A Robbinsdale Rebirth: New Construction Dots City Map
In the shadow of the Robbinsdale water tower, there are three major building projects going on simultaneously in the city. Those developments include the near-completion of the Hy-Vee grocery store, the construction of the Birdtown Flats apartment building, and preparations for a new Travail restaurant building. For Robbinsdale, it’s the busiest construction period in recent memory.
“This is an especially busy time for us,” said Robbinsdale City Manager Marcia Glick.
Hy-Vee Grand Opening in September
Hy-Vee’s grand opening is Tuesday Sept. 18. The Iowa-based grocery chain is building at the site of the former Terrace Theatre. The store is expected to create 500 jobs, including 120 full-time positions.
“It’s great to have a new, large employer here in the city,” Glick said. “We’ve had people calling us here at city hall for months. Every day somebody is calling ‘When’s Hy-Vee open? When’s Hy-Vee open?'”
Hy-Vee believes it can fill a need of the community.
“We’ve heard from the community, the residents, the city council that this is an area that Hy-Vee can be a pillar in the community,” said Dale Mitchell, store director at the Robbinsdale Hy-Vee.
Birdtown Flats Groundbreaking
Just a couple blocks north of Hy-Vee, Birdtown Flats will soon replace an old business complex. Groundbreaking is Sept 11.
“That’s going to be 152 apartment buildings when it’s all completed,” Glick said. “At this point probably toward the middle or end of next year would be an opportunity for people to move into a great new apartment building with amenities right here in Robbinsdale.”
Travail to Begin Construction Soon
Meanwhile, the popular Travail Kitchen and Amusements restaurant is getting ready to move to a new location across the street in downtown Robbinsdale.
“On the Hubbard side of the building they’re getting ready to relocate the electrical power,” Glick said. “That’s the first step before they can get the building demolition underway.”
The new Travail could open next spring.
