Gaviidae Common

A fountain in Gaviidae Common

Gaviidae Common is a shopping mall and office complex in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, near the Nicollet Mall. Its anchor tenants are the headquarters for CenterPoint Energy on the south end and the former Saks Fifth Avenue department store on the north end which is being converted to a Walgreens Flagship Store in 2016. The complex occupies two city blocks, and is connected to the Minneapolis Skyway System. It is attached to the Wells Fargo Center on the east side, one of the tallest skyscrapers in Minneapolis. Gaviidae Common was built on the former site of the Donaldson's department store, which was destroyed by the Thanksgiving Day fire of 1982. Today, the first and second floors are designated for retail space. The third, fourth, and fifth floors have mostly been converted to office space.

The name refers to the Minnesota state bird, the common loon (Gavia immer).

Some of the national retailers in the mall include Jos. A. Bank, Radio Shack, St. Croix (store), freshii, Bruegger's, BMO Harris Bank and Caribou Coffee, along with local retail shops including R.F. Moeller Jewelers, Aveda-founder's Juut Salonspa, Indulge & Bloom, and Cocoa & Fig.

Neiman Marcus announced in mid 2012 that it would close its store in July 2013 after being open for more than 21 years.[1]

In May 2013, it was announced that Gaviidae Common II would be getting a $3.8 million redesign including new shopping and restaurants. Gaviidae Common II was rebranded as RBC Plaza soon after.[2]

On June 5, 2014, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue announced that its Minneapolis location would close in January 2015.[3]

In February 2015, Saks Fifth Avenue announced that it would be relocating Saks Off Fifth: Minneapolis next door to the adjacent 33 South Sixth City Center Mall on Nicollet Mall opening in April 2016.

References

  1. ↑ Moore, Janet. "Gaviidae will lose Neiman". www.startribune.com. StarTribune. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  2. ↑ Moore, Janet. "Gaviidae II to get a $3.8M face-lift". www.startribune.com. StarTribune. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Moore, Janet. "Saks Off 5th store will close in downtown Minneapolis". www.startribune.com. StarTribune. Retrieved 29 June 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 44°58′38″N 93°16′17″W / 44.97722°N 93.27139°W