twin cities guest guide - shopping

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Twin Cities | Guestguide 2009 46

Neiman Marcus


shoppingNo matter your shoppiNg style or mood, there’s a place for you in the Twin Cities. Our shops and neighborhoods have their own style and personality that makes it fun and easy to find that perfect something. With no sales tax on clothing or shoes and a variety of shopping neighborhoods and malls that house local stores and retail chains alike, the Twin Cities is a shopper’s paradise.

Downtown Minneapolis is perfect for that city shopper with its 3 million square feet of retail space. The main artery is Nicollet Mall, a pedestrian-friendly street that features a two-level Target store, a homegrown company. Farther down the mall, you can stroll through an eight-floor Macy’s or past bookstores, coffee shops and restaurants. In the summer, the street becomes a large farmers’ market. The IDS Center, along the mall, houses well-known brands such as Gap and Banana Republic in the Crystal Court. The IDS is one of the tallest buildings in the state. For more downtown excitement, explore the 8 miles of skyway that connect shopping, dining and entertainment, just one story above the street.

An upscale urban shopping mall, Gaviidae Common spans two city blocks along Nicollet Mall. Start the shopping day off by stopping at well-known retailers such as Neiman Marcus and Saks “Off Fifth” that offer the latest styles in apparel for both men and women alike. You’ll find those finishing touches to the perfect outfit at StyledLife and Cole Haan, while

R.F. Moeller Jeweler offers fine jewelry for any occasion. Replenish yourself at JUUT Salonspa and grab a bite to eat at one of the dining spots such as D’Amico & Sons. At the end of the day, head to FinnStyle or Groveland Confections to pick up some gifts for friends and family. Incidentally, Gaviidae is the Latin term for the family of the loon, Minnesota’s beloved state bird.

gaviidae Common

Saks Fifth Avenue

Dior sandals

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Twin Cities | Guestguide 200948

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ÅNickelodeon Universe, the nation’s first Nickelodeon-themed park, offers a fun break from shopping for kids and families. Ride the Ferris wheel with Dora the Explorer or get a thrill on the SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge.

ÑSatisfy those seafood crav-ings and Forrest Gump love at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Af-ter indulging in the hearty menu selections, stop by the gift shop to pick up some souvenirs.

Since opening its doors in 1992 with 330 stores, the Mall of America has become a main

tourist destination in the United States with more than 520 stores and more than 40 million visitors each year. Aside from providing an extravagant shopping experience, the mall offers other thri l l ing activit ies such as Underwater Adventures, a 1.2 million gallon underwater aquarium that is home to more than 100 sharks and 4,500 sea creatures, and a four-story Lego showcase with more than 30 models. The mall has also had its fair share of the limelight. Mall of America has been the site of Hollywood films such as Mighty Ducks and Jingle All The Way, while and NBC’s Today Show has aired live broadcasts from the Rotunda. With all it has to offer, it’s said that it can take more than two days to conquer the Mall of America.

ÇThe NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway lets you get in the driver’s seat of a professional stock car and experience 195 mph speeds.

ÅHousing some of the most cov-eted handbags and accessories, Coach offers an array of colorful and fashionable items that are bound to make an impression.

courtesy of coach

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ÅMoose Mountain Adventure Golf is an 18-hole miniature golf course that’s fun for groups of all ages.

ÅBuild-A-Bear Workshop lets mall visitors create their own personalized teddy bear. Choose from a variety of personalities from princesses to sports players to doctors.

ÅWhether it’s before a movie or just during a break from shopping, Twin City Grill provides a relaxing fine dining experience. Enjoy the 1940s mahogany décor as you dine on savory fresh seafood and grilled steaks among other dishes.

ÅThe transit station on the lower level allows for easy transpor-tation to and from the mall for shoppers. Catch one of the many city buses or hop on the light rail.ÉBurberry is only one of the many new

stores to open at the mall during the past year. Others include the Gucci boutique in Nordstrom and Tag Heuer at Bloomingdale’s. Best Buy is expected to open on the third floor by fall 2008.

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photo courtesy of metro traNsit


ÅHeadquartered in Minneapolis, Target is a favorite spot for all shoppers. The glass entrance and cart escalator make this downtown location a unique Target trip.

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ÅIl Vostro Boutique (left) is just one of the shops in Edina’s 50th & France neighborhood that are exclusive to Minnesota.

ÅDesigner Christiane Lemieux and her New York-based DwellStudio recently joined the Target brand family.


With tea houses, specialty bookshops, tattoo parlors, in-dependent movie theaters and vintage clothing stores along Hennepin Avenue, the hip urban Minneapolis neighbor-hood of Uptown is an essential on your list of shopping hot spots. In Uptown you’ll find young hipsters noshing on salt-and-pepper shrimp at Chino Latino or perusing new styles at American Apparel. Other one-of-a-kind retailers in Uptown include Bay Street Shoes, where you can find everything from Birkenstocks to BCBG, Kitchen Window, which offers more than 10,000 cooking products, and Ivy, a distinct boutique where you’re sure to find styles as unique as you are. Inside the neighborhood is Calhoun Square, an urban mall containing a mix of retail stores, ethnic bou-tiques and several kiosks selling plenty of trendy items.

For historic taste, some local character and tree-lined charm, stroll down Grand Avenue in St. Paul. Apart from being historic and picturesque, this neighborhood is known for its abundance of independent retailers and inviting ca-fes and eateries. These 25 blocks run from the Mississippi River to downtown St. Paul and hold numerous shops and cozy eateries exclusive to Minnesota. Of national fame and a must for little readers, The Red Balloon Bookshop houses

ÅIn fall 2007, Martha Stewart’s latest line of home furnishings arrived at Macy’s. The sleek, warm, functional pieces make for the perfect addition to any home.

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ÅIn St. Paul, Grand Avenue’s 25 blocks offer distinctive boutiques, coffee shops and dining options.


ÅThe Shoppes at Arbor Lakes is one of Minnesota’s open-air malls. A refreshing shopping experience, the mall allows shoppers to take advantage of the variety of retailers and enjoy the fresh air.

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a multitude of children’s stories. If you need a break, the nearby upscale deli Café Latté offers soups, salads, sand-wiches, a wine bar and the best dessert choices around.

Not only do we have the largest mall in America; we have the oldest. Mall of America, perhaps the area’s greatest shopping asset, recently wel-comed Geox, Levi’s, Lacoste and Best Buy—adding to the mall’s more than 520 stores. Southdale Center in Edina, which opened in 1965 as the nation’s first completely indoor shopping mall, houses 130 retailers, restaurants and a 16-screen movie theater. Nearby Southdale in Edina is Galleria, an upscale mall with distinct boutiques along with favorite chains, including a new Crate & Barrel. Farther north on France Avenue, you’ll run into 50th & France, a swanky shopping spot with an array of boutiques tailored to men, women and children. Besides 175 re-tailers and professional services, the area features an art-house movie the-ater and a variety of restaurants.

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Southdale is one of the “dales”—four popular indoor suburban malls. The others, Rosedale, Ridgedale and Brookdale make it easy to shop from any side of the city. Brooklyn Center’s Brookdale Center features a Steve & Barry’s plus more than 75 stores, while Roseville’s Rosedale Center boasts a remodeled lifestyle shopping exten-sion called The Plaza, and Minneton-ka’s Ridgedale Center features a com-pletely renovated interior and a Macy’s so large it’s split in two.

Looking for something special? Try shopping green at Twin Cities Green in Uptown or Birch Cloth-ing and Linden Hills Natural Home in Minneapolis. No matter your taste or specific desires, there’s a boutique shop for you. Check out Bibelot Shops four metro locations or head to Pa-tina Stores five metro locations for a unique gift.

The options don’t end there. In Ma-ple Grove, the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes

ÅSet between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, the Linden Hills neighborhood gives a small-town feel to the big city with its many shops, cafes and parks.


is an open-air mall with top retailers such as Ann Taylor, Pottery Barn and Borders as well as sever-al one-of-a-kind boutiques. The Shoppes are part of an ever-expanding neighborhood of shops and restaurants. Farther outside the cities, the Albert-ville Premium Outlets and North Branch Outlets offer prime bargain hunting. In Minnesota, shop-ping is as diverse as the seasons. Gg

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ÅAt St. Paul’s farmers’ market (right), most products are produced within 50 miles of the cities. You can also find farmers’ markets in Minneapolis, including along Nicollet Mall, near the Guthrie Theater (Mill City Farmers’ Market, left) and in the Midtown area.

twin cities guest guide - shopping

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