Two Harbors Has New Plans to Revitalize Downtown

TWO HARBORS - When people come into Two Harbors they tend to eat, play and stay on HWY 61. Efforts are underway to change that to get them to venture into the downtown. If you ask people living there they'll tell you how Two Harbors' downtown used to hustle and bustle decades ago."There was two bakeries down here, there was two bars down here,” Two Harbors City Councilor Jerry Norberg said. “Every building was full, we had a department store down here." Now prime store fronts sit empty and the strip gives off an overall feeling that something is just missing."As it turned more from an industrial town to a tourists attracted town businesses started relocating up on 7th Avenue, the main thoroughfare," said Norberg. Louise's Place served up signature dishes along with specialty drinks downtown for 20 years."It's kind of a little happy social quiet place for people to come and just hang out," Louise’s Place Barista Jadell Cavallin said. They too have seen businesses come and go. "It would be excellent for people to come into town down here and actually have something to do instead of just driving through on our highway," said Cavallin. Showing tourists the town’s real heritage along with bringing more businesses into the downtown is now at the forefront of future plans, especially now that the new Castle Danger Brewery is helping to spur a lot of interest. "We're open for business and people have been calling," said Norberg. Plans to revitalize this area include creating a small craft harbor, installing wayfinding signs, move niche and retail shops into empty store fronts and on 22 acres of city owned land, property which is available now that they've torn down the J and J castings building."We're business friendly, come and talk to us at the very worst the worst we can say is no," said Norberg."The more drive you have for people to come down and look and shop the more people are going to come and stay," said Cavallin. City officials are hoping to have of empty storefronts occupied by next summer. They also plan on hanging up their wayfinding signs next Spring. Officials say if you're interested in opening a business there just contact city hall.