Chaska Herald - Here comes Kohl's - Comments

My favorite thing is being

shelleyb — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:02:12 -0500

My favorite thing is being able to just walk or bike to anything. You have restaurants, movies, the library, trails - the downtown area is really the jewel of this city. It's what makes us still a charming smalltown city and not just another suburban vanilla - need- to- ride- everywhere- mess.

I couldn't agree with you

shelleyb — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:58:18 -0500

I couldn't agree with you more. Hardee's, Red Lobster...Kohls?? What's next an ugly eye-sore like Walmart? Why are we trying so desperately to become just another suburb? It can't be anything other than greed. There is no foresight or city planning. It's just money. That seems to be the only consideration, not enhancing or preserving our charm. We certainly aren't going to keep that charm that makes us a #1 city by putting in more cookie cutter businesses, not to mention the poor planning with hwy 212 - 41 and what I see as a looming cloud over us with a new bridge. We're just cutting into our historical area and creating more suburban run of the mill developments.

It's extremely disappointing. I've been here 15 years and had always hoped we'd preserve the downtown area to keep our small town charm - not build 4 lane hwys around the area and possibly a bigger, busier bridge.

The city planners are a huge disappointment.

MAZ Downtown is where it's

Maz — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:43:57 -0600

MAZ
Downtown is where it's at, you can walk the streets and not get mugged. You can walk a few blocks, see a movie, stop for ice cream, then scoot over to the fireman's Park and feed the ducks. Turn to go back downtown and stop at the Chaska Garden Center and inquire about new plants and smell the flowers. Go to the light, cross and pick up your meds at either drug store. Stop at Subway for a soda, continue back across the road, pick up some picnic supplies from Coopers, back around to the bank lights, cross again by the movie theatre, down 2-3 blocks, take a left and walk down to the courthouse, around the lake in the back or go down Stoughton Ave. via the trail system. Not a dime in the gas tank and a treat for the heart as well. While your going in the downtown direction take a look at the new path across the river. Absolutely beautiful. It will take you to Shakopee if your in the mood. Take your fishing pole and wander behind the Best Western and take in some fishing. Take your shoes off and play in the creek, it's fun, even more fun with kids. If you take the underpass you can walk all the way down to the Athetic Park (which by the way will be having State tournaments in 2008). You can take the levie the whole way, never mind parking and traffic, take a walk or ride your bike. Along the levie you can check out local gardens, check out the height of the river, breathe.The downtown area is nice. Yes, there may not be alot of new money in the area but the neighbors can't be beat, the porches are used, the fences are used to chat over, everybody knows who owns the big gray and white cat the wanders about and welcomes him to rid their yard of mice and other river creatures. The kids could use another playground but when you have the trails, the extra expense doesn't make sense. The yards are big, the allys walked in. Not money, but TIME is spent downtown, calm time, peaceful time, family time. The downtown welcomes you, come on down. You don't have to have alot of money, there's nothing UPSCALE about it, it's what Chaska is about.

Amen! I came from an Indiana

Ruth Anne Maddox — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:23:39 -0600

Amen!

I came from an Indiana town of about 12,000 and everybody there complained because there were no good restaurants. Then there was collective jump for joy when Applebee's came to town (My feet remained firmly planted on the ground).

The independent restaurants in a small town rarely stand a chance because the Stepford mentality wants the cookie cutter places.

Of the non-existent restaurants there, I frequented several -- from a New York-style deli to a greasy-spoon diner (which I was sad to learn closed this month) to -- heavens no! -- a sushi bar/seafood (non-chain) restaurant that had a sand volleyball court out back. There is even a little French bakery/cafe that most of the people who live there have probably never tried -- but the Applebee's parking lot is always full.

People need to learn to go out on a limb and try new things -- it's amazing what you find out that you like once you try it. I would jump for joy if all the fast food restaurants and chain "upscale" spots closed.

For food, I thought of a few

Mark Olson — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:13:05 -0600

For food, I thought of a few more independent businesses -- the Chaska Bakery, the nearby Mexican bakery, and the Chaska My Love Mexican restaurant.

It's all downtown! If

Mark Olson — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:47:58 -0600

It's all downtown!

If customers are seeking "private or locally owned businesses rather than mundane, poor-quality chain stores," they need only get in their cars, and travel south on 41 until they hit "old" Highway 212.

There they will find, most within walking distance, Rain, River City Restaurant, China Pagoda, the It’s Just Perfect candy/malt shop – not to mention frequent dinner specials at the American Legion.

And soon to come, fine dining in the Klein mansion and a new restaurant in the Embers/J’s restaurant building.

And there's also the Mill House Art gallery (which features local artists) and Dunn Bros. Coffee (a franchised, Minnesota-based company).

Downtown even has a gallery that specializes in selling rock 'n' roll photos - Backstage Gallery. How cool is that?

Anyway. Downtown is the place to look for unique, independently owned shops.

What's your favorite thing about downtown? Post your thoughts.

Red Lobster? Burger King?

eskelton — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:56:30 -0600

Red Lobster? Burger King? Hardees? Don't any of you have any working taste buds? Why not work to create businesses that are not chain stores or big box retail? A little originality goes a long way, and the suggestions so far, are anything but original.

The city should work to get private, or locally owned, businesses rather than mundane, poor-quality, chain stores. Otherwise Chaska will simply be another cookie cutter suburb.

Another vote for a Red

Mollee Francisco — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:28:14 -0600

Another vote for a Red Lobster:

"hi I would really like to see a red lobster restaurant go up in chaska, we need a seafood place around here and I think you should bring this to the city of chaska's attention. thank you"

--comment received via email

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

More wishes for new

Mollee Francisco — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:04:39 -0600

More wishes for new businesses in Chaska. This came in via email from a "proud Chaska resident:"

"Just wondering if any more info on what will be in the
new Hazeltine Plaza development. I wouldn't mind
Chili's, maybe a Panera, how about Olive Garden. If I
may comment on some of the comments on the Herald
website, I think Kohl's is a good store to anchor the
site as it has a broad appeal across economic lines.
You don't alienate any shoppers with a store like
that. It is a good place for a growing Chaska to start
with larger retailers entering our market. Much like
Target is a store that caters to all consumers, Kohl's
is very similar in that way and I believe will have
the broad appeal to support our community. As far as
Red Lobster, leave the more expensive restauants and
stores to Eden Prairie. We are already losing our
small town feel, no reason to jump into restaurants
that are more of the special occasion type. We need
functional, practical stores and restaurants that can
be supported by our residents. Not to say that they
should all be discount type stores like Kohl's but it
is a good start before welcoming the sort of higher
end stores that Arbour Lakes has. Thank you for your
time reading this."

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

I just think it's too bad

missm75 — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:06:45 -0500

I just think it's too bad that we have to fill up every inch of spare space with more stuff. Agreed, I moved to Chaska from the Eagan Town Centre area last winter and this city is seriously lacking in retail.. but it was also the lack of the retail, lack of the busy streets, lack of crowding that I moved to Chaska. I loved that it wasn't so overcrowded with cookie cutter shopping malls that you find cropping up in all of the other outer suburbs these days. I live in the townhomes on the other side of Hazeltine Blvd from this proposed building site and learning about this is seriously making me question if I will renew my lease here. I love this area.. but I love it like it is now... quiet.

"The Chaska City Council

Mollee Francisco — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:46:22 -0500

"The Chaska City Council works tirelessly to promote our city as a place with affordable housing. A city that emphasizes its push for affordable housing is not going to attract the kind of upscale retailers that many Chaska residents wish for. When a city puts its development focus on the bottom quarter of the housing market, it will attract the low-priced big box retailers; it will never attract higher-end retailers. Look at the census/demographic information, Chaska's median household income and median home value lag substantially behind our neighbors and the retailers know that. There will never be a Pottery Barn in Chaska until the Council realizes that they are only hurting the city's long term economic growth potential by focusing too much energy on affordable housing and too little effort on creating higher-end developments that will lure more development money into the city. Even now as the Heights of Chaska are being planned out, the City continues down this path of economic suicide. They continue trying to squeeze affordable housing places it does not fit in an effort to bring in more outside aid--that only hurts the City's long term economic outlook but no one on the Council gets it."

--Reader comment received via e-mail

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

Is it too much to hope for

mittens — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:30:24 -0500

Is it too much to hope for the rebirth of Hardee's? They aren't dead yet as I saw that a new one was built and is doing well in Faribault.

Agreed. Kohl's and upscale

Merc1118KP — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:22:50 -0500

Agreed.

Kohl's and upscale should NOT be used in the same sentence. I can only hope the remaining retail spaces in the center will not be wasted.

Blockbuster is a very welcomed addition. A national chain, with recognition...a HUGE upgrade from the pile of junk that is Movie Gallery.

If Chaska is hoping to draw more residents, they need to entice them with better retail than what is currently in place.

Lets hope they don't make the same mistake with the proposed changes to the intersection of Hwy 212(downtown)and 41 at Fireman's park.

It would be nice to have a

jennyjean4 — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:54:45 -0500

It would be nice to have a Blockbuster video store in Chaska. We do the Netflix thing now, but if there were a Blockbuster we could switch to them. It would be even more convenient. Also would be nice to have a Wendy's - I like their dollar menu.

More love for the

Mollee Francisco — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 09:59:20 -0500

More love for the lobster:
"hi I would really like to see a Red Lobster restauant in chaska, we need a seafood place to go to. please pass this on to the city of chaska. thank you"
--received via e-mail.

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

Here comes Kohl's

Mollee Francisco — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:12:08 -0500

By: Mollee Francisco