Bandana Square

Northern Pacific Railway Company Como Shops Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Bandana Square: steam locomotive and water tower enhancing the railroad theme
Location	Energy Park Dr. and Bandana Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota
Coordinates
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 Energy Park (an industrial street) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The site is in the National Register of Historic Places.

It included a Best Western hotel and conference center, along with 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 complex opened in 1984 after several nineteenth century railroad buildings (the 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.

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.

Museums

The Minnesota Children's Museum was located in Bandana Square from 1985 until 1995 when it moved to Downtown Saint Paul, taking with it many visitors.

The Twin City Model Railroad Museum remained at Bandana Square after the change from retail to offices was complete. However, on October 16, 2015, the museum announced that it was looking for a new home. The museum subsequently announced it would be moving to a new location in spring of 2016.

See also

• Galtier Plaza, a similar development in Saint Paul
• Saint Anthony Main, a similar development in Minneapolis

External links

• Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum