KARE 11 visits the construction site of Shea's new HQ

Rooftop restaurants, condos and more development in Mpls.

Written by

Jeffrey DeMars, KARE 11

MINNEAPOLIS - Restaurant rooftops, more than 250 condos and construction in a few key spots in downtown Minneapolis will turn abandoned properties into thriving opportunities in the city.

At the corner of 8th Street and Hennepin Avenue, the old Shinders building has sat empty for the past five years, but a big change is underway to bring the two-story building a step into the future while holding on to its history.

"We do have some original photographs of what it looked like in the '50s," said Gregory Houck of Shea Architects.

The 1950s included Snyder's Drug Store and a current renovation of the building by Shea Architects dusted off some of those memories from days gone by.

"In the terrazzo it says Snyder's," said Houck. "It's very cool and we're going to restore that and keep it. It will be part of our entry."

Shea's offices will take up the entire second floor of the building.

When finished later this summer, it will be an open space which is sandwiched between a restaurant on the street level and the roof.

While a restaurant has agreed to the deal, Shea's is not ready to go public with it yet.

The rooftop restaurant is slated to open at the beginning of 2013 and Shea's isn't the only one building up to look down.

"Right now we're on top of Rush's Bridal shop on the roof," said Terry Jacobs of 9's on the mall.

Rush's Bridal - between The Local and Barrio on Nicollet Mall - also has plans for not one, but two rooftop restaurants.

"We're talking to restaurants; we have [letters of intent] coming in," said Jacobs.

Once a restaurant is on board, Rush's will go to the city for approval. The plan is to start construction at the beginning of 2013.

A little north on Hennepin and it's deconstruction that's underway at the corner with Washington Avenue.

Workers are demolishing the old Jaguar dealership that has sat empty for years to make way for a Whole Foods and more than 250 luxury apartments. The $70 million project is slated to be complete in 2013.

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