Thursday, April 20, 2017

Spring 2017 Update - Spring cleaning, shop moving!

Our time at the "Shasta Building" in Longfellow has come to an end

The building is getting torn down to be rebuilt into a school (here's the full article), and that means we are setting up shop at new location! I'm stoked on the potential at the new spot and as soon as it is all solidified, I will be stoked to announce it next month.

Until then, I will be filling orders for the Crafts and Specialty Shop at a limited capacity at a temporary location, and the Cycles shop will re-open in July. Send an email or message me if you need an item. Thanks for your continuing support!

Brief History of the Building at 3530 E 28th Ave via Hennepin County Library's blog:

"New Plans for Old Canada Dry Bottling Plant
At the corner of 28th St. E and 36th Ave. S, in the Longfellow neighborhood, sits a cream brick building with a beautifully curved glass block entrance. The building, designed by Walter M. Cory of New York and built by Fred R. Comb Co. of Minneapolis and the George J. Grant Construction Co. of St. Paul, was completed in 1946 as a bottling plant for the Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc. The plant, which served a newly formed Minneapolis Division for the firm, provided 70,000 sq ft of floor space for the bottling of ginger ale, sparkling water, cola, lemon drinks, and other carbonated beverages, and employed 60 people. 

In 1948 the building was sold to the Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York, but was leased by Canada Dry through 1970. From 1971-1979 the building was leased by Shasta Beverages, another American soft drink manufacturer.

Following use by the bottling companies, the building was occupied by Western Electric Co. from 1981-1986 and then by a multitude of small businesses and artists studios including graphic designers, blacksmiths, and musicians, which is how the building remains in use today.
Recently, Hiawatha Academies, a Minneapolis charter school, purchased the building. This summer they plan to start construction on a new high school, for which they plan to reuse close to half of the existing building, including the glass block entrance."