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analyzer
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This is intriguing, but with the current lack of employees, it might be a rough time to be a GM.
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Mocha
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Is looking for a new GM that could eventually be given the store to operate….
Found it on LinkedIn but it must have been in the star tribune at some point
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ElsaM
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Hey, longtime lurker here but I'll come out of the woodwork for Midwest Mountaineering. It is so great having this store in the city, and I've had really great service there. When I went to buy a backpack they were really helpful with fitting and general advice and ideas about the trip I was planning. Thrifty Outfitters also has some really great deals on clothing if you're lucky enough to be sample size.
I hope they find someone to manage the place, because I'd really miss it if it closed.
And for the person who wondered, yes, Hard Times is still there. They switched to takeout only during the pandemic and I don't know if they've reinstated indoor seating yet.
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Savage Voyageur
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I love the store but hate the neighborhood. Ive been shopping there for decades and know the area very well. I really like the expo two times a year they hold.
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Jaywalker
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I love MWM. In decent weather I walk over there with my dogs (they love the popcorn people drop at the expos). I also regularly find myself making up reasons to drop by after grocery shopping - like I wonder if they have any new dehydrated meals, or I wonder what color bulk ropes they have now - important things I just have to know. Seriously. But best of all, the staff is amazing. They are highly knowledgeable, and has anyone else noticed how interested they are in what trips YOU have planned? I get asked all the time.
I love REI, but MWM is a step above.
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Minnesotian
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I was just there last week. Picked up up good deals on ski boots and some backcountry bindings. If you are there during the day, the Acadia Cafe half a block down usually has some good beers on tap and a good fish and chips if I remember right.
A bit further down on Cedar is Part Wolf, a newish bar with live music. It's across from the Cedar Cultural Center which is a great place to listen to national acts that are a bit under the radar. Saw Mountain Man there.
Then of course there is the Red Sea Ethiopian restaurant, great place, just across from Midwest. Mixed Blood theater is right there, though I don't know if they are open yet. But I do think Theater-in-the-Round, a semi-professional community theater, is open and that is about a block north of Midwest. But then you are getting to Town Hall Brewery which has some great porters and stouts, along with the usual IPA's, which you gotta stop in for. I think they still serve growlers too.
Lots of great places there in Cedar-Riverside. I don't think the location is bad at all. In fact, it's right off 94 on one end and 35 on the other end. Easy enough to get to.
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thegildedgopher
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I agree cedar riverside has a ton to offer. Working nearby, it’s great to still be able to walk to MWM on lunchbreak. We still need places like this in urban areas. Not everyone wants or is able to drive their truck to the suburbs to go to REI.
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cyclones30
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I've never been but always hear good things about it.
I'd rather go to place like this than REI any day
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Mocha
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10-15 years ago this type of career would have been right up my alley. not anymore. just these past years seeing how the scope of customer service has declined, how customers treat people in the service industry, even how customers treat each other, it's too depressing.
not sure if covid is to blame, lack of proper training for those doing the customer service job, retail slump due to internet shopping....
i really hope this man can find the right person for his business, it would be a shame to have it close. too bad none of his employees have shown an interest.
if Bear Paulson didn't already have a fabulous job with Northstar Canoes, he would be the perfect person, or even Dan Cooke! who knows more about wilderness gear and he's a great conversationalist and businessman.
hmmmm.......
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jhb8426
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plander: "You're comments trigger lots of old memories... "
Remember all of those places as well as Dania Hall for some decent bands at the time.
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Northwoodsman
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I have to agree with you Mocha, 10 - 20 years ago the side of the industry where you provided service to customers was enjoyable. People genuinely appreciated it when you provided a reasonable level of service and generously rewarded you when you went above and beyond. Now the word "entitlement" comes to mind more often than not. Most people don't do those jobs for the money, they do it because they like to work with people, they like to learn new things, they like to train, teach, and educate others, they like to help people. It's easy and fun when you have a group of people with similar interests and goals working together because you can combine everyone's skills and strengths and availability to create a team. It's getting harder and harder to find those people to make up the team these days.
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plander
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Minnesotian: "
I was just there last week. Picked up up good deals on ski boots and some backcountry bindings. If you are there during the day, the Acadia Cafe half a block down usually has some good beers on tap and a good fish and chips if I remember right.
A bit further down on Cedar is Part Wolf, a newish bar with live music. It's across from the Cedar Cultural Center which is a great place to listen to national acts that are a bit under the radar. Saw Mountain Man there.
Then of course there is the Red Sea Ethiopian restaurant, great place, just across from Midwest. Mixed Blood theater is right there, though I don't know if they are open yet. But I do think Theater-in-the-Round, a semi-professional community theater, is open and that is about a block north of Midwest. But then you are getting to Town Hall Brewery which has some great porters and stouts, along with the usual IPA's, which you gotta stop in for. I think they still serve growlers too.
Lots of great places there in Cedar-Riverside. I don't think the location is bad at all. In fact, it's right off 94 on one end and 35 on the other end. Easy enough to get to. "
You're comments trigger lots of old memories... I grew up on the West Bank but moved away from Minnesota in 1990 (never to move back but I visit regularly since, my mom is still in the neighborhood). The place has changed. My mom and her friends such as Willie Murphy and John Koerner were part of the scene in the 1970s and 1980s. As a young teenager I worked at the New Riverside Cafe in the late 1970s. Many places have closed their doors since those days; the 400 Bar, the New Riverside Cafe, the Viking Bar, the Triangle Bar, Wax Museum, Savran's Bookstore, Coffeehouse Extempore, Ceasar's, The People's Center, Cullas, North Country Coop, Richter's Drug Store, the Free Store....just to name a few off the top of my head. The only things left in its "original" form as far as I know is Midwest Mountaineering and Palmers. Both institutions in my view.
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Bo
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jhb8426: "Savage Voyageur: "I love the store but hate the neighborhood. "
Precisely. Rarely go there anymore because of the location."
+1
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Minnesotian
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plander: "
You're comments trigger lots of old memories... I grew up on the West Bank but moved away from Minnesota in 1990 (never to move back but I visit regularly since, my mom is still in the neighborhood). The place has changed. My mom and her friends such as Willie Murphy and John Koerner were part of the scene in the 1970s and 1980s. As a young teenager I worked at the New Riverside Cafe in the late 1970s. Many places have closed their doors since those days; the 400 Bar, the New Riverside Cafe, the Viking Bar, the Triangle Bar, Wax Museum, Savran's Bookstore, Coffeehouse Extempore, Ceasar's, The People's Center, Cullas, North Country Coop, Richter's Drug Store, the Free Store....just to name a few off the top of my head. The only things left in its "original" form as far as I know is Midwest Mountaineering and Palmers. Both institutions in my view. "
Yep, lots of good places there. Still miss Triple Rock and the 400. Was Hard Times Cafe still in the area? That place has really classed up in the last 15 years. I remember being there at about 2 in the morning and watching a guy get kicked out of Hard Times, which was about the only all night spot in the area. Where are you at if you get kicked out of Hard Times?
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jhb8426
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Savage Voyageur: "I love the store but hate the neighborhood. "
Precisely. Rarely go there anymore because of the location.
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HighnDry
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Good people and retail. I worked a couple of their spring and fall shows. It was a lot of fun. Love that store.
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analyzer
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Parking isn't great, especially if you have truck.
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timatkn
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Love the place and their Expos!
I do limit my visits because it’s hard to walk out with put purchasing something :)
T
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chessie
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plander: "Minnesotian: "
I was just there last week. Picked up up good deals on ski boots and some backcountry bindings. If you are there during the day, the Acadia Cafe half a block down usually has some good beers on tap and a good fish and chips if I remember right.
A bit further down on Cedar is Part Wolf, a newish bar with live music. It's across from the Cedar Cultural Center which is a great place to listen to national acts that are a bit under the radar. Saw Mountain Man there.
Then of course there is the Red Sea Ethiopian restaurant, great place, just across from Midwest. Mixed Blood theater is right there, though I don't know if they are open yet. But I do think Theater-in-the-Round, a semi-professional community theater, is open and that is about a block north of Midwest. But then you are getting to Town Hall Brewery which has some great porters and stouts, along with the usual IPA's, which you gotta stop in for. I think they still serve growlers too.
Lots of great places there in Cedar-Riverside. I don't think the location is bad at all. In fact, it's right off 94 on one end and 35 on the other end. Easy enough to get to. "
You're comments trigger lots of old memories... I grew up on the West Bank but moved away from Minnesota in 1990 (never to move back but I visit regularly since, my mom is still in the neighborhood). The place has changed. My mom and her friends such as Willie Murphy and John Koerner were part of the scene in the 1970s and 1980s. As a young teenager I worked at the New Riverside Cafe in the late 1970s. Many places have closed their doors since those days; the 400 Bar, the New Riverside Cafe, the Viking Bar, the Triangle Bar, Wax Museum, Savran's Bookstore, Coffeehouse Extempore, Ceasar's, The People's Center, Cullas, North Country Coop, Richter's Drug Store, the Free Store....just to name a few off the top of my head. The only things left in its "original" form as far as I know is Midwest Mountaineering and Palmers. Both institutions in my view. "
Great memories here, too. I escaped the Twin Cities long ago. Prior - I spent HOURS at the New Riverside Cafe, studying, when in grad school. And Midwest MT. -- many a purchase and consultation. My 1st backpacking trip to Isle Royale, I stopped at Midwest and bought a bunch of "energy bars" (pre-Cliff-bar era). I remember the cashier telling me, "Mam, they look the same coming out as they do going in!" [he was right]. Midwest had a FREE PHONE you could use, on a coffee table in the map area. That was a big deal back then.
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plander
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Minnesotian: "plander: "
You're comments trigger lots of old memories... I grew up on the West Bank but moved away from Minnesota in 1990 (never to move back but I visit regularly since, my mom is still in the neighborhood). The place has changed. My mom and her friends such as Willie Murphy and John Koerner were part of the scene in the 1970s and 1980s. As a young teenager I worked at the New Riverside Cafe in the late 1970s. Many places have closed their doors since those days; the 400 Bar, the New Riverside Cafe, the Viking Bar, the Triangle Bar, Wax Museum, Savran's Bookstore, Coffeehouse Extempore, Ceasar's, The People's Center, Cullas, North Country Coop, Richter's Drug Store, the Free Store....just to name a few off the top of my head. The only things left in its "original" form as far as I know is Midwest Mountaineering and Palmers. Both institutions in my view. "
Yep, lots of good places there. Still miss Triple Rock and the 400. Was Hard Times Cafe still in the area? That place has really classed up in the last 15 years. I remember being there at about 2 in the morning and watching a guy get kicked out of Hard Times, which was about the only all night spot in the area. Where are you at if you get kicked out of Hard Times?"
After getting kicked out of Hard Times??? Jail, detox, or under the 10th Ave Bridge.
Trying to get me facts straight here but I believe Hard Times was in the building that use to be Ceasar's which closed in the mid-1980s down the block from the Viking. Hard Times Cafe opened after I left Mpls (in 1990) by the collective that worked at a cafe in the same location by a different name...anyway, after my time hanging out in the area.
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