St. Paul Developer Weighs Options for Grand/Fairview Site After Former Restaurant Closes
For 30 years, the Grandview Grill stood at the corner of Grand and Fairview avenues, serving up breakfast and burgers to hungry patrons. But with the rise of the pandemic in 2020, the beloved eatery closed its doors, leaving behind a vacant space that has now been listed for redevelopment.
David Abbott, owner of the adjacent Abbott Paint and Carpet store, which was founded by his father 81 years ago, is open to having a developer buy the property. However, he emphasizes that he wants to see the family business continue to thrive. "We'll look at anything that makes sense," he said, "but at this point, we still want Abbott Paint and Carpet to keep going."
The site, which comprises three parcels of land, has been eyed by multiple developers who are interested in transforming it into a mixed-use development. One concept involves building multi-family housing on several floors, with retail businesses, including Abbott Paint and Carpet, occupying the ground level.
This approach has already worked elsewhere on Grand Avenue, such as at the Kenton House off St. Albans Avenue, where housing was developed over the site of Dixie's on Grand, Fuji-Ya, and Emmett's Public House. Two of the restaurants returned as anchor tenants, while new retail followed.
A nearby development project also aims to replace a restaurant with housing over retail, featuring Juut Salon Spa as one of its anchor tenants. This trend suggests that St. Paul developers are eager to revitalize underutilized properties and create vibrant mixed-use developments.
While no asking price has been listed for the Grand/Fairview site, multiple developers have expressed interest in acquiring the property. Mike Salmen, a broker with Transwestern, notes that Abbott is open to ideas and is looking at the future of the corner. "I think Abbott is open to concepts at this point," he said.
Ultimately, Abbott hopes to see his family's legacy remain in St. Paul. "That's my hope and prayer," he said. "We grew up in it." As redevelopment plans move forward, one thing is certain: the future of Grand/Fairview site will be shaped by a mix of innovation, community spirit, and a commitment to preserving local businesses like Abbott Paint and Carpet.
For 30 years, the Grandview Grill stood at the corner of Grand and Fairview avenues, serving up breakfast and burgers to hungry patrons. But with the rise of the pandemic in 2020, the beloved eatery closed its doors, leaving behind a vacant space that has now been listed for redevelopment.
David Abbott, owner of the adjacent Abbott Paint and Carpet store, which was founded by his father 81 years ago, is open to having a developer buy the property. However, he emphasizes that he wants to see the family business continue to thrive. "We'll look at anything that makes sense," he said, "but at this point, we still want Abbott Paint and Carpet to keep going."
The site, which comprises three parcels of land, has been eyed by multiple developers who are interested in transforming it into a mixed-use development. One concept involves building multi-family housing on several floors, with retail businesses, including Abbott Paint and Carpet, occupying the ground level.
This approach has already worked elsewhere on Grand Avenue, such as at the Kenton House off St. Albans Avenue, where housing was developed over the site of Dixie's on Grand, Fuji-Ya, and Emmett's Public House. Two of the restaurants returned as anchor tenants, while new retail followed.
A nearby development project also aims to replace a restaurant with housing over retail, featuring Juut Salon Spa as one of its anchor tenants. This trend suggests that St. Paul developers are eager to revitalize underutilized properties and create vibrant mixed-use developments.
While no asking price has been listed for the Grand/Fairview site, multiple developers have expressed interest in acquiring the property. Mike Salmen, a broker with Transwestern, notes that Abbott is open to ideas and is looking at the future of the corner. "I think Abbott is open to concepts at this point," he said.
Ultimately, Abbott hopes to see his family's legacy remain in St. Paul. "That's my hope and prayer," he said. "We grew up in it." As redevelopment plans move forward, one thing is certain: the future of Grand/Fairview site will be shaped by a mix of innovation, community spirit, and a commitment to preserving local businesses like Abbott Paint and Carpet.
! It's awesome that developers are getting creative and thinking outside the box (or in this case, the restaurant). The idea of keeping Abbott Paint and Carpet as a retail anchor tenant is genius 
. Can't wait to see what kind of vibe they'll bring to the corner. Hopefully, it'll be a space that honors the community's history while bringing in some fresh energy 
. And who knows, maybe we'll even spot a new restaurant or two! 
! They've been around 4eva with their paint & carpet store, & now they're tryna keep it going alongside new mixed-use development 
. Its def a win-win situation if ppl stay loyal 2 the fam biz & the new devs bring in some fresh retail vibes 
. The trend of repurposing old sites is on 
, & St Paul devs are on top of it! Fingers crossed they can strike a balance between innovation & preserving local legends 
. i hope they get it right and add some cool shops and restaurants that'll bring in the community. we need more of those mixed-use spaces where ppl can hang out & live. plus, it's awesome to see abbott paint & carpet staying on site - fingers crossed for them too! 
, abbott paint & carpet should stay put for sure! can you imagine some new-age housing complex ruining the spot where juut salon spa has its relaxation area... no way! let's hope whoever buys the property respects the community vibes 
but seriously, mixed-use developments r the way to go imo. u get all the benefits of living in a vibrant community with local businesses & amenities. like, remember that kenton house project on grand Ave? it was lit! 
and now they have new retail & restaurants... its def worth keeping an eye on how this one plays out 
. The idea of housing, retail, and community spaces all working together is really appealing - it feels like the perfect blend of progress and preservation 
. Abbott Paint and Carpet has been a staple on that corner for 81 years, so I'm glad to see the developer exploring ways to keep that legacy alive 
. The old doesn't have to go just because the new is coming in – it can coexist and thrive 
.
What do you guys think? Should they just leave the space empty or try to find a new tenant?
it's great that he's open to new ideas tho 
. Like, can't they just leave some spots alone? The idea of knocking down a restaurant spot for housing is just wrong, you know? I mean, what's next? Taking out the local bookstore to make way for another soulless high-rise? 
And don't even get me started on the "mixed-use" nonsense – it sounds like code for "we're gonna make a ton of money off your rent increases". I hope Abbott Paint and Carpet stays put, that's the only good thing about this whole situation 
their dad founded the store 81 yrs ago thats amazing btw, but what if it goes under and they have to shut down for good? 
maybe its a good thing that developers are interested tho, idk... i guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens 
. but hey, if it means Abbott Paint and Carpet stays in business, i'm totes down for it 
he should get full credit for being open to ideas & keeping abbot paint and carpet around 
maybe we can see some new life in st paul with this redevelopment? 
idk how much money it'll cost to turn it into a multi-family housing complex but if its done right it could be super trendy and upscale 
Plus, it's awesome that Abbott Paint and Carpet is going to stay put 
. Fingers crossed that this project happens soon! 
Can't wait to see what they come up with!