What is this picture?

I'll be curious to see how many folks manage to identify this "Recent Past" landmark. Here are some hints:

• My grandmother would take me there on the bus. We would go to Minnesota Fabrics and pick out patterns and flanel for new jammies. I was particularly smitten with odd buttons. (The "proof" of her love -- the white sweater with pockets and fish buttons.) For my birthday I would have cash to spend and ice cream to eat at the Woolworths counter.


• I bought my first records at the Don Leary's located there. Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" on 45.


• Queen's Court School of Dance was located in the basement. Mid-year recitals were held in the courtyard. Plain white tennis shoes (required for "Jazz" dance class) could be had for $5 at the aforementioned Woolworths. The more expensive black ballet slippers could be picked up at Kinney's.


• Many hours playing Centipede at the Bowl-O-Mat with my junior high stoner friends. Hello Kitty items available at a kid's store and multi-flavored candy canes at Lancers


• The only time I really got to see the "other grandma" was at the antique shows held here.


• I never got to ride the train and I still resent it.

Okay, either you've guessed it or you don't care, but it's Apache Plaza. The Twin Cities' second enclosed mall (after Southdale) is scheduled for demolition in March. There will be a Bulldozer party from 5:00-10:00pm on Saturday March 20th. Even though we'll have houseguests and Mara's brithday party earlier in the afternoon, I think I might try to take a peek at it.

Here are some links with pictures and news about Apache:

• The Recent Past Preservation Network (Where I pilfered the photo above)


• The Apache Plaza Tribute Site (Some great pictures from Apache's history)


• St. Anthony Village's Redevelopment Plan (Mixed use development, primarily.)