Union Depot wants to be downtown’s gathering space
Downtown’s public gathering spaces have been disappearing
at an alarming rate, but Union Depot is on a fast track
to replace them as the epicenter of free fun.
Tim Spitzack
Editor
In the past decade, scores of people have fled the suburbs and moved downtown for its entertainment venues, charming parks, attractive riverfront and the ease of housing with fewer maintenance concerns. As urban migration heated up, however, longtime downtowners have witnessed an alarming trend – the loss of social gathering places. This is worrisome for St. Paul, whose leaders are working to attract 20,000 more residents in the coming years, nearly tripling the current population of 11,000.
The first community center to disappear was City Passport, which for 27 years provided a place for people ages 50 and older to play games, attend social outings, learn about health and safety topics, and get health screenings from a nurse. A partnership between St. Paul Parks and Rec. and HealthEast Care System, the center was last located in the Alliance Bank Building from 2009 until it closed in 2016 due to high operating costs. The city had contributed $25,000 a year and one staff member to help with programming.
Next to go was the Skyway YMCA at Cray Plaza, which closed in 2020, a casualty of the pandemic and a business model shift of the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities from fitness to overall health and wellness programming. While the branch was a membership-based facility, it long served as a gathering spot and social outlet for many downtowners who enjoyed its pool, fitness center and variety of classes.
A few businesses that served as gathering spots have also disappeared. One of the most popular was the Black Dog Café on Prince Street in Lowertown. It opened in 1998 as a coffee bar and quickly evolved into an eclectic venue that attracted artists and others from all walks of life. There you would find jazz performances, open mic nights and many tables over which to enjoy a meal, coffee or alcoholic beverages with friends. The Black Dog tried to weather the storm but eventually succumbed to the fallout of the pandemic and closed for good in January 2022.
The most recent closure was Creators Space on East Seventh Street, which tried to fill the void of gathering spaces. Owner Melissa Dessart did her best for five years to create a refuge of creativity, learning and socialization but was unable to hang on financially. People gathered there for a cup of coffee and conversation, to listen to live music, or try their hand at an artistic endeavor, such as pottery. It closed in November, but others have been slowly reassembling some of the pieces in that space, including a restaurant and an art studio and boutique.
Emerging as downtown’s gathering space is Union Depot. When the former train station was renovated and reopened in 2012 as a multimodal transportation hub, Ramsey County leaders envisioned it being much more, namely a gathering place for the downtown community and beyond. Today, that $243 million restoration project investment seems to be paying off in terms of its ancillary goal. In recent years, the Depot has been filling its calendar with events large and small. One never knows what they’ll find when strolling through its marbled halls.
One day it’s a trade show, another day a wedding reception, and another a yoga class. This year alone, Union Depot has hosted Doggie Depot and POP Cats for pet lovers, Minnesota Wedding & Quinceañera Expo, Winter Carnival puzzle contest, St. Paul Art Crawl artists, and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour. Looking back at the frosty days of December, the Depot was a hub for holiday events, including the European Christmas Market, Santa’s Village, Tree Lighting and Movie Night, Holiday Bake Sale and the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train. Looking toward the sultry days of summer, in July you’ll find free kid-friendly games, crafts, activities and entertainment during Depot Days of Summer (July 9, 10 a.m.-noon), Depot Dance Night with live music from Salsa del Soul and free Salsa dancing instruction (July 16, 6:30-9 p.m.) and the St. Paul Food Truck Festival, held 11 a.m.-9 p.m., July 13-14 with more than 50 food trucks and other vendors, games, bands, hand-crafted beer and more.
If crowds aren’t your thing, there are other low-key opportunities for gathering with family and friends. Wednesdays are Game Day. From 10 a.m.-8 p.m. you can play giant-size games or bring your own. Learn about the history of the Depot during free monthly public tours – held next July 9 and 23, 11 a.m.-noon – or attend a free yoga class, offered 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays and 9-10 a.m. Saturdays. Union Depot also hosts a monthly Red Cross Blood Drive – the next one is 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, July 18 – and is a gathering place for National Night Out in August. Additionally, this year it is hosting five naturalization ceremonies, held monthly May through September. The one in May saw nearly 800 people from 76 countries become United States citizens.
Lindsay Boyd, general manager of Union Depot, said increasing public and private events has been a goal since the depot’s renovation and that they’re always looking for ways to improve.
“We want to be the community hub for the downtown community, and to be a place for all,” she said. “We want to increase community events and activate the space 365 [days a year]. The goal is to have all public events free. We’re constantly seeking out different groups to have discussions and try out new things.” This includes organizations serving youth, seniors and everyone in between. She’s also speaking with the leaders of the homeowners association of the condos in the building about how they can better cater to their needs. The depot is open 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Last year, Union Depot hosted more than 130 public events and over 100 private events. Games Galore attracts about 25 weekly and approximately 100 people attend the free yoga classes. If a group wants to explore a partnership to use the space, they should contact Maurina Rondeau at 651-202-2702, maurina.rondeau@jll.com.
New restaurant opening soon
On Thursday, July 18, hungry diners will find a new culinary option at Union Depot. The restaurant 1881 by Lake Elmo Inn will take over the space of the former Station 81 restaurant, which closed in early May. The restaurant is the latest venture of Lake Elmo Inn. It’s a family affair owned by John and Christine Schiltz and co-operated by Frank Hopp (Christine’s son) and Anna Schiltz (John’s daughter). The menu is crafted by Executive Chef Michael Pearson and inspired by the Lake Elmo Inn’s menu. It will include favorites from the flagship restaurant as well as new offerings hand-crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant will also feature a bar serving craft cocktails and an extensive wine list, house-made desserts and a kids’ menu. Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more details, visit 1881bylei.com.
The name is a nod to the year Lake Elmo Inn and Union Depot both began operations. As part of the lease agreement, Lake Elmo Inn will be the exclusive caterer for events at Union Depot. Having been on the Depot’s preferred catering list in the past, they know what to expect.
Station 81 departed because Appetite for Change, the nonprofit that ran it as a social enterprise, changed its business model to move away from food service. They also closed their catering business, Breaking Bread, and their Minneapolis café, Breaking Bread Café.
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