Updated: New Restaurant Might Be Added to Revitalization at Dunkirk Shopping Center

Updated article Sept. 30

According to the Oct. 10 Maple Grove Planning Commission agenda, new business will be heard about a request from White Castle Restaurant for a "PUD Development Stage Plan for the purpose of constructing a 2,550 square foot White Castle Restaurant on the northwest corner of the Dunkirk Square Commercial Development."

The Maple Grove Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 in the Government Center. The request by White Castle Restaurant will likely move onto the Maple Grove City Council for review along with the recommendation of the Planning Commission.

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Original article dated Aug. 23

For those driving near Dunkirk Lane and County Road 30 in Maple Grove, seeing construction action in the retail area known as Dunkirk Shopping Center [former site of Target] is becoming a common occurrence.

Businesses such as Big Lots and Discount Tire have already staked their claim in the shopping center. Now, work will be beginning on the new outlot building that will be home to Leeann Chin, Pro-Cuts, Verizon, and iBeach Tan, according to Dunkirk Lane Maple Grove, LLC Manager Vincent Driessen. The new building will be north of the existing building off of Dunkirk Lane.

After Big Lots opens, which might be the week of Aug. 22, the other retailers will likely open on a staggered schedule.

“The retailers will open at varying times given their required interior finishes, with Verizon tentatively scheduled to open late this fall in time for 2011 holiday shopping,” Driessen said.

LeeAnn Chin is tentatively scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2012, Driessen said with Pro-Cuts and iBeach Tan opening sometime in-between. The site will be setup to handle three more retailers in the “small shop” building.

Why Dunkirk Shopping Center?

In an area that has had scarce retail action since Target moved, the activity at the Dunkirk Shopping Center might be a welcome sign for neighboring business. One of the reasons traditional retail and service businesses have been drawn to the area, Driessen said, is due to the Dunkirk Lane and County Road 30 intersection being a “classic community shopping center intersection” as well as close to major freeway on and off ramps.  

“Dunkirk Square is ‘shadow anchored’ by , , , , Walgreens, TCF, , and is ‘anchored’ by and , and other very successful national and regional retailers,” he said.

The development is further “shadow anchored,” according to Driessen, by traffic patterns traveling to and from areas like the , and the Park and Ride.

Population has also played a role in bringing in new business to Dunkirk Square.

“The population and housing density found immediately east, south, and west (with growth to the north) of Dunkirk Square offer retailers quality demographics of above average household incomes, home values, disposable income, and education level, all which retailers seek when locating new stores,” Driessen said.

“We’re happy to see a little spark of redevelopment in the city,” Maple Grove Community Development Director Dick Edwards said of the happenings at Dunkirk Shopping Center, stating it was “nice to see some of that parking area be used.”

The Future of Dunkirk Shopping Center

The retail area has undoubtedly had one of the busiest years in recent history and still has some surprises in store. Although he was unable to release the business name at this time, Driessen said a national quick serve restaurant is “under contract” for the front corner of the site and is tentatively scheduled to open summer of 2012.

Here’s a timeline opening or potential opening of new businesses at Dunkirk Square provided by Driessen:

• opened April 2011 in the southwest corner

• opened March 2011 at the west entrance to Dunkirk Square.

• Big Lots will open “later this week” [the week of Aug. 22] in the middle of the Dunkirk Square junior anchor space, west of Rainbow Foods. 

• Discount Tire is under construction just west of the entrance off County Road 30 and is scheduled to open fourth quarter of 2011. 

• iBeach Tan will be opening end of fourth quarter 2011 just north of Valvoline.