Guess the new retailer coming to Division St.

Downtown building

It’s been a while since we’ve played this economic development game. The last time didn’t work out so well, so let’s do it again!

This building at Division and 3rd St. in downtown Northfield has a new owner. Guess who?

And the retail space, formerly occupied by Lena’s Hus (and Scandinavian Marketplace before that) will soon have a new tenant. Guess who/what?

11 Comments

  1. Leona Helmsley’s dog, and it’s a doggie poochery and bake shop.

    November 20, 2007
  2. John Thomas said:

    It’s going to be the Locally Grown Internet Cafe, giftshop & server farm.

    Tech in the back, gear in the front, and of course, a wi-fi hotspot.

    It will provide a spot for instructional outreach to the community, blog coaching, and an incubator for new web comminication technologies.

    It will be directly tied into the new Internet2.

    (ok, its a dream, but you asked…)

    -J

    November 20, 2007
  3. Griff Wigley said:

    I like that idea, John. Say, while you’re up, could you get us a grant or something?

    November 21, 2007
  4. April Ripka said:

    I bet i could tell you…if you asked nicely.
    Probably not as exciting as a Hooters, but hopefully as enjoyable. Keep your eye on the Northfield News – and this site. What is a secret now (and i doubt it’s much of a secret), won’t be next week.

    November 29, 2007
  5. Griff Wigley said:

    April, we’re looking forward to your announcement. Post it here first!

    November 30, 2007
  6. John Thomas said:

    Any idea of when the annoucement will be forthcoming?

    That is such an interesting space, with the front glass, and the wood and brick inside. Really nice.

    Is it going to stay retail, or is the location going in a different direction?

    November 30, 2007
  7. My brother, Raymond, bought this building 3 months ago. The new business, which should be open at the beginning of January, is The Sketchy Artist, an art supplies store. April Ripka (aided and abetted by her delightful mother, Linda) is a talented artist herself and is sure to do a good job. Congratulations to April.

    December 2, 2007
  8. A.Ripka said:

    thanks, norman! i should hire you to be my publicist. 😉 yes, it will be retail, but I also plan on being highly involved with the art community and all the organizations in town. so hopefully classes and other projects will pop up along the way. there will be a website, and I’m shooting to have e-commerce sometime later next year. besides the typical art supplies, I will have decorative papers, cards, various gifts, some office supplies, and a kids section. my vision is to create a store that is unique to this community, inspiring people of all ages to get in touch with their creative side.
    I want to thank everyone I’ve met so far for all their help and support in making The Sketchy Artist a reality – esp the NEC and EDA. it’s a lot of work and my mother and I could not have gotten this far without their guidance.
    I really hope people like the store! can’t wait to open!
    until then…

    December 2, 2007
  9. Jerold Weber said:

    CONGRATULATIONS. Can’t wait till you move in. It’ll be great having another retailer on the north end of division. Hope all goes well getting started and let my wife Nicole or I know if there is anything we can do to help out.

    December 3, 2007

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