BANDANA SQUARE: ST. PAUL, MN
Rachelle K.'s Commentary
Posted March 29, 2006 (user submitted)
This would be one of the coolest malls in Minnesota - if only it was still a
mall. Bandana Square was an early twentieth century railroad station converted
into an enclosed shopping center with a historic feel. Somehow it didn't go
over very well - perhaps because it is far from the freeway in St. Paul's
industrial Energy Park. One has to look for it to find it. Now what used to be
mall stores have been converted into office space, although the painted brick
from still boasts "Unique Restaurants and Shops."
All that remains of said restaurants and shops are a railroad gift shop, an
old-fashioned ice cream parlor/restaurant, and a small Asian buffet Saigon City
remain at least as of spring 2005 when I decided to up and explore random shopping
places in the Twin Cities.
The vintage St. Paul architecture alone makes it worth the visit. Bandana
Square is on the National Register of Historic Places. Parking is free, and the
upper levels of the garage are connected via skyway to a Holiday Inn Express
housed in another old brick building on site.
Pictures coming soon.