Dewey Takes Good Pictures So I'm Sure He Really Does Love Annandale...Otherwise Known as the Article That Started it All

Dwight "Dewey" Gunnarson took this picture thanks Dewey. Let's keep business local. l


ALCO discount store proposed in Annandale
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
By Chuck Sterling

A developer is proposing to build an ALCO discount store - possibly with a nationally known fast-food restaurant and coffee shop nearby - in the Annandale Business Park. The Annandale Planning Commission gave the development its blessing last week, and the city council is expected to consider whether to grant final approval Monday, May 7. Steve Iverson of Paces Lodging Corp., Fargo, N.D., presented plans for the three-acre site north of Highway 55 between the Annandale Evangelical Free Church and Edina Realty to the planning board Tuesday, April 24. They include a 25,600-square-foot structure that Paces would build immediately and lease to ALCO on a long-term basis. The timetable for construction of two other proposed buildings was less certain and depends on signing up tenants. "I have contractors on standby to break ground May 8 assuming the city commission approves it May 7," Iverson, Paces construction manager, told the planning session. He said in an interview later that the ALCO store could be open for business by Sept. 1 if building began early this month. "We're excited to get in the ground and get it rolling," he said. Iverson described ALCO as "a small Wal-Mart." According to its web site, Duckwall-ALCO Stores Inc. serve small communities in the central United States. It has 190 full-line ALCO stores and 67 Duckwall variety stores in 21 states. Minnesota has eight ALCO stores, the nearest ones located in Paynesville and Sauk Centre. Iverson said he has approvals to build stores in Zumbrota and New Prague. ALCO merchandise includes 35,000 items ranging from clothing to automotive accessories, furniture, hardware, lawn and garden supplies. Planning commission chairman Dwight "Dewey" Gunnarson called the development "a very exciting use for Annandale." He suggested accenting the front of the ALCO building with a brick-look wainscoting to blend in with nearby structures. Iverson agreed and later submitted drawings incorporating the wainscoting along with columns and the main entrance in a matching color. The commission approved the development's site plan concept and use of a stucco-look insulated metal paneling for the exterior of the building. "I think that's going to be wonderful for this area," Gunnarson said of the proposal. For a city of 3,000 people, "I think that's going to be huge." Commission member Shelly Jonas said an ALCO store would make it possible to buy a pair of socks here. Iverson told the commission the fast-food tenant more likely than not would be "the most widely known national food chain." But he couldn't reveal the name, he said in the interview. The coffee shop would likely also be a national chain. A 2,800-square-foot fast food building and a 3,600-square-foot coffee shop-retail structure could be built at the same time as ALCO, Iverson said, depending on whether tenants are signed up. "Anything could happen." It's not likely, he said, but "very possible that either or both of those other buildings could be open in '07." The preferred access to the development would be off Highway 55, he said, but he hadn't applied to the Minnesota Department of Transportation because of indications that might be a waste of time. A variety of different solutions were being considered, he said.

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