The Warehouse Historic District is comprised of two neighborhoods: the North Loop and Downtown West. The former has turned from an industrial center to one of the hippest and fastest-growing neighborhoods in Minneapolis.
Bordered by Plymouth Avenue, the Mississippi River, Hennepin Avenue, and Interstates 394 and 94, the North Loop boasts a vibrant live-work-play environment that attracts young professionals, artists, and empty nesters.
History
Located in the northern part of downtown Minneapolis, the North Loop was named for a trolley line that once served the area. It was the city’s warehouse and wholesale district from the late 19th century up to the early 20th century.
A succession of events, such as the panic of 1857and the onslaught of the Depression, turned it into a jobbing hub for the upper Midwest, attracting east coast retailers who couldn’t sell to distant outposts on credit.
The railroad’s completion in 1867, low land values, and proximity to warehouses and factories made the North Loop a center for wholesale distribution.
The North Loop fell into ruin throughout the 60s and 70s before reemerging as the epicenter of the city’s art scene in the 80s.
Architecture
Many of the buildings that were designed and built between the 19th and 20th centuries still stand today, a reminder of the trends and commercial architectural styles that dominated the period.
Renowned architects created the commercial spaces that the North Loop’s business owners required. About 62 buildings on seven square blocks make up the district, some of which include warehouses six or eight stories high.
Prevalent architectural styles include:
- Chicago Commercial
- Italianate Queen Anne
- Richardsonian Romanesque
- Classical Revival
The architectural styles of the period changed as the business district adjusted to customers’ evolving needs and demands.
For instance, one will see a progression from the Italianate-style stores and warehouses at Washington Avenue to First Avenue’s Renaissance revival style grand warehouses, and eventually the Queen Anne Commercial style that prevailed in the early 1900s.
These exquisite buildings serve as a physical representation of changing tastes and sensibilities and earned the Warehouse District a spot in the National Register for Historic Places in 1989.
Living in the North Loop
Here you’ll find a spectacular array of shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. American, Italian, French, Cajun, and Mediterranean are just some of the cuisines available.
- Feast on steaming plates of pasta at Bar La Grassa. The restaurant serves cavatelli with braised rabbit and smoked spaghetti with brown butter and lobster. Their extensive selection of bruschetta is also worth checking out.
- The Bachelor Farmer has a Nordic-inspired menu that consists of roasted duck breast with butternut squash, pork meatballs, and wild striped bass with broccoli purée.
The district is home to a number of craft breweries and cocktail lounges:
- Modist Brewing offers cold press coffee lager, salted caramel lager, and dark mild hoppy ale, just to name a few. The business is known for its creativity, experimentation, and its sleek, custom built brewhouse.
- Marvel Bar boasts an eclectic decor that matches the avant garde cocktails it serves. Come with friends or meet new ones in this snug but stylish speakeasy.
Other attractions include:
- The Minneapolis Farmers Market
- Target Field
- Mississippi National River and Recreation
If you think the North Loop should be your next home, call Scott Haubrich at (612) 298-5400 or send an email to scott(at)buyrentsellmn(dotted)com.