Western Motors On West Broadway Has Spiffy New Sign!

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

It's so nice to see a business on West Broadway spruce up its exterior WITHOUT being made the subject of high-profile shaming in the blogosphere, i.e. slumlord Keith Reitman and his "ugly ass chocolate brown building."

Without any fanfare, in the last few months Western Motors got rid of their old sign--which wasn't even legible, it was so old, but admittedly the old sign had a certain coolness--and replaced it with a new sign. Or, then again, maybe they just had the old sign completely repainted. Hard to tell, but what does it matter? It looks nice. A used car lot may not be the most "high end" business to have on West Broadway, but at least this one is keeping up appearances. (Unlike some people)

Thank you, Western Motors.

(Do not click "Read More")

Slumlord Keith Reitman, Please Note: Even Ugly Buildings Look Nice With New Trim!

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

Yesterday I was in the West Bank neighborhood, and I happened to go past the "400 Bar," a popular nightspot which has a constant lineup of live bands. Their building isn't much to look at--in fact, a year or two ago part of a brick facade just TUMBLED RIGHT OFF to the sidewalk, which my son Alex thought was pretty exciting at the time, as we were about 50 yards away--but since the facade incident the 400 Bar has fixed up their exterior about as nice as they can, with really bright and decent trim.

The 400 Bar shows that even a nondescript, drab painted building doesn't have to be BUTT UGLY.

If only North Minneapolis slumlord Keith Reitman would take this lesson to heart and do something about his "ugly ass chocolate brown building" on West Broadway.

Toasting Success on West Broadway!

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman

This morning marked a significant gathering of partners along West Broadway. Much of the work, spurred by Ackerberg Group offshoot Catalyst Community Partners, has already been profiled here on Johnny Northside.

However, one thing many partners realized was that there are many people and institutions working on revitalizing West Broadway, but we don't meet and coordinate our efforts often enough. CM Don Samuels chaired this get-together, and we commemorated it with a toast to the many success stories of West Broadway. We didn't use REAL stuff, like we've done in the EcoVillage or at Harvest Days, but the toast was special nonetheless.

Among the things we celebrated were...

...Minneapolis Public Schools' decision to move their headquarters to NoMi, the ongoing renovation of the Delisi's building at Penn and Broadway, new businesses like Good Sports Bar & Grill, and the phenomenal work of Catalyst - including the building at 1200 West Broadway.

On top of Samuels' presence and that of an aide (we'll miss you Jose!), representatives from CM Johnson's office, CPED, the Pohlad Foundation, Catalyst, Hennepin County, the West Broadway Business Coalition, and many other partners were in attendance. And even though we met on a weekday morning, several area residents came as well.

One other item worthy of note: this blog has already documented the success rate of Catalyst hiring local and minority workers on their projects. But Mike Christenson of CPED noted that on the 300 residential rehabs done by city development partners such as GMHC, PPL, PRG, or Urban Homeworks, 70% of the contractors used have been Northside contractors. Our partners have been intentional about doing their work in a way that maximizes benefits for our community.

But this wasn't just a self-congratulatory meeting. We also wanted to discuss barriers and roadblocks so that we can begin to work around them. One issue that thankfully came up was...



...Hawthorne Crossings. Presumably they meant Hawthorn (sic) Crossings, and hopefully an influx of financial assistance will correct the spelling. But that's not all we plan on doing. All signs point to some serious measures to address the safety issues along that block. Given how far we've come and how quickly, it's truly encouraging to think of what can happen in this area as well.

One of the residents also brought up the need for transportation improvements along the corridor. Hopefully, that will include a light rail stop at Penn and Broadway, but what can be done until then? This wasn't QUITE along the lines of the topics we had gathered to discuss, but public transit in NoMi could stand to be improved and her point shouldn't be lost in the shuffle.

All in all though, I left the meeting thinking of what Don said during his campaign, that in four years, we won't BELIEVE the kinds of amazing changes that will have come to West Broadway! A HUGE thank you goes out to all our partners who are working to make this happen!

New Glass In Renovated "Five Points Building" Is Almost Too Glorious To Look Upon...

Contributed photo, xoxo, blog post by John Hoff

Constant progress is apparent almost daily at the former Delisi's Building at West Broadway, Penn Ave. N. and McNair Avenue, now known as the "Five Points Building." Recently--in a confident act of faith in the future of West Broadway--splendid new glass was installed.

In the photo above, I am expressing my spontaneous reaction to the beautiful sight of these new windows. Maybe part of my reaction comes from being forced to gaze too long at the "butt ugly butt glass situation" at Friedman's Shoe Store, click here, which I fully intend to keep publicly mentioning until there is improvement.

In summary: North Minneapolis real estate developer Stu Ackerberg. BE LIKE HIM!!!!

West Broadway Continues To Be Blighted By "Friedman's Butt Glass"

Contributed photo, xoxo, blog post by John Hoff

Why is it called "butt glass?" Because it's BUTT UGLY. Also, Freidman's managed to access grant money for facade improvement and did actually improve their facade. They improved it BUT!!!! for the glass. Are they just sentimental about yellowed, cloudy Plexiglass festooned with stickers?

Oh, the horror. And I've seen some horrible things in my life. I've seen...

...a pile of dead, snake-like lamprey, all frozen into a large chunk. I've worked on a military psychiatric ward and stared into the eyes of madmen. I'm the author of two books on the subject of dumpster diving, so you can bet I've gazed upon some horrible, rotten stuff. And just today I saw a house where at least three Level Three sex offenders live--right next to a house with two children's bikes in the yard--and that was a terrible sight to behold.

But all these ghastly spectacles shrink and pale in comparison to the sight of the increasingly-infamous Friedman butt glass. So awful is this spectacle that I will be forced to cry out against it at regular intervals, until it finally changes. The horror, the horror...

Olympic Cafe Wants to Stay Open Until 3 AM?! I don't think so.

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

I just received word that Olympic Cafe, at 923 West Broadway, is holding a public hearing on March 8 regarding a request to stay open until 3 a.m. I do not have a time or location for the meeting yet. I braved the icy tundra of the Hawthorn (sic) Crossings sidewalks to get a picture of the place.

While on that miniature trek, I had one "y'allright," and another "Howyadoingottacigarette?" In broad daylight. If this place is open a full hour after bars close, I'm inclined to think that the only customers at that time will be alcohol-laden thugs looking to sell or score their last hit of the night. There, I said it.

(Do not click "read more," but do contact your city council representative and oppose the 3 a.m. closing time for Olympic Cafe.)

The Arts Are Revitalizing West Broadway...

This video on YouTube was drawn to my attention by NoMi glass artist Connie Beckers, a.k.a. "The Goddess Of Glass." It's about artists and their role in revitalizing West Broadway. Here's what somebody told me about the video...

A documentary video by Samantha Robinson for the Northside Arts Collective:

This film project is an extension of a research project on the role of artists in urban redevelopment and gentrification that Samantha Robinson completed as a Lilly Fellow at Macalester College in the summer of 2009. She decided to use video, a medium with which she had limited experience, to recount North Minneapolis residents’ memories and reimaginings of West Broadway. After months of wrangling artists, business owners, and politicians, filming interviews, and editing numerous hours of footage, She submitted a final cut of “Visions” to the 2009 Filmanthropist Project Competition, a local film competition for amateur filmmakers with an emphasis on socially conscious filmmaking, in December.

Last month, “Visions” was selected as a top ten film, screened at the Oak Street Cinema, and awarded second place.

From a letter to the Northside Arts Collective Board of Directors, "I hope that this piece of artwork contributes to the achievement of the NAC’s goals, because the process of its creation has altered the course of my life."

As a result of this project, she is currently enrolled in two media arts courses at MCAD and plans to pursue an MFA in Film Production.

(Blog post by John Hoff, blogging on the road from Manhattan, Kansas)

West Broadway Development Tour

Guest post by the Hawthorne Hawkman, videos by the guy from youtube.

Unable to contain my excitement about KMOJ and Delisi's, I went looking around on youtube for more videos about what has been happening along West Broadway. I came across these gems, which show how much progress we've been making in NoMi (the new YWCA will be in Hawthorne, I'm proud to say!) and what great things are still to come.

I was going to write narratives with links, but it seemed that every time I said to myself, "Oh, I've got to link to a story about THIS," the video goes there next.

And one thing I do want to point out from the groundbreaking/dedication earlier today: There were quite a few people in hardhats and construction gear. I went up to them to shake their hand and tell them, "YOU are the ones REALLY making this happen!" I noticed that a lot of the workers were minorities, and I asked around about whether that was intentional and/or truly indicative of who is working on this project. I was told that The Ackerberg Group was indeed intentional about picking a contractor that would hire minorities and people from NoMi.

(Do not click "Read More," but do thank those who are bringing change and JOBS to our community!)

KMOJ/Delisi's Dedication at Penn and Broadway!

Guest post, photos and video by the Hawthorne Hawkman

I'm looking forward to John Hoff returning from his road trip. There's just so many great things happening in NoMi that it takes at least two people to keep up. Today heralded even more redevelopment along West Broadway in NoMi. KMOJ 89.9 FM will be coming back home to NoMi and Delisi's restaurant will reopen as well (although it's not known if it will still be called Delisi's or something different).

Longtime Hawthorne board member and all around activist Jim Wentzell has often said his dream is to have "a steak and a Manhattan at Delisi's on Broadway." Well, that dream is going to become a reality, and this blog is making a promise to Mr. Wentzell: you'll get that steak and Manhattan, but we're not going to let you pay for it. I've talked with plenty of people who would be honored to cover that first celebratory meal as a way to thank you for your years--no, decades!--of commitment to our neighborhood.

The festivities got started when...

The emcee, who I think was a representative from Catalyst, introduced the lineup of speakers. As soon as he mentioned that the mayor would be speaking, someone who apparently doesn't even live in north Minneapolis started to shout about...well, who knows what? It was kind of hard to hear him when the WHOLE ROOM shouted him down and told him to stop (he didn't, but thankfully our other speakers had a microphone).

I should point out that fringe mayoral candidate James Everett was in attendance as well, and he at least showed an ability to behave himself in public. Hopefully that gets him ranked ahead of SOMEBODY as we test-drive IRV.

Here's a quick video of some of what Mayor Rybak had to say. I was taking photos during part of it, and missed recording my favorite line. He was speaking about how people said we couldn't bring change to north Minneapolis, how nothing good would come to West Broadway, and "the real voices of the community" stood up and made it happen.



The general manager of KMOJ spoke as well, and likened their return to someone who goes off to college, becomes educated and a better person, and is now returning to give back to their community. Speakers also pointed to the original owner of Delisi's and the ever-present Stu Ackerberg and thanked them for their dedication and hard work.

Mark Stenglein and Barb Johnson also spoke, setting the table for the cleanup hitter, 5th Ward Council Member Don Samuels. My camera ran out of batteries, but at least caught a decent portion of what he had to say.



Commissioner Stenglein often complains about having to speak after Don Samuels, and now I start to understand his frustration. How do you top what was said in that video? Is there a better way to sum up what this event was all about? I'm just going to write out what he said in case you haven't watched:

"It is the good will of everybody in this room, and many who are not in this room, who have CAUGHT the vision for a transformation of a part of this community that has been far too long neglected."

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Get Yer Al Flowers Bingo Card RIGHT HERE!

Contributed Photo, next time use the ZOOM

Four words: Al Flowers Bingo Card.

Need I say more? Click here to download a PDF file of the Al Flowers bingo card, and be sure to bring it to future (poorly attended) press conferences held at imaginary NoMi intersections. The photo above shows Al Flowers at "where the intersection would be of Colfax and West Broadway, if something like that actually existed."

The Minneapolis Mirror was at the Al Flowers thing as usual, acting as though Flowers' rhetorical slop bucket was a banquet of brilliance. (Oh, Mr. Flowers, give me your gritty wisdom of the streets! Cleanse me from my left-of-liberal guilt! I'M NOT WORTHY! I'M NOT WORTHY!)

By the way, word is the intersection of Broadway Ave. N. and Colfax Ave. N. is kind of like Platform 9 and 3/4 at King's Cross Station in the popular Harry Potter Books. If the thought of Al Flowers as mayor is scary, imagine AL FLOWERS WITH MAGIC POWERS!

(Do not click "Read More")

Friedman's Is Getting A Facelift On West Broadway...

Photo by John Hoff

Yet more renovation is happening on West Broadway. Friedman's at 400 West Broadway is getting all spiffed up. The renovation ball is really rolling along NoMi's main commercial corridor. It was only a short while ago I was writing about some improvements nearby at the obscure Asian grocery where I found fresh durian fruit.

It seems like once the renovation ball starts rolling, it gains mass...kind of like when you mow your lawn, and then you hear your neighbor fire up HIS lawn mower!

What a shame SOME West Broadway businessmen don't follow the trend and spiff up the exterior of their buildings. You know who you are, click here.

(Do not click "Read More")

EXCLUSIVE JNS BLOG VIDEO: Drumline At Northside Art FLOW

I was stepping off a shuttle bus at this weekend's Northside Art FLOW (sponsored by the Peace Foundation) and I just happened to be in the perfect place to capture this entertaining drum line marching down West Broadway.

I'm told this is the same drum line featured in this OTHER YouTube video, click here, during a "Peace Across The Northside" event. When that video was shot, "Peace Across the Northside was a dream, a hope. Now we actually HAVE peace across the Northside, with crime down 40 percent and revitalization progress busting out all over! In the last couple days, we collectively recoiled in horror at word of two murders...

In SOUTH Minneapolis. 

We have far to go in NoMi, but this weekend's Northside Art FLOW was fun and incident-free. The sounds of this video capture well, in 29 seconds, the incredible positive energy of the entire event. 

(Do not click "Read More")

FREE BEER During Art Flow (Shameless Plug)

Facebook Image, BLO FLOWing Beer Tasting

Broadway Liquor Outlet, known far and wide as "BLO," will be having a free beer tasting during the North Minneapolis Art FLOW, Saturday, July 25 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at their location on 2201 West Broadway.

Oh, yes...

...the beer will FLOW at BLO. So far, the event is being advertised on Facebook under "BLO FLOWing Beer Tasting."

BLO also has monthly wine-tasting events.

Renovations, Art And Flowers On West Broadway...

Photos By John Hoff

There are more signs to report of revitalization on West Broadway. Flowers have appeared on the 800 block, renovation has begun at 1005 West Broadway, and some artsy banners have taken their place on lamp posts.

I have mixed feelings about the banners. On the one hand, I think they are expressive and probably better than no artsy banners at all. On the other hand...

...to me they only say "Putting a happy face on urban dystopia." Distorted cartoon faces are not the kind of art which makes folks passing through West Broadway want to get out of their vehicles. I mean, what happened? Did some of the psycho clown's offspring show up for a summer family reunion at the old furniture store?

I sincerely hope the "distorted faces" cartoon art is only temporary. Word is the banners are from Juxtaposition Arts.

Hawthorne Resident Pleads: "Save The Psycho Clown!"

Photos By John Hoff

Revitalization is happening so rapidly along West Broadway--at least in terms of very big plans being announced--that at least one resident is already asking this blog to make a plea to save a colorful reminder of the area's historical past, specifically the "psycho clown" on the side of the old furniture store.

Ah, yes, just look at him with his little sign...

"Stop Buy" says the sign.

Get it? Buy? By? Stop BY?

Yeah, I figured you'd get it.

And, actually, I don't know if the psycho clown has a name, but I racked my brain and came up with "Loco" because it sounds like "Low Cost" and, well, we know this clown likes puns. Sure, we don't know a heck of a lot about the clown--in particular why he has made a career of standing on the roughest part of West Broadway--but that one small piece of information we definitely do have.

Loco The Psycho Clown likes plays on words.

Maybe my bloggy little plea won't be enough to save him. But at least I have a picture of the clown so people can remember him. 

Or, well...in case he needs to be positively identified.

"A Steak And A Manhattan On West Broadway Before I Die"

Photos By John Hoff

Jim Wentzel, a longtime board member of the Hawthorne Neighborhood, chatted with me a couple weeks ago and shared an interesting personal vision of the future of West Broadway...

Jim is a simple man with simple needs, and a simple vision of the future. He wants "a steak and a Manhattan on West Broadway before I die."

I knew a "Manhattan" was some kind of drink, but I'd never had one before. Like Jim, I am also a simple man when it comes to food and drink. I have one criteria for what I'm willing to try: have I ever tried it before? If the answer is no, I'm pretty much willing to try it. Think I lie? Click here. Then also click here.

Jim's vision of West Broadway development sent me on a whimsical quest for the perfect Manhattan. The one pictured at the top was at Pizza Luce, which is in the part of Minneapolis where the streets say "North" but it's not considered "North Minneapolis," apparently. Go figure.

The friend who was with me that evening informed me the Manhattan was "too fruity" to be a Manhattan and, furthermore, it's not a Manhattan if it's not served on ice. So she said. But she used to mix Manhattans for her grandfather, so her opinions are rather deeply ingrained. The bartender was equally adamant about how there's only one way to make a proper Manhattan, and it's pretty much his way. (Though he'd be glad to make it any way I like)

The second drink is a Manhattan served at Fine Line while NoMi's very own band "Watson" was playing. (Sure, only one of the band members is from NoMi, but they all live in different places and my neighborhood planted the sticker of territorial claim FIRST, so they belong to US)

Where was I? Oh, yes, seeking the perfect Manhattan.

Anyway, the Manhattan at Fine Line was good, too. But what would be the best Manhattan of all? Well, that would be the one I'll drink with Jim Wentzel after we eat steak on West Broadway.

With revitalization busting out all over and crime dramatically down, it could happen in a year or two.

827 West Broadway For Sale For A Cool Half A Million (Summer Visitation 2009)

Photos By John Hoff 

The toughest-looking building on West Broadway may be a matter of debate, but few would argue 827 West Broadway ISN'T in the running. From its painted-over graffiti to the psychotic clown motif which was somehow supposed to sell "affordable" furniture during another era, the exterior of the building speaks of tough times past and present.

Recently, I noticed small changes to "827" and some attached buildings...

First of all, the barbershop at the end of the block closed in the last week. Truly, no great loss. As is the case with many obscure, run-down West Broadway businesses, residents worry something nefarious is happening and whisper it by word of mouth. The barbershop was no exception to that rule.

But now the "head chop shop" is closed and random crap is piled high, just beyond the windows. In the top photo, my son's reflection is visible, looking inside the former barbershop.

So that's one change to the "800" block, the closing of the barbershop. The prayer center and thrift store are still open, however. If you want to pray for an affordable used toaster, you may find instant success on the "800 block." What I pray for is development, revitalization, and a drop in crime. At 827 Broadway Ave. N., I see some possibility my prayers may be answered.

In the last several days, a wondrous and miraculous sign has appeared in the front window. This sign has the phone number for a real estate agent, Matthew Ward. In a conversation with Ward today, he told me "827" is for sale for a mere $500,000. He told me this like, gee, maybe I had it laying around.

Ward made it clear that, obviously, a respectable offer below half a million would be considered. And he hinted some buyers had looked at the property recently, but no deal had been finalized.

I told him, "Ward, I tell you what. How would you like some FREE ADVERTISING?"

...

Revitalization of this area is inevitable. Just recently, I read an article in North News (click here) about redevelopment taking place right down the block. Half a million seems like a lot right now, but in ten years I believe there will be somebody saying, "Can you believe I could have had 827 Broadway Ave. W. for HALF A MILLION back in 2009? What was I thinking, investing in UPTOWN while NoMi was turning trendy? I could kick myself."

Take a look in the window, my son, while I take a picture. The desperate little barbershop is gone before you ever laid eyes upon it, and tomorrow brings even bigger changes.

Cub Foods Residential Addition Being Contemplated On West Broadway...

Photo By John Hoff of Cub Foods Addition Sketch

Information was disseminated recently about plans to expand Cub Foods on West Broadway, and so here's a little taste of what's being talked about...

The plan involves a new Cub Foods addition with residential units above. This plan would "reinforce" the new YWCA building being planned at 800 West Broadway, along with a parking building and mixed-use development at 800 West Broadway. The picture above is a sketch of the proposal.

The addition to Cub Foods along Broadway frontage includes "pedestrian" retail, (bakery, deli, coffee and bank) for a total of 60,000 square feet. The mixed-use building incorporates 50 units of residential space over Cub Foods. The Cub parking lot will be reconfigured for the building at the Southwest corner of Aldrich and Broadway. There will be 33 units of "infill residential" along Bryant Ave. N. and south of the Cub store.

Clearly, development along West Broadway is starting to take off. Every week appears to bring more news of big plans or ground actually being broken.

Safety Plan For Taste Of Chicago At The Former Jug Liquor...

Stock Photo, John Hoff

Though a gigantic dumpster has appeared in front of the former Jug Liquor, it appears the entire building is not going into the dumpster. No, rather the interior is being gutted but the building itself--which kind of looks like a mutant, overgrown phone booth--is being renovated into a "Chicago-style" food joint.

At the June meeting of the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Board, "Taste of Chicago" owner Nidal Mustafa distributed copies of his "safety plan" for Taste of Chicago at the former Jug Liquor location. As a public service, I'm just printing the information so residents and other interested parties can have it easily available. Here it is...

Points of Interest and Discussion Items.

#Parking Lot. The current parking lot can accommodate up to 6 cars and there are 1 Hour parking spaces on the street in front of the building as well.

# Accessing the restaurant--traffic will turn from Broadway Avenue, park in designated spots, and exit around the back of the building onto Washington Avenue. No public alleyway will be used to accommodate traffic.

# Foot traffic. The restaurant will be a walk-up style business where orders are placed through a window. The building is larger than it appears and customers will actually walk in and order. There will be 12 window seats for waiting (similar to the set up in any Chipotle-style restaurant) No bathroom is required for a restaurant that has 12 or fewer seats, which will also contribute to the safety of the facility as patrons will not be able to use restrooms to use or exchange drugs, etc.

THere will be a newly-constructed porch outside the front of the building where people can eat or wait. This structure will be attractive to passersby and will contribute to the vision of the "New Broadway."

# Security--Staff at the Taste of Chicago will work with Lt. Jeff Rugel of the Minneapolis Police Department and Officer Richard Walker. These officers will provide advice and guidance as well as recommending off duty police officers which will be hired to work at least 4 nights per week. Nidal Mustafa will also serve as the primary security liaison for the property since he is always there and obviously has a vested interest in maintaining the order in and around his business.

# Partnerships--The Taste of Chicago has initiated conversations with Mike and Val Levey--who plan on opening the former Johnny A's restaurant and Bar as Good Sports Bar and Grill, Ron from Absolute Tire and Swami Palanisma (owner of most of the block) to form a Block Club of sorts where each property will provide a security officer to patrol the businesses on the block and/or will contribute financially to hiring a full-time security officer to complement other security measures in place for each respective business.

# Nidal Mustafa also owns the Slice of Chicago and has extensive experience cleaning up a problem area/parking lot. Nidal took note of the loitering and drug dealing being done around his business and took immediate steps to eliminate these problems. He hired off-duty police officers to patrol his grounds and personally would go outside and ask dealers and others idling around his business to leave.

Nidal realizes this is an ongoing effort. In the event that any individual or group chooses to cause problems at the Taste of Chicago location, trespassing orders may be issued by law enforcement and staff at the restaurant will ensure that these people do not continue to frequent the premises.

(End of Document)

I'd like to add that I have spoken to at least one well-informed resident of the Jordan Neighborhood who seriously questions Mustafa's sincerity about trying to clean up the 1600 West Broadway location of "Slice of Chicago." Now that I've figured out where that location is in relationship to the Jordan Area Community Council headquarters, I have become more aware there is A LOT OF DRUG DEALING on the corner of that lot at 1600 West Broadway.

So I have my own reservations about Mustafa's plan, but overall I see a modest food establishment as being integral to the "destination block" and "security coalition" being formed by all the various parties.

And, notably, the official plan is "Taste of Chicago" wouldn't remain there forever at the former Jug Liquor location. In three to five years, the plan is to tear stuff down and build a bigger retail establishment. Plans have a way of being seriously delayed and modified, but even if this plan isn't perfect...it looks very good compared to what we had before.

Mr. Merwin...TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!

Photo By John Hoff 

At the last Hawthorne Neighborhood Huddle, Lieutenant Mike Sauro of the 4th Precinct discussed some increased police presence on Broadway, which will include cracking down in the area of Hawthorn Crossings, a location notorious for open air drug dealing.

In the course of that discussion...

...Sauro mentioned how the area around the parking lot for Merwin's Liquor has a deeply flawed design problem, because a low wall gives individuals a place to sit all day, hang out, and deal drugs. Sauro said if he had his way, the wall would be torn down. Sauro said if anybody knows the owner of that liquor store...well, it would be a good idea to have a little chat with him about how the fence around his property has become, in effect, seating space for dozens of no-accounts, crackheads, winos, and drug dealers.

That's my summary, not Sauro's. Sauro just mentioned how the constant "hanging around" is a problem, and how he wished the wall could be torn down and, well, maybe somebody who knows the owner could pass on the message.

I don't know the owner. But I'm sure passing on the message.

Just a few days ago, I saw a photo showing how Merwin's looked in 1974, advertising the SODA FOUNTAIN which used to be inside. Now they sell Mad Dog 20/20 to chronic inebriates which hang around like green bottle flies on rotting road kill. One of my first experiences in North Minneapolis was at Merwins, at night, and it left quite an impression.

How a mighty name in the neighborhood has come to mean so much less than it once did! If Mr. Merwin, the founder of that business, were alive today you have to wonder what he'd say. The Merwin's family name has come to represent a liquor store the size of a supermarket, with the dregs of society gathered closely around on a convenient stone ledge which seems DESIGNED for long term sitting. Would a liquor store DELIBERATELY DESIGN something to accommodate the habits of chronic loiterers, so the drunkards would stay near?

Perhaps not, but it seems to have worked out that way.