The Lanesboro Local Marketplace has a new home, at the junction of Parkway Avenue and Coffee Street. If you're a Lanesboro resident or fan, you know the Marketplace is one of the most distinctive, local-local-local shops in the area, with area-raised meats, artisan cheeses, veggies and plenty of arts and crafts.
The new 2,500-square-foot space at 201 Parkway Ave. N. has more space for food and other local products, as well as food tastings, artisan demonstrations and live music. The store is also chock full of historical and local touches, with its tin ceiling and cast-iron radiators. The current inventory includes trout fishing lures, garden seeds, quilted handwork, Spring Grove pop and Amish baskets. You get the idea -- it's Lanesboro and bluff country through and through.
The second story of the building is still in the process of being restored for more local products as well as meeting and education space, according to spokeswoman Andrea Miehlisch. A grand opening party is planned from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6, with a ribbon-cutting at 2 p.m.
On a personal note, I wish Rochester had a Coffee Street -- maybe a Coffee Avenue as well. -- Jay Furst
West Bank gets branch approval
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My item in Thursday's column regarding West Bankwasn't quite right -- the Iowa-based bank now has the OK to broaden its local services to become a full branch office . Mike Zinser, West's market president in Rochester, says the bank now will be able to offer "the full array of business banking services to our customers."
"We're obviously very excited to get the approval to become a full business bank, versus a loan production office," Zinser said. West will now be able to offer deposit accounts, treasury management services and services "that anyone running a business finds important, especially the continued local decision-making on loans, which we've already been providing to local businesses."
Zinser said West "definitely" intends to put up a branch building in the future. "We're not ready to determine a site or location -- that will be determined by the level of success that we have," he said. "But based on the high level of success we're having now, we believe it will be sooner rather than later."
The Rochester office is at 3147 Superior Drive N.W., Suite 100, and the phone is 252-2970. -- Jay Furst
