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The West End area of St. Louis Park is seeing an increase in foot traffic and commercial growth, as other downtown areas in the Twin Cities work to revitalize previously prosperous neighborhoods.
Some are calling it a new beginning for the West End.
Foot traffic is increasing in St. Louis Park, and businesses are taking note.
“Recently, we’re seeing the area come back to life,” said Britan Neiderhiser, co-owner of Urban Wok St. Louis Park.
That made it the perfect location for the Nederhisers to open their first restaurant, Urban Wok.
“Our food is delicious. It is also very healthy. We also have many gluten-free and vegan-free options,” said Travis Neiderhiser, owner of Urban Wok St. Louis Park. “Stir-fry is a traditional Chinese recipe, but it’s a very healthy recipe.”
The pair opened their doors in the West End in August.
The key ingredient to their success is simple – lots of people.
“There are lunch rushes Monday through Friday because there are a lot of corporate offices around and weekend nights get a little busier,” Travis said.
City officials explained that all the elements in the west end are designed to work together.
“This area was envisioned to be a live-work space,” said Greg Hunt, St. Louis Park’s economic development manager. “I think we pretty much nailed it.”
But he was not always active.
Many storefronts were darkened by customers during the outbreak.
“It was dead. A lot of the buildings there looked like they had paper on the walls,” says Davis Weinman, who works in the West End. “It’s good to see it revived.”
But now city officials say vigilance is returning.
The 10 West End office building is nearing full occupancy so they are expanding in the area.
A new six-story apartment building with more than 200 units is under construction on Wayzata Boulevard.
West End Shops is home to Minnesota’s Thai Street Food Festival and Twin Cities Film Festival, as well as Polestar, one of two electric vehicle showrooms in the Midwest.
West End at St. Louis Park (KSTP).
“We’re very pleased with the amount of economic activity the West has brought,” Hunt said.
Since West End opened in 2009, more than $400 million has been invested in various retail, office and multifamily developments in the West End area, according to city officials.
Since 2000, the population of St. Louis Park has increased approximately 14 percent.
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