By Erica Rapp and Andrew Jason • Featured photo by J. Alan Paul Photography
Some might say they view Downtown Fargo as the “community’s front porch,” because it’s where people want to be. It’s where people bring out-of-town visitors. It’s where an incredible amount of growth and development is happening. It’s something unique to show off about this great city. Downtown Fargo is going through some exciting changes and a revitalization that makes it a model for the rest of the city, so we did some digging into a few of the many reasons why you should love it.
1. THERE’S A BRAND NEW MIXED-USE EVENT CENTER.
By Erica Rapp • Photos by Andrew Jason
The Sanctuary Events Center, renovated and transformed from the old St. Mark’s church, is the newest hot spot in Downtown Fargo for concerts, weddings, retail, business, events and much more. General Manager Richard Pallay III and Jade Presents assistant talent buyer Carly Bischoff told us why this space works so well downtown, why they love it and why you’re going to love it too.
THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE
With the way that downtown is evolving, mixed-use buildings are becoming relevant and more important. With the Sanctuary Events Center housing space for entertainment acts, weddings and a variety of events, it’s obvious that this space is important to downtown business.
“Ever since the venue at The Hub closed, we have been lacking a mid- sized space where people can come and experience live entertainment,” said Bischoff. “As far as concerts go, this is right smack dab in the middle. It’s great for mid-sized events, it’s right downtown and we find a lot of people wanting to make a night of their concert experiences. They can go to the bar. They can get dinner beforehand. They can make a whole night out of their experience.”
“I’m happy we’re downtown. I love downtown and I’m so happy this is available downtown,” said Pallay. “Think about when the wedding party is done. Now you have all of these people that might be from Fargo but a lot of them might not be, and they now get to spill into downtown and visit all of the great shops and restaurants. They get to have an experience after the wedding too, instead of just going back to a random hotel.”
THE IMPRESSIVE INTERIOR
There are two main floors and event spaces. The Great Hall is a large production floor where concerts will take place, all with wedding ceremonies and dances, plus larger-scale private events. There is a stage with full production, lighting, sound and video with an overflow balcony. The view isn’t too shabby, either, with the raised ceilings, refurbished wood from the old interior and the spectacular stained- glass windows.
The lower chamber of the space is more of a reception hall that you would never guess used to be a church basement. This space connects to the main kitchen for the catering company, Chef’s Table, as well as a secondary prep kitchen.
And that’s just one side of the building. The other side of the building will be utilized for various retail and businesses. Currently occupying the space is Chef’s Table catering, Grassfire Studios and a massage therapist, with much more to come, especially as more wedding parties start to come through the doors.
“We’ve been blessed to get business owners and vendors who kind of see the vision of Sanctuary and want to help not only promote the mixed-use aspect, but they see the benefits for them as a business owner and take advantage of it,” said Pallay. “The fact that it’s a renovated church is a huge draw from a booking standpoint, because it’s something that we’re seeing all over the country in bigger markets. It’s great to be able to talk to an agent in those markets and say, ‘Hey, we have that, too,’” said Bischoff. “We also took out the religious aspect of it, so it’s non-denominational. It’s welcoming for everyone and it’s not off-putting.”
STRATEGIC PLANNING
The Kilbourne Group purchased the space in 2013, but it sat empty up until the birth of Sanctuary Events Center this year. And, as Pallay explained, it was for a very good reason and one that benefits business in Downtown Fargo.
“They wanted to be purposeful about what they were going to do with the space. That’s what they do. Everything is coordinated and nothing is just, ‘Lets just throw it at the wall and see what sticks.’ It’s about doing something that will make sense for downtown and from a business side. Everything that they do is to make downtown a much better place, which, as a resident, makes me feel thankful,” said Pallay.
And with that, Pallay and Bischoff are firm believers in “seeing is believing,” and encourage the community to check out the space, without waiting to see your favorite band perform at it months down the road. This venue was built to be a staple part of the downtown experience, and it’s already doing just that. Plus, there’s definitely a lot more in store that hasn’t been revealed yet.
SANCTUARY EVENTS CENTER
670 4th Ave. N., Fargo
Facebook
Website
2. DOWNTOWN'S REVITALIZATION IS JUST BEGINNING.
By Andrew Jason • Photos by Laura Cramer
For the last 15 years, the Kilbourne Group has been at the center of the revitalization in Downtown Fargo. Focusing on restoring historic buildings, the company has headed up many of Downtown Fargo’s most exciting projects, such as the Loretta Building, Sanctuary Events Center and with many more upcoming projects, such as the Block 9 Tower, Roberts Garage and the Woodrow Apartments on the way, the Kilbourne Group is just getting started. We met with General Manager Mike Allmendinger to discuss the growth.
THE GROWTH OF DOWNTOWN IS JUST BEGINNING.
Despite all of the growth downtown has seen in the last 10 years, Allmendinger believes that it’s really just beginning. While most people think of Downtown Fargo as the Broadway corridor, the area zoned as downtown stretches much farther. The Renaissance Zone, which is an area that encourages economic development and investment opportunities in the downtown business district through various incentives, stretches all the way down to the Hawthorne District south of Island Park. Fargo’s own planning maps consider Downtown Fargo as the area from Seventh Avenue North to University Drive all the way south through Island Park. Allmendinger believes the notion of downtown will continue to expand as businesses, such as the Prairie Roots Co-op, are attracted to the perimeter.
“As we look around Downtown Fargo and see the amount of opportunities for infill projects and, in particular, surface parking lots and the amount of buildings that used to be in Downtown Fargo that supported walkability and mixed uses, there’s a lot of potential happening down here still,” said Allmendinger. “There are going to be new districts and new neighborhoods created in our downtown core. The idea of where the perimeter of downtown is located will continue to evolve as well.”
“We look around Downtown Fargo and see the amount of opportunities for infill projects and … there’s a lot of potential happening down here still.”
– Mike Allmendinger, Kilbourne Group’s general manager
THE GROWTH OF DOWNTOWN IS JUST BEGINNING.
Allmendinger and the Kilbourne Group believe that growth must be smart and include the revitalization of existing buildings and smart use of buildings such as mixed use parking ramps. Something that the city is working on as well is ensuring there is more green space available in the downtown corridor. When the riverfront project is finished, the Red River will be more accessible than ever. It’s not just the riverfront that is seeing increased green space. Last month, Folkways founder Joe Burgum announced that he hopes to turn the former site of Sahr’s Sudden Service at 601 4th St. N in Fargo into an urban park that features trees, benches and pop-up restaurants. The Kilbourne Group is even planning for some green space in the plaza of the future Block 9 Tower, which is a trend that Allmendinger believes is going to happen all over downtown.
“I think open space, green space and recreation is one thing that’s going to be a new opportunity for the City of Fargo on how we incorporate that into all of the experiences we have in Downtown Fargo,” said Allmendinger. “Particularly, if you’re living in downtown, how do you get access to trails, recreation and have an active life while you’re down here as well?”
DOWNTOWN IS STRONG FOR PROVIDING EXPERIENCES.
Allmendinger believes that downtowns are great for providing experiences and are oftentimes the cultural center of a community. This is true for Fargo as well. With upward of 10 art galleries, numerous other studios and an area that attracts artists, downtown is Fargo’s cultured crockpot. In fact, the Kilbourne Group recently partnered with Experience Blur, a local theatre company, to provide a unique space for their summer show “The Great American Trailer Park.” Housed in the former Schumacher Goodyear building at 409 Broadway, Experience Blur will occupy the back room for a one-of- a-kind theatre experience. In addition, Fargo Brewing Company, the Red River Market and a food truck called Texas Q BBQ are utilizing the rest of the building. Last month, Allmendinger and the Kilbourne Group also met with the Arts Partnership to start a dialogue about what artists need in Downtown Fargo to keep the creativity flowing.
“At that meeting, we started the conversation about what the art community needs for space in Downtown Fargo,” said Allmendinger. “What do they have now and what are they looking to have in the future? We started talking about how should we facilitate this discussion between building owners in Downtown Fargo in addition to Kilbourne Group and other landowners and work with the Arts Partnership to facilitate that discussion.”
KILBOURNE GROUP PROJECTS
3. DOWNTOWN FARGO IS GETTING A TOWER.
Although there are still many hoops to jump through, construction is currently planned for a start date in the fall and a completion date of spring 2019 for the Kilbourne Group’s Block 9 Tower. Earlier this year, the $98 million project was approved for $15.5 million in tax incentives. While many of the details are still being ironed out, this 18-story tower is currently planned to house a wedding venue, rooftop garden, skyway access, European hotel, retail, businesses and also offer a plaza with green space that may hold a splash pad, skating rink and a bandshell.
4. THERE ARE MORE (AND EXCITING) RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS.
Originally constructed in 1917, the former Woodrow Wilson School on North University Drive is being renovated into an apartment complex. Set to open between January and March of 2017, the building
will house 63 residential units and underground parking. According to Kilbourne Group General Manager Mike Allmendinger, there is an opportunity for a commercial business on the south side of the building. He believes this would be a great location for a brewery coffee shop. The project will also include construction of a new 2,500-square-foot building to suit retail on the southwest edge of the lot.
5. YOU HAVE A NEW SPOT TO PARK.
When the City of Fargo created a “Downtown Fargo Redevelopment Framework Plan” in July 2001, they realized that there was an immediate need for a parking ramp in Downtown Fargo. That is finally being brought to life with the help of the Kilbourne Group. Construction of the seven-story, 458-stall parking garage began in June and is expected to be completed next March. The building will include 74 residential units, 9,500 square feet of ground floor space for retail, food and beverage concepts along Second Avenue North and Roberts Alley and the much needed space for parking downtown.
KILBOURNE GROUP
210 Broadway N, Ste. 300, Fargo
701-237-2279
Website
6. DOWNTOWN IS FINALLY GETTING A GROCERY STORE, AND YOU CAN TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT.
By Erica Rapp
Residents have been longing for Downtown Fargo to have a grocery store, and those dreams are finally coming true with the Prairie Roots Co-op. Not only will this store be beneficial for downtown and its collaborative environment, but it also affects the entire community. Plus, located off of University Drive and NP Avenue, it’s the perfect location for the store. Membership and Development Director Kaye Kirsch filled us in on the details behind this exciting project.
WHAT IS A CO-OP?
Because the Prairie Roots Food Co-op acts as a cooperative business, that means it’s member-owned. Right now, they have a number of members who have invested in the vision of a community-owned grocery store that features natural, organic and local food. Profits of the store will stay in the community because it’s a locally owned business.
MEMBERSHIP IMPORTANCE
By becoming a member of the co-op, you can become an owner and a part of the business. Membership is open to anybody at any time. It is currently a $300 investment, but there are a variety of payment options that can start at just $25 to make it an accessible option for all members of the community. Anyone can shop at the store, but members get special deals and discounts, in addition to being able to decide what happens with the store’s profits. The co-op is looking to have around 1,500 members before the store’s opening next spring, so an “Own It” campaign has been launched and invites anyone to become a member.
“When someone becomes a member, it’s their store. It creates a sense of ownership that people can embrace,” said Kirsch. “This is going to be a really cool thing to help drive the economic engine of Fargo and to create a commonwealth for all of our members.”
You can become a member online at prairie-roots.coop or by visiting area food events. Membership Committee Chair Megan Myrdal will be coordinating membership signups at various local food events, such as Ugly Food of the North and the Red River Market, so keep your eyes peeled for a chance to sign up in person.
“It will be a community resource and a destination place where you can come to learn about great food.”
– Kaye Kirsch, membership and development director for Prairie Roots Food Co-op
FULL-SERVICE
The 10,000-square-foot space will be a full-service grocery store complete with a café, robust deli, soup and sandwich bar and much more.
“It will be a great destination to come for lunch or to pick up a few groceries as well, or anything you need from fresh produce to toilet paper,” said Kirsch. “It will be a community resource and a destination place where you can come to learn about great food.”
One thing that co-ops often feature is a bulk section where you can buy exactly as much or as little as you need. This is also an environmentally conscious feature, as it reduces the amount of packaging and waste.
“We’re going to be encouraging people to bring their empty flour bin and things like that, which can be filled up right at the store,” said Kirsch.
EDUCATION
In addition to bringing local products to the area, the store also aims to help build a healthy community by providing access to programming and education. They plan to teach things such as eating healthy on a budget, how to eat local in North Dakota given the seasons, enjoying food at the peak of freshness, how you can preserve food and more.
“It will be a great destination to come for lunch or to pick up a few groceries as well, or anything you need from fresh produce to toilet paper.”
– Kaye Kirsch, membership and development director for Prairie Roots Food Co-op
LOCAL PRODUCTS
Kirsch explained that local food will be featured as much as possible, and they plan to demo many products of local farmers and tell their stories. You can expect a wide variety of natural and organic products.
ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY IMPACT
With this type of co-op, the economic impact is much greater than just bringing in great food. According to Kirsch, for every $1 you spend at a local business, about $1.35 recirculates into the local economy. Because this co-op is locally owned by members, and because so much product comes from local farmers, every $1 spent instead turns into $1.60.
Co-ops are also well known for giving back to their communities. Once the store is profitable, it plans to reinvest in the community and donate to various groups and causes.
PRAIRIE ROOTS FOOD CO-OP
Expected construction start: October 1
Anticipated opening: Early spring
Website
7. THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SEES LOTS OF POTENTIAL IN DOWNTOWN FARGO.
By Erica Rapp • Photos by Tiffany Swanson
The Downtown Community Partnership is a nonprofit development corporation for Downtown Fargo that does everything it can to promote downtown as a vibrant destination and aid it’s revitalization. They’re the machine that gets projects going. They’re the ones organizing your favorite community events. They’re the ones keeping things squeaky clean with the efforts of their Business Improvement District (BID). They’re the catalyst for retail collaboration. They know the ins and outs of downtown. Their efforts are endless, and that’s why CEO and President of the DCP, Mike Hahn, shared with us what he loves and is excited for about Downtown Fargo.
DOWNTOWN HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MANY UNDERUTILIZED SPACES, SUCH AS MAIN AVENUE AND SURFACE LOTS.
Hahn stressed the importance of utilizing underutilized spaces such as the Mid America Steel Site downtown, rail cars that are sitting unused behind the Fargo Park District offices along the NP Train Depot and most importantly, Main Avenue.
“Main Avenue is a good untapped source that I think could really change things,” said Hahn. “There are a lot of buildings used for storage, wouldn’t it be nice to replace or rehab some of those and replicate Main Avenue to be like Broadway? I think it could be a catalyst for an entryway from I-29 all the way down into the Minnesota side that could just be out of this world.
“We already have little pockets of districts that we see with SoMa (South of Main Avenue), Broadway, the Cathedral District, Island Park and we could see it with the riverfront in the next few years, but my main concern is Main Avenue. I think it has a lot of potential to do the same, but it needs to be planned right and done right,” said Hahn.
Since the Downtown Community Partnership works closely with the City of Fargo on many of downtown’s projects, Hahn considers the organization the “nuts and bolts” behind the new things that are happening. And with that, one of their biggest pushes right now is making sure infill spots are filled.
“We’re kind of a catalyst to get those new things going, and we want to make sure these surface parking lots are built upon,” said Hahn. “We do address parking concerns, and we want to do it the right way. This (Roberts Garage) is an example of a good project that can be replicated throughout downtown. We need more people to build up on those surface ramps and lots and do parking internally.”
“There are a lot of buildings used for storage, wouldn’t it be nice to replace or rehab some of those and replicate Main Avenue to be like Broadway?”
– Mike Hahn, CEO and president of the Downtown Community Partnership
DOWNTOWN IS EXPANDING.
Hahn explained that there is still a suburban stigma that Downtown Fargo basically just consists of Broadway, which is something that has dramatically changed. The liveliness of Broadway is extending into the fringes of downtown with the construction of so many exciting projects, creating even more opportunities for residents and businesses. Plus, as downtown continues to develop, Hahn stated that it will radiate throughout the community and provide more opportunities for the Moorhead side.
“When I first came here six years ago, Broadway was getting all of the attention. I think, with all of these projects and this plan that’s being put together, we’re seeing downtown expand. People aren’t just seeing downtown as Broadway anymore. It’s Eighth Street, or Island Park, the Cathedral District and hopefully the riverfront in the future.
“Downtown has always been where entrepreneurs started. I think that it will continue to be a catalyst for that innovation, especially with expanding outward. We’re a long way from being totally built out downtown, so there still needs to be a focus on it. That’s where, from the city’s perspective, you’re going to get the best return on your investment,” said Hahn.
DOWNTOWN CONFERENCE
“The Downtown Community Partnership will be hosting this year’s Downtown Conference on October 18 and 19. It’s a premier professional development conference for people who are downtown professionals, downtown voluneers and downtown businesses and things of that nature.” – MIke Hahn
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
210 Broadway N., Fargo
(701) 241-1570
Website
8. THE RESTAURANT SCENE IS BOOMING.
By Erica Rapp • Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography
Dan Hurder is no stranger to the restaurant industry. As the co-owner of two restaurants downtown, Sazerac Alley and The Boiler Room, plus a few others locally and regionally, he knows a thing or two about how things work in the downtown area. We chatted with him about a few things that make the downtown restaurant scene something that people are always excited about.
PEOPLE ARE CHANGING, AND IT'S A GOOD THING.
Before Sazerac Alley came along this year, the space was popularly known as Monte’s, a restaurant co-owned by Hurder that was considered one of the pioneers in the transformation of Downtown Fargo. Hurder explained that the decision to replace Monte’s with Sazerac Alley came from the need to keep up with the constant evolution of downtown’s bar and restaurant scene.
“We bought Monte’s at kind of the height of the revitalization. It was one of the early interesting restaurants downtown and served its place for a long time. I think where it started to struggle was that it didn’t keep up with all of the new-ness that’s happening downtown. There are so many new and exciting options, so we felt like it needed to rebrand and re-establish itself.
“I think it’s also a testament to the fact that restaurants do have to stay current and interesting. The population in Fargo is very different than it was 10 years ago–age-wise, socioeconomically, people’s interests. It’s a different crowd now, and definitely for the better.”
“I think the interesting and independent nature of downtown is what has allowed all of us to succeed.”
– Dan Hurder, co-owner of Sazerac Alley and The Boiler Room
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CARS.
Hurder is also co-owner of Barbacoa, a Southern Tex-Mex restaurant in South Fargo. Being that downtown is a destination point for many people, operating restaurants in other parts of town requires a different strategy.
“We have to work a lot harder to get business on the south side of town. Downtown gets a lot of fanfare business. When The Boiler Room opened, it was nuts for months because it was a new thing downtown people heard about and got excited (about). On the south end of town, people are more like, ‘Oh, I’ve heard of that. I have been meaning to try that.’ We still love being in that part of town. It’s working out well for us, but we have to work a lot harder to draw attention to ourselves there.”
IT'S A DESTINATION, AND ONE THAT FOSTERS UNIQUE DINING.
“I think a lot of people in Fargo look at downtown as a destination. I know I make a point to bring visitors downtown when they come to visit. I think for a lot of people–even if they don’t utilize downtown often–can use it that way, if you only go out to eat once a month when you have those special guests come to town and you want to take them to some place cool and interesting. We have a Chili’s everywhere. That’s not where you take guests. You take them somewhere they can’t get anywhere else.
“And I think that’s because of the love that people have for downtown and the excitement that they get when something new opens here. Maybe there wasn’t something that interested them previously, but now there is and they want to be a part of it. Now they have a reason. At the end of the day, it’s about continuing to drive unique and interesting local businesses. Restaurant chains certainly have their place in the world, but I love that we don’t have any of them downtown.”
“I think that downtown, a little bit by the very nature of downtown but also (by) what has happened in Fargo, has created a really cool niche of unique independently owned, locally owned establishments.”
– Dan Hurder, co-owner of Sazerac Alley and The Boiler Room
THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN FARGO KEEPS THINGS INTERESTING, WHICH IS GREAT FOR BUSINESS AND EVEN BETTER FOR FOODIES.
“I think that downtown, a little bit by the very nature of downtown but also (by) what has happened in Fargo, has created a really cool niche of unique independently owned, locally owned establishments. The HoDo probably kicked that off downtown and The Old Broadway, too. A lot of stuff started to fill in after the fact. As it gets more interesting, the more interesting it is for businesses to become a part of it, which continues to make it even more interesting. Then, of course, the more interesting downtown becomes, the more interested people are in spending their time and money downtown. So really, we all kind of capitalize on each other’s success.”
SAZERAC ALLEY
220 N. Broadway Dr., Fargo
(701) 526-0149
Website
THE BOILER ROOM
210 Broadway N., Fargo
(701) 478-1990
Website
9. RETAIL IS THRIVING FOR BOTH SHOPPERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
By Erica Rapp • Photos by Laura Cramer
Josie Danz has been involved with business in Downtown Fargo for as long as she can remember. It runs in her family, after all. She’s the manager of Downtown Fargo’s longtime gift shop and bookstore Zandbroz Variety, which is owned by her father and has been around for 25 years. Danz has seen the shop go through a variety of changes as downtown has changed and knows exactly why being located downtown works for the success of her family’s business.
DOWNTOWN HAS BECOME A DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE, WHICH IS GREAT FOR BUSINESS. BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS THAT WAY.
“Being downtown is a lot different now than it was when Zandbroz first opened. There was nothing glorious about being downtown 25 years ago. Now, people look at Downtown Fargo as sort of a model for downtowns and how an ideal downtown should be. And it’s been really great to see downtown finally be revitalized and get some recognition. I look at downtown as being sort of our community’s front