Penn Central of Richfield

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Thinking of Starting a Business? Think Penn Central!

Explore Entrepreneurship at the Avenue of Opportunities Open House

6337 Penn offers options for office space with convenient tuck-under parking

6417 Penn offers a variety of office space for small businesses

6419 Penn offers a storefront property with easy parking by the front door

6442 Penn Avenue offers a storefront location with accessible parking

First National Bank of the Lakes at 6613 Penn has office space available

Space is available in the second floor of the KorAm Tae Kwon Do Building 6610 Penn

Space opening soon! 6627 Penn Avenue. Uncommons Sports Cards moving to larger space across street

6630 Penn Avenue offers convenient on-street parking outside the front door.

6603 Queen offers a variety of office space options with convenient parking

Avenue of Opportunities Flyer (click here)

Avenue of Opportunities PR Release (click here)

The dream of starting a business runs deep. Being one's own boss. Calling the shots. Reaping the rewards of one's own hard work. If you've ever wondered about starting your own business, then you should attend the Avenue of Opportunities Open House on Saturday, May 19th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. This event lets you explore the dream of starting a business in the Penn Central of Richfield area.

The event will include an information center at the First National Bank of the Lakes at 6613 Penn Avenue South where prospective business owners can gather information about starting and running a business. Event guests may also obtain a listing of storefront and office spaces for lease in the Penn Central of Richfield area. After talking with business experts at the bank, entrepreneurs can visit available commercial spaces along the avenue. Storefronts and offices for lease will be open for touring during the Avenue of Opportunities Open House. Property owners and/or leasing agents will be on hand to talk with prospective tenants.

Who should attend? Small business people looking for an additional location in the Twin Cites. Home-based business operators looking to move up to a storefront or office space. People who have been thinking about starting their own business.

The Avenue of Opportunities Open House is a no-cost and no obligation event to attend. It is meant as a way to explore the dream of starting a business. Take your first step toward that dream on Saturday, May 19th at the Avenue of Opportunities Open House.

Watch for more information coming soon!

Events, Renewal and Positive Energy Are Future of Penn Central of Richfield

Exciting Developments Announced at April 19th Third Thursday Meeting

The monthy Third Thursday Meeting held on April 19th was filled with announcements about exciting positive changes headed for the Penn Central of Richfield area.

Highlights of the meeting include:

Real estate professional Bill Wolfson described upgrades planned for the Arc's Value Village property. Improvements to both the exterior and interior of the building will be made through a private/public partnership between Wolfson's company, which owns the Value Village property, and the City of Richfield. Exterior improvements include an upgraded of the parking lot and sidewalk.
Gordon Hanson updated the group on the Avenue of Opportunities Open House. The event will help market vacant storefronts and offices along Penn Avenue in Richfield. Prospectiive business owners are encouraged to tour the spaces available for lease on May 19, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The First National Bank of the Lakes, 6613 Penn Avenue South, Richfield, will serve as the information center where entrepreneurs will come to get started. Hanson reported that there has been an enthusiastic response from property owners about participating in the event.
David Gepner reported that Uncommon Sports Cards plans to move across the street to a space formerly occupied by a consignment shop.
John Stark from the City of Richfield reported that interior and exterior improvements to the firestation will be made. The fire department needs to remodel to accommodate female firefighers. Exterior enhancements will be made as part of the same renovation.
Tom Rublein updated the group about Penn Fest, which has been awarded a grant as part of the Open Streets campaign. This means Penn Fest 2012 will be bigger and better, with a stretch of Penn Avenue closed for the event. The closed street will be filled with activities such as live music, street hockey, a bike rodeo, sidewalk chalk art, yoga and more. These items are for descriptive purposes only. Actual activities have not been finalized yet. It is believed that Penn Fest was awarded a $10,000 grant. Area businesses are ancouraged to actively participate to gain visibility to potential customers.
Flynn Rico-Johnson of do.town plans to organize a petition and letter writing campaign to support more pedestrian access in the Penn Central area.
The Penn/Crosstown bridge deck will be reconstructed in 2013, which may offer an opportunity to create a "Welcome to Penn Central Gateway."
Minneapolis will be renovating a Penn Avenue north of Richfield in 2013, and possibly be adding some bike lanes north of 60th Street.
Mother Duck will be expanding by reopening their old location. They will use this space for infants and toddlers.
The wall in front of CVS will be stained soon
Flowerama and Aida will be working on a joint coupon promotion - a great example of two area businesses working together.
Richfield resident Kevin Klos has been working on a new Penn Central of Richfield logo, which will be unveiled soon.

The Greening of Penn Central is Underway

New Trees and Shrubs Planted as Part of CVS Development

Newly planted tree on Penn Avenue

Both Penn Avenue (shown) and 66th are lined with trees

Newly planted shrubs line the CVS parking lot

New trees, shrubs and other greenery were just planted in front of the new CVS store on 66th and Penn. These new plantings were part of the site plan for the new development. Making the Penn Central of Richfield more "green" is part of the Design Guidelines adopted by the City of Richfield.

The Penn Central of Richfield group supports efforts to add more greenery to the business district. Trees, shrubs and flowers will make the neighborhood more attractive and inviting. Greenery softens the appearance of the area. As the trees grow, they will offer shade on summer days and make the sidewalks more pleasing for walkers to stroll the neighborhood. It is also believed that trees have a traffic calming effect.

Property owners and businesses are encouraged to add more greenery to their sites. New planting will enhance the district.

Beautifying the neighborhood

Thanks to Flowerama for Installing New Landscaping

Next time you're driving down Penn Avenue, take a glance at Flowerama on the corner at 66th. They just installed some new landscaping with new shrubs, grasses and mulch. Spiffing up the neighborhood with new landscaping shows great community spirit. Thanks to Flowerama for doing your part in enhancing the image of our community.

The Penn Central of Richfield group would like to encourage all business operators and property owners to consider what they could do to dresss up their property. New landscaping, flowers, a fresh coat of paint, public art and other enhancements will make our neighborhood more appealing and welcoming to visitors (otherwise known as customers to our businesses). Let's all work togeher to make Penn Central of Richfield a warm and welcoming place!

Cone Brothers Now Open

Neighborhood Ice Cream Shop Makes City Pages Top Ten List

With the warm summer-like weather, Cone Brothers Ice Cream at 6633 Penn Avenue South in Richfield has opened up. This was an earlier than planned opening, as even the shop's website lists April 1st as the opening date. But then it seems like a lot of things are early this year with the unseasonably warm weather.

Our local Penn Central of Richfield ice cream shop is gaining favorable attention. Cone Brothers received an honor from City Pages by being named one of the Twin Cities Top 10 ice cream parlors. Read the review here.

Cone Brother offers Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, a premium brand made by creamery farms in Wisconsin and Iowa. The ice cream shop's website lists tempting flavors such as Blueberry Cheesecake, Coconut Almond Bliss, Raspberry Rhapsody and Peanut Butter Cup. You'll also find traditional favorites such as chocolate, strawberry and French vanilla. Chocolate lovers will even find a second choice of chocolate named Zanzibar Chocolate, described as a cholcate that tastes like a fudge brownie. You'll also find a long list of hand-crafted smoothies on the menu.

Check out Cone Brothers website here.

Hey Hey It's The Monkeys!

Did you miss the Monkey Mobile at Hub Hobby? Check out the photos on Facebook.

If you are a fan of the 60s pop/rock group the Monkeys, Hub Hobby was the place to be on Saturday, March 17th. It was a "be here or be square" sort of day as the Monkey Mobile made an appearance at the Richfield store. If you missed the chance to see the car, check out the photos on Hub Hobby's Facebook page. Click here for a "groovy" trip back in time.

Exciting Announcements Coming Soon

Get ready for a bigger and better Penn Fest 2012

The annual Penn Fest Celebration is reaching its 5th anniversary in 2012, and this year promises a bigger and better Penn Fest with many exciting new attractions to be announced over the coming weeks.

Look for more activities, more entertainment and more excitement this year. We'll also be asking for more involvement from area businesses and residents. You can play a role by volunteering as an event ambassador, offering your talents as a musical performer, organizing a Penn Fest activity and much more. You are encouraged to offer your ideas and involvement.

For more information, contact Penn Fest chair Tom Rublein via email at PennFest2012@aol.com.

Watch this site for exciting announcements.

Dog Daycare Receives City Approvals

Woof Central to serve happy hounds!

The proposed dog daycare at 6415 Penn Avenue South in Richfield has received its approvals from the City of Richfield to move ahead.

Owners Don and Lori Swatala plan to name their dog daycare Woof Central. The business will serve people who want their dogs to be active and social during the day. Daycares serving dogs have been growing in popularity among people who have busy work lives.

Further details will be made available as they are announced.

Grand Opening at Ralph's Shoe Service Marks a New Era!

Ralph's window proudly displays the shop as a family-owned business

The wall has a series of photos of the shop in its various locations.

Marv Menzel of the Homestead Pickin' Parlor samples the pizza

Pizza for the grand opening celebration was provided by Fireside Pizza

Ralph's also offers services such as scissor and knife sharpening

Bill Roase, owner of Ralph's, serves a customer during the grand opening

Ralph's Shoe Service celebrated its Grand Opening in the Penn Central of Richfield area on Saturday, March 10th.

Friends, family and neighbors gathered to mark this new chapter in a family-owned business that has been serving customers since 1947. Owners of neighboring businesses welcomed Bill Roase, owner of Ralph's Shoe Service, to the neighborhood, including Marv Menzel of the Homestead Pickin' Parlor.

Guests at the Grand Opening enjoyed pizza and soft drinks. Pizza was provided courtesy of Fireside Pizza, another neighbor in the Penn Central of Richfield area.

But it was not all recreation at the celebration. A steady stream of customers came to the shop in need of shoe repair -- a good sign for the newest member of the area business community.

The Penn Central of Richfield community looks forward to a long and happy relationship with the Roase family and their show repair shop.

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Penn Central of Richfield - Your Neighborhood Mainstreet

Building Community in Richfield, Minnesota