http://www.twincities.com/2017/09/20/midway-rainbow-closes-friday-demolition-begins-mid-november-to-make-room-for-soccer-stadium/amp/
So many memories of meeting interesting people there at 11pm at night, which
was often the time that I would shop when I first moved here. For example, one
time ran into Cornbread Harris (father of Jimmy Jam). Fun guy with good
stories. Often would see local musicians who live in the neighborhood. Other
times, if I went earlier in the day would catch up with neighbors or members of
my church. It made me feel like I was still in my hometown of 5000 people. I
knew every one here. But, better, because the place was highly frequented by
people from other areas of the city, too. And better because I could shop at
11pm, which I couldn't do in my hometown. It is been the most active part of St
Paul.
I know that I can't have this experience in a parking lot surrounding a
stadium. Haven't really had this experience since Cub bought Rainbow. (The area
actually has lost a few late night places, but they're starting to come back.
Denny's recently opened, for example). I will continue to advocate that
development happen around the stadium. Development where my neighbors want to
be, shopping, dining, working, living. Development where people outside of
neighborhood want to also be, shopping, working. Development that hopefully
brings in office space or some type of anchoring business, but understands
that this neighborhood is a 24 hour neighborhood, not a 9-5 place. Development
that keeps the area active, like it was when I moved here.
So, cheers to a new era of the Midway Shopping area and to the neighborhood. I
hope we have lots of bumps in the way of construction in the next several years
and I look forward to what you will become.