Award-Winning Shopping Center Replaces Once-Blighted Area
 Andover was established in 1972 as a village and became the City of Andover in 1974. It is now one of the fastest growing outer-ring suburbs in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, growing at an annual rate of 4.6%. |
Challenge
The Economic Development Association of Andover purchased and cleaned approximately 20 acres of contaminated land formerly used as a junkyard with the intent of creating a retail epicenter for their city. The challenge was to recruit retailers who matched the city’s vision and the community’s needs in a short time frame.
Strategy
United Properties contracted a comprehensive, independent, grocery study to determine what type of grocer best fit the needs of Andover residents. Because of Andover’s high percentage of young families with children, the best grocer was determined to be a “value oriented” grocer with good service. United Properties took this information to an independent grocer, Knowlan’s, Inc., and developed a plan to incorporate a new 49,838-sq.-ft. Knowlan’s Festival Foods with 25,016 sq. ft. of retail shops.
Results
The 11.5-acre Andover Station Shopping Center opened in fall 2002. Retail demand continued with interest from Target and Walgreen’s on adjacent land, and construction began on phase two in spring 2004 on a 143,000-sq.-ft. Target Greatland and a 14,500-sq.-ft. Walgreen’s. Andover Station was the winner of the Minnesota Shopping Center Association’s 2003 STARR Award for Best Development Process.
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