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Major League Soccer is coming to St. Paul, along with a $120 million stadium. While there's excitement about the new project, there's also concern about what the development could mean to nearby businesses.  


Last Friday, St. Paul officials and the ownership group behind Minnesota United announced they've 

 to hold more than 19,000 fans. It will be built on the site of a former Metro Transit bus barn near Interstate 94 and Snelling Avenue.


They're also hoping the 25-acre Midway Shopping Center, which is connected to the stadium site, will be redeveloped. 


City officials are putting together a community advisory group to help weigh in on redevelopment plans for the site.  


One of the long-time tenants at Midway is Big Top Liquor.  Owner Nancy Rosenberg plans to keep Big top on the site, but said the shopping center could use a makeover.


"It looks like it's tired. It looks like it's time to spruce up and I think we're going to get that and more," she said. "It's really a great opportunity, if they're going to be putting in office buildings and housing and city parks, along with retail and restaurants — it will just be fantastic."


RD Management, the owners of Midway Shopping Center, could not be reached for comment over the weekend. But Rosenburg said the company has been in touch with her about the possible redevelopment plans.


Midway Shopping Center has more than 30 tenants, including national chains like Walgreens and Family Dollar, as well as independent shops like Apollo Locksmith Company. 


Owner Phil Babcock leases the 500-square foot shop in a small building on the northeast end of the property. He said he's concerned about the redevelopment.


"Redevelopment is sometimes a good thing. I would love to have them spruce it up, fix everything up, have more retail establishments, because that's where I fit in," he said. "But it depends on what they do. If they just tear it down and start over, I'd hate that."

Stadium location a key to MLS success

About a block away from the new stadium site sits Piazza Market, an East African grocer.


Co-owner Ephrem Mekonnen said he hopes the stadium will bring new business, but he's worried about the impact it will have on parking and on traffic in the area.


"Where is the traffic going to be? Where is the parking going to be? Do they have a plan for it? Are they going to expand the intersections?" he said. "There are so many questions. It's not clear, so it's very hard to say. I'm hoping they'll bring business, but we'll see."


Mekonnen's business partner, Esayas Sahle, said he thinks business will benefit in the long run. The grocery has already survived years of light rail construction and the redesign of Snelling Avenue. 


"Once it's done, it will be good, it will bring a lot of customers. And since it's a soccer stadium, there's going to be more immigrants and stuff," he said. "But until it's done, until 2018, it will be really tough, especially for small businesses."

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While there's excitement about Major League Soccer coming to St. Paul, there's also concern about what the new stadium could mean to nearby businesses.

St. Paul businesses worry about impact of MLS stadium

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