Monthly Archives: September 2011

The maintenance base’s silent tenant

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So the former Northwest Airlines Maintenance base in Duluth has been empty since Cirrus moved out in 2009, right?

Not exactly.

In a cordoned off area in the middle of the cavernous hangar, an uninflated dirigible lies flat on the floor wrapped in a tarp.

It’s been there for a couple of years now. And it remains there even as AAR Aircraft of Illinois is deciding whether to move into the facility and set up another airplane maintenance base.

The owner of the dirigible, Information Systems Laboratories or ISL based in Alabama, is a developer of high tech unmanned dirigibles for military use. It’s paying about $1,500 a month to simply store its blimp there, more if they actually work on it.

The facility is big enough to accommodate the blimp fully inflated with helium  which is why ISL picked the site. They did inflate it inside the building at least once. Even at 100 feet long and five stories  high, the airship only fills one-fourth of the hangar.

ISL had planned to assemble the airship in Duluth for military use, probably in the Middle East. But those plans hit a snag so the dirigible has been lying flat on the floor of the hangar for two years. It only takes up about 20-feet-by-10-feet of floor space in the 189,000-square-foot facility.

But if AAR Aircraft decides to move in , the blimp will have to go.

By the way, others have approached the Duluth Economic Development Authority, which owns the facility, about storing other items in there. One was the City of Duluth which wanted to store voting machines in there. But DEDA officials have resisted all other requests except one from the Duluth Fire Department to store its decontamination unit in there. So when it’s not in use, that’s where it’s parked.

 

New storefronts, second chances?

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Ed Barbo’s Columbia Clothing store in downtown Duluth has been flanked by empty storefronts for more than a year. But now Designer Shades, a nifty looking women’s accessories store has opened next door at 305 W. Superior St.

And over the weekend, on the other side of Ed Barbo’s, new store signs have gone up at the former Betty Lou’s Health Foods store, announcing it’s the new law office for Louis Stockman.

Both storefronts add needed activity to the block. But neither proprietor has an unblemished past.

Stockman, an attorney since 1993 now specializing in personal injury cases, was accused earlier this year of mishandling client funds through a fiduciary trust. Client funds in the account were used to cover payments for other clients, according to the state’s Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board.

It wasn’t illegal but did put client funds at risk, a board spokesman said.

Nick Campanella, who recently opened Designer Shades — featuring handbags, sunglasses, jewelry and some clothing –  did face criminal charges last year.

He and his business partner were operating Christopher’s Clothing Store, also at 305 W. Superior St., when authorities came down hard on it and two other Duluth stores for selling bogus designer clothing, handbags, sneakers and sports items. The would-be designer items were sold at low prices.

Both Campanella and Christopher Giddens, the store’s co-owners were charged in connection with the sale of counterfeit intellectual property at their store.

Campanella told the News Tribune then that he had ordered the items online without criminal intent. He eventually pleaded guilty in an Alford plea, which is not an admission of guilt but acknowledges that enough evidence exists to lead to a guilty verdict. He was sentenced in October to 22 months probation, five days community service and a $100 fine.

Since then he opened Excess Baggage, another accessory shop at the corner of Lake Avenue and Superior Street. That shop continues to operate, even after he opened Designer Shades a few weeks ago.

Duluth Applebee’s makeover

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The Duluth Applebee’s got a quick but thorough makeover last week. The restaurant, at Miller Hill Mall, was only closed 3 1/2 days. But crews must have worked quickly, considering how much was done:

The restaurant now has a fresh, more open new look.  The space is freshly painted and has new wall coverings. Booth and chairs were re-upholstered, new carpeting installed as well as new light fixtures.

The bar has been opened up. The old sight-blocking canopy is gone, the bar top replaced and a new display wall is along the back. New plasma TVs were added, placed for easier viewing.

Photos, memorabilia and murals have been updated with a continued focus on local events, activities and sports teams and schools.

Applebee’s will celebrate its  new look with a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday, Sept. 19  at 11:30 a.m.

Bizs boost Lakewalk Fest

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“All the hotels are involved,” says Kristi Stokes. “A lot of businesses have stepped up.”

Like a lot of festivals, the Duluth Lakewalk Festival which kicks off tonight started modestly. But it’s been growing. Now, in its third year it seems poised to turn into one of those seasonal marker events in town.

“It’s just a real big hit for families,” says Stokes who is president of the Greater Downtown Council, one of the festival sponsors. “The family-oriented activities have been attracting a lot of families, both ours as well as visitors’.”

The free festival starts  at 7:30 tonight with a outdoor showing of “Toy Story 3″ in Leif Erikson Park. Events continue from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday along the Lakewalk from Canal Park to Fitger’s.  More fun will be near the Lakewalk at 47th Avenue East and Superior Street.

Besides the usual kids activities, there will be disc golf, rock painting, fishing holes and fire engine tours. Zumba fitness and UMD men’s hockey players will be on hand at Lake Place Park. Gather enough stamps at stops along the Lakewalk and get free ice cream. And there’s a medallion hunt based on clues posted this week at www.95kqds.com/what’sup.

The Canal Park hotels have embraced the festival this year.

“We had them involved before, but they’re more heavily involved,” Stokes says. “They’re doing their own activities.”

That’s also true in Lakeside where businesses and groups have stepped up and are hosting activities. You’ll find it off the Lakewalk at 47th Avenue East  at the Essentia Health parking lot. And you can take a free ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad to get there from Lake Place Park and Fitger’s. The train will run every half hour.

With a dog theme, pooches are welcome at the Lakeside happening, said Lakeside co-chair Bobbi Muncy of Edward Jones, 4433 E. Superior St.. That  includes a Top Dog contest at 2 p.m. (bring your dog),  puppy pools (bring your puppy), a bounce house, balloons and facepainting (bring your kids), goodies and other surprises.

And with Matilda’s Dog Bakery and Boutique nearby, there’ll be a lot of dog biscuits, Muncy says

 

Walgreens opens in October

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So what’s up with the new Walgreens store on East Superior Street in Duluth?

It sure looks done, inside and out. Lights are ablazing at night. The parking lot is paved and marked. The landscaping is done. Even the big Walgreens sign is up.

The holdup must be in the details.

“We hope to have it open in October,” Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger said today.

Exactly when, he couldn’t say. But when moving day comes, it’ll be a moving night. Literally.

“The old Walgreens would close one day, the new store would open the next day,” he said.

The new store, at Superior Street and 12th Avenue East, is 16,000 square feet. That’s bigger than the current Walgreens store that is 1 1/2 blocks to the east and farther from the city’s medical district. Unlike the current store, the new store will have drive-through prescription pickup.