Brooklyn Center Business Association Blog

The sign for Ocean Buffet is up on the former T. Wrights/Fudruckers restaurant on Shingle Creek Parkway just north of Bass Lake Road. Not sure when it or Mr. BBQ will be open for business. So, we will have to wait to give these new places a try. There was a nice article in the Sun-Post recently about Global Kitchen in the Shingle Creek Shopping Center.
Auto-Zone has opened in the former Hollywood Video store on 63rd Avenue and Brooklyn Boulevard. It is encouraging to see people willing to make an investment in new businesses in Brooklyn Center. If you know of a new business opening in the city, let us know.

ITT Technical Institute will officially celebrate the opeing of its new Brooklyn Center location with a by-invitation ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 29. The school is located at 6120 Earle Brown Drive, Suite 100. The BCBA extends a warm welcome to the city. Brooklyn Center’s great location makes it an ideal home for a growing number of post-secondary educational facilities. If you are looking for additional training or educational programs check out what is available in our own “back yard.”

Look who got hitched! Teresa Jo Schutz, president of the Brooklyn Center Business Association, exchanged marriage vows with Jeffrey John Esler in a lake-side ceremony at Manhattan Beach Lodge, just north of Cross Lake, on Sept 10. Congratulations, Teresa and Jeff. You are wished many years of happiness.

A recent Star Tribune issue featured a story about a group of people that conducted a “funeral” for Brookdale Center as it becomes piles of rubble. Those attending the funeral had fond memories of our community’s old friend. Like them, I too have good memories of Brookdale. Meeting family members at the bird cage near Penney’s, shopping for flowers and other decorations at Bachman’s, picking out greeting cards at the Hallmark shop, buying back to school clothes for my children, lunch at the elevated restaurant just outside of Dayton’s, and more. My father bought his clothes at Justers. My mother worked at the pet shop. I bet there other people with other fond recollections. Please share your memories here. Where did you like to shop? Did you work at a Brookdale store? What was special about the shopping center? Let’s look back at the good days our friend had as we look forward to the new Shingle Creek Crossing that will take its place.

The Brooklyn Center Women’s Club will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Community Center, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway.
Entertainment will be provided by the Treble Tones, a women’s singing group. Refreshments will be served.
Those attending the meeting can sign up for the Thursday, Oct. 27 trip to the Jon Hassler Theater in Painview to see “Don‘t Hug Me, I‘m Pregnant.” Lunch will be at the Stumble Inn 2. The cost of the trip is $51. The next trip is Thursday, Dec.. 1 to the Minnesota History Theatre in St. Paul to see “A Civil War Christmas.” Lunch will be at Dixie’s on Grand Avenue. The cost of this trip is $49.
The Brooklyn Center Women’s Club promotes social, cultural and civic activities. Membership is open to any woman over the age of 21. Residency in Brooklyn Center is not required.
Information: 763-569-3400 or go to www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org.

You don’t have to live in Iowa or New Hampshire to be involved in election excitement this year. There are two upcoming elections for those who just can’t wait for 2012.
There will be a primary election in the Minnesota Senate race in District 46 (Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park) to fill the seat of the late Linda Scheid. Five candidates have filed. They are (in alphabetical order): Timothy A. Davis Sr. (DFL), Chris Eaton (DFL), Cory Jensen (Republican), Tom Reynolds (Independence), and Ryan Sibinski (Republican). The primary election is Sept. 3 with the general election set for Oct. 18. Reynolds will automatically be on the October ballot along with one DFL candiate and one Republican candidate.
Councilmember Tim Roche has resigned as he is moving out of the city. A special election is required as there is more than one year remaining in his term. If more than two candidates file for election, a primary will be on Dec. 6 followed by the general election on Jan. 24.
For additional information on these elections call Brooklyn Center City Hall at 763-569-3300 or go to the city’s web site www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org.

Demolition began in earnest on Brookdale Center last week. A check of the site on Friday, Aug. 12 showed heavy equipment making iquick work of the former J.C. Penney store. It will be interesting to see how fast the shopping center comes down. Probably the best place to watch the demolition is from the pedestrian bridge over Highway 100 or Lions Park. Tenants facing Bass Lake Road in the Cave & Associates building at 5701 Shingle Creek Parkway have a bird’s eye view of the project. After so many years of no progress at Brookdale it is exciting to see something finally happening.

Please do not forget that Sears, Kohl’s, Applebee’s and the Holiday station remain open during the demolition and reconstruction. They are good business neighbors that deserve community support.

If you haven’t driven around Brooklyn Center lately you may have missed all the work in progress.

Demolition has started at Brookdale Center, the largest of several projects in the city. Construction fencing is in place and the entrance at Northway Drive is closed. Heavy equipment is tearing up the parking lots, and even the Brookdale sign is gone on the north side along Bass Lake Road. Razing of the mall itself will start soon so footings for the new 180,000+ square foot Walmart can be poured before winter weather sets in. Walmart is the first phase of the new Shingle Creek Crossing center. “Junior box” and smaller retail stores around the perimeter of the parking area will be included in phase two. The former Barnes & Noble and food court area stays (to house new retailers) as does Sears, Kohl’s and Applebee’s. These three will remain open during the construction, so don’t forget to frequent these businesses.

Work continues on the FBI building on Freeway Boulevard and Humboldt with completion set for spring of 2012. The facility will bring more than 300 employees to the city.

The walkway from the Embassy Suites hotel to the Earle Brown Heritage Center is under construction. The link will connect the hotel to the conference center making the complex even more attractive to meeting and event planners.

Ground has been broken for the addition to the District 279 Adult Education Center on Brooklyn Boulevard and Noble Avenue. The addition will house the Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) and some Hennepin County social service programs. The new building will bring CEAP back to Brooklyn Center. The county will move 250 to 300 emoployees to the location.

And, work is set to begin on the construction of two new automobile dealerships on Brooklyn Boulevard and the ramp from westbound Interstate 694/94.

One city official said there is more than $100 million in construction work going on in the city. And, more is expected to begin in 2012. Things are on the move!

Brooklyn Center welcomes two new restaurants as we move into the dog days of summer. Mr. BBQ, complete with voodoo lounge, is opening soon on the corner of Shingle Creek Parkway and Freeway Boulevard according to the sign outside. This is a terrific location, but seems to have trouble keeping a tenant. Let’s hope the latest effort proves successful.

Across the freeway and up the street is The Global Kitchen is open in the Shingle Creek Shopping Center. It is just down from Curves workout center. The small restaurant has been vacant for a number of years, so the new one is a welcome addition to the local scene.

Barnacle Bill’s is now the EB (for Earle Brown) Grill. Stop in and check out the new menu.

Perkin’s on John Martin Drive has closed as part of corporate down-sizing.

If you try one of the new places, let us know what you think.