Bandana Square
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Northern Pacific Railway Company Como Shops Historic District
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Bandana Square: steam locomotive and water tower enhancing the railroad theme
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| Location | Energy Park Dr. and Bandana Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota |
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| Coordinates | 44°58′18″N 93°9′11″W / 44.97167°N 93.15306°WCoordinates: 44°58′18″N 93°9′11″W / 44.97167°N 93.15306°W |
| Built | 1885 |
| NRHP Reference # | 83000937 |
| Added to NRHP | March 31, 1983 |
Bandana Square is now an office center but was originally designed to be an enclosed shopping center in the Energy Park neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The site is in the National Register of Historic Places.
The complex opened in 1984 after the former Northern Pacific Railway's Como Locomotive Shops were converted into what was to be a large festival marketplace. Richard Faricy FAIA, the architect, would later recount that it was a remarkable project from the start. The financing and cooperation came from everyone—the railroads, the government, and even private grants.
Bandana Square features a Best Western hotel and conference center. When Bandana originally opened, the complex was home to several unique restaurants such as the successful Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant that is now located in Minneapolis. The Dakota moved to Downtown Minneapolis in 2003. The Dino's Greek fast-food chain, formerly known as Dino's Gyros, also had its first year-round restaurant at Bandana Square (previously, the company had only set up stands at the Minnesota State Fair and other events).
The center was purchased by the Saint Paul based Wilder Foundation in 1983 for $17 million. By 1989 the foundation had lost $9 million and sought help from the Saint Paul Port Authority. The project had become a financial drain to the foundation and was detracting from its mission to help children and at-risk families. At that time only 65% of the space was occupied. The Port Authority proposed a plan that would save the Wilder Foundation $780,000 a year but the Port Authority took over the center in March 1989. The port authority sold it to investors for $3 million who tried to refocus it as a regional retail and entertainment center. Wellington Management bought the center in 2003 for $6.1 million. The center was converted entirely to offices in 2006.
The Minnesota Children's Museum was located in a building close to Bandana Square from 1985 until 1995 when it moved to Downtown Saint Paul, taking with it many visitors.
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