MINNEAPOLIS — The shops and events that brought people to Downtown Minneapolis during the holiday season have changed.
COVID has emptied storefronts and office spaces, but even before then, Holidazzle moved on from its parade route.
Adam Duininck is two weeks into the job as mpls downtown council's President and CEO, but he has big hopes.
"I'm a farm kid out by a Willmar but I have fond memories of coming downtown," he said. "I remember coming to Dayton's myself and seeing Santa with my family."
The days of the Department Store Santa faded away and Holidazzle had its own metamorphosis. Starting in 1992 it brought a lot of shoppers downtown. It later moved to Loring Park as a marketplace, but the council canceled it this year due to funding and leadership changes.
"There's been a debate about whether we should do it on Nicollet or do it in Loring Park, and I think Loring Park has served a purpose," said Duininck. "And maybe there's a way to do it there, too, and create some energy. But this is really the heart of the downtown business district."
This year, they're concentrating holiday efforts on Holidays on Nicollet, a weeks-long experience that includes holiday window displays, entertainment and shopping.
Duininck wouldn't describe the 70-plus vendors and four holiday pop-ups as a replacement. They have had the event in the past, but never this scale.
"We want to continue to build," he said.
"I know people miss the parade," said Jessie Witte of AudreyRose Vintage, who sells at one of the holiday pop-ups. "But it's really nice to see efforts are actually being made. You can like visually see it in the store fronts."
Mizrrain Lias owns FX Store Minnesota, a shoe and apparel store in the IDS Crystal Court.
"It helped to recover the town," said Lias. "People come to buy things and they buy from another store, and they also visit my shop as well."
For more information on Holidays on Nicollet, visit the mpls downtown council website.
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