cost is $18, with discounts for students and seniors. Themed cruises are also offered, including the lunch-and-lock, rib dinner and sunset cruises. For more information, call 651-227-1100 or visit www. riverrides.com.
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E conomic Development Robert St. Bridge
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• The southbound lane will be striped to a single lane between Wood and Congress streets. The northbound lane will remain two lanes from Wood Street to Plato Boulevard. • Wood Street to Congress Street will be one lane in
each direction with a twoway left turn lane down the middle. • Repairs to the Robert Street/George Street viaduct. • Reconstruct pedestrian ramps and sidewalk crossings to meet ADA standards.
Capt. Louis Robert, the namesake of the Robert Street Bridge Amy Johnson Staff Writer
T
he historic Robert Street Bridge that crosses the Mississippi in downtown St. Paul is hard to miss. Its iconic rainbow arches lift 30 feet above the street, and its Moderne architecture can be seen in its smooth curves. Built in 1926, the bridge is nearly the length of five football fields. Its arches are reinforced by multiple concrete ribs, giving them the rainbow effect. The bridge was
designed to accommodate cars and streetcars, while allowing railway and river traffic below. The bridge and the street are named after Capt. Louis Robert, a French-Canadian settler who was a trapper, riverboat captain and later a businessman in St. Paul. Born in 1811 near St. Louis, Mo., he married Marie Rose Turpin in 1839, and they had five children. He trapped and traded furs in the Rocky Mountains, mostly along the Missouri river trade route. From there, he
and his family drifted northeast to Prairie du Chien, Wis., and hiked the 150 miles to St. Paul in the blistering winter of 1843, the coldest year on record in the Twin Cities area. Upon arrival, Robert went to work to establish himself as a businessman in the city. He bought Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant’s claim at what is now Lower Landing, along with surrounding acreage. He built a house on the bluff where Kellogg and Robert now intersect and a trading
post at the river’s edge on the east side of what is now Jackson Street. It is believed that his was the first frame house built in St. Paul. His real estate turned out to be extremely valuable and contributed to his amassing a large fortune. Robert used the landing as a steamboat dock. He owned four steamboats during his lifetime: the Greek Slave, the Time and Tide, the Globe and the Jeanette Roberts, named after his third daughter. He quit steam-boating
in 1860 but still liked being referred to as “Capt. Robert.” He stayed close to the water for the rest of his life and continued to trade along the Minnesota river. Robert played a role in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. When the war began, Little Crow, chief of the lower band of the Mdewakanton Dakota, reportedly sent a letter to Gen. Henry Sibley declaring his reasons for escalating the tensions between settlers and the Dakota. In the short letter, Little Crow blamed
Robert for conspiring to commit financial fraud against the Dakota. According to historical records, Robert was nearly killed by Dakota braves during a battle near Fort Ridgely in Fairfax, Minn. He eluded them by slinking into a swamp and submerging himself in the water with only his nose above the waterline. Robert lived to be 63 and is buried at Calvary Cemetery at 753 Front Ave. in St. Paul.
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Postscript
A little awkward
It’s harder to keep in touch with people these days. Things are opening up but it’s going to be a while before we hop in a car and visit people the way we used to. I met the pastor of my church while walking. She told me the youth group had been meeting via Zoom and the kids were overcome with shyness, seeing their faces on the screen. I wanted to say, “Don’t they realize they can be seen when they show up in person?” But I sympathized with the teenagers. When my husband, Peter, and I tried Zoom for the first time it was a little awkward. “Shouldn’t the camera be higher?” I asked. “You can see right up our noses!” We found a cardboard box and adjusted the laptop angle. “Why is it so smudgy?” “I had sticky tape over the camera,” Peter told me.
Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com
Peter cleaned the tape residue off the lens and I realized I looked a lot better smudgy. We’ve been trying to make a point of calling people up more often. (Peter calls it “drunk dialing,” although we’re not.) Sometimes it takes some effort. Sometimes I’ve wondered if these unexpected phone calls are more a bother than a pleasant surprise to the folks we call. Yesterday, I got a sur-
prise call myself from Geri. I haven’t seen Geri since I moved 1,400 miles away years ago. She’s quite a bit older than me and not someone I knew well, so when I saw her name pop up on my phone yesterday I was very surprised. I didn’t know I even had her phone number, to be honest. “Geri,” I said, “this is Carrie.” There was a moment of awkward silence. “Geri, did you butt-dial me?” “Carrie? This is Carrie Classon?” “Geri, you butt-dialed me, didn’t you?” “No. I was trying to call someone else. Someone to clean my house.” Geri has a huge old wooden house sitting on a hill. It even has a turret on one corner. There are nooks and crannies and stairs everywhere. I would not want to clean Geri’s house. “Geri, I am not going to clean your house.” “Oh no. But it’s so good to hear your voice. How are you doing?”
I knew Geri was getting up in years and her husband, Clarence, was older yet. I asked, somewhat timidly, “How’s your family?” “Oh, we’re fine. But we’re old. I am 88 and Clarence is 95.” “Only 95? He’s a pup!” “He parks in the spot reserved for WWII veterans they still have at the grocery store and I think he’s the only one who uses it.” Geri and I chatted for quite a while. We both had
news and a lot of shared memories. “You and Peter have to come and visit sometime,” Geri said. I promised we would next time we were anywhere near. “Clarence is going to be mad when he finds out you called me up to clean your house and ended up inviting us over,” I told her. “No, no, we would love to see you. It was great talking with you.” “It was good to hear from
you, Geri.” And it was. Talking to Geri made my day. I suddenly felt less worried about those “Hi! We were just thinking about you” calls Peter and I have been making. Yes, it’s a little awkward making conversation with someone you haven’t talked to in a long time, but sometimes a little awkward is okay, I decided. Sometimes a little awkward is a lot of fun. Till next time.
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Wash With Us & Your Car Will Sparkle Like the Sun! Downtown St. Paul Voice - July 2020 - Page 7
Destination: Downtown & Lowertown A Guide to Shopping, Services and Entertainment
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Penfield/Lunds
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The Chiropractor
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St. Paul Dental Center
Lancer Service
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Kat Keys
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Great River Dental
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Subtext Bookstore
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CHS Field
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Shop locally and support the businesses that support our community
Atlas Staffing G14 189 7th Place E., 651-222-5894 atlasstaffinginc.com Providing the BEST employees
Great River Dental J12 375 Jackson St. Ste. 200 651-222-0983 greatriverdental.com Providing complete dental care, including implants
Master Framers M16 262 E. 4th St., 651-291-8820 www.masterframers.com www.facebook.com/MASTERFRAMERS Custom picture framing and restoration since 1959 Subtext Bookstore K6 6 5th St. W. 651-493-2791 subtextbooks.com St. Paul’s independent bookstore
Kat-Key’s Lock & Safe St. Paul G16 249 E. 7th St. 651-292-1124, www.katkeys.com Repairs, replacements, safe moving/ delivering, rekeying, master key system setup, door hardware/door closer installation and more.
The Chiropractor A12 523 Jackson Street, Suite 105 St. Paul, MN 55101 | 651-287-0935 www.thechiropractormn.com Chiropractic Adjustments Acupuncture | RockTape Techniques Massage Therapy
To advertise on this map, call 651-457-1177
Page 8 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - July 2020
Lancer Service Auto Care F17 270 E. 8th St. 651-224-0267 www.lancerservice.com www.facebook.com/lancerservice Defining the future of auto care… unlike any other.
St. Paul Dental Center E7 30 E. 7th St., Ste. 101 651-227-6646 www.stpauldentalcenter.com We provide comprehensive family dentistry. Map Map base base courtesy courtesy of of the the Capitol Capitol River River Council Council