Downtown Hopkins spruces up its image with antiques, great deals

Originally published 07/11/02

Floyd Lawson, Mayberry's barber, would love Hopkins. He could buy

Jeff's Barber Shop on Mainstreet and double his business. It's a

multiple-chair shop. Says so right in the window - two chairs.

Goober would marvel at all the car lots, although their numbers are

dwindling. "Hopkins used to be called the town of car lots and low

overhead," said Richard Larson, part owner of the Original Antiques

Gallery of Hopkins.

Today, Hopkins is more often called a small-town success story,

with theaters and specialty shops, 13 antique stores, a Mexican

mercado and a variety of restaurants.

It wasn't always so. Forced to deal with excessive car cruising

and loitering in the early 1970s, the Hopkins City Council

redesigned Mainstreet as a serpentine mall. Parking was eliminated

and people stayed away in droves. Businesses were snuffed out one

by one.

Things didn't really pick up until 1990, when Mainstreet was

reconstructed and parking was restored. In 1996 and 1997, the

Suburban Chevrolet lot was replaced by a six-screen movie theater

and the Hopkins Center for the Arts.

The facelift continues. Marketplace Lofts is scheduled to open

next year on the south side of Mainstreet between 7th and 8th

Avenues. The project includes retail and restaurant space on street

level and 42 loft condominiums above.

Here's some of what you can find:

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The stores

A+ Vacuum Cleaner Co. (806 Mainstreet, 952-938-7838). Owner

Michael Bailey has heard of people who toss their vacuum cleaners

when a belt breaks because they don't know they can replace it.

Bailey sells higher-end vacuums such as Miele, Sanitaire, Bernina

and Panasonic, as well as moderately priced models that he

assembles free. He also stocks a wide variety of vacuum cleaner

bags that the discounters quit selling. He will price-match

competitors, including the Internet.

Chez Francoise (1023 Mainstreet, 952-936-0834) has cornered the

market on fun pajama tops and bottoms. There is also an excellent

greeting card selection, bath stuff, children's items, jewelry and

kitchen items.

The decor at Couture Consignment (815 Mainstreet, 952-933-3345)

doesn't put on any airs, but the clothes say "Edina" or

"Minnetonka." An excellent selection of higher-end women's clothing

in sizes 2 to 18. Strengths: jewelry, handbags, hats.

El Sarape Supermercado (1002 Mainstreet, 952-933-1989) is a

two-level Mexican grocery store that has a good supply of

tortillas, dried peppers, spices and sauces. During Hopkins'

Raspberry Days community festival. check out the El Sarape food

booth featuring fresh tamales, quesadillas and other Mexican

specialties.

Electric Craftsman (1424 Mainstreet, 952-935-6739) is a great

place to locate hard-to-find lamp parts, replacement glass and

light bulbs (more than 3,000 in stock). Bring in your lamp base and

get 10 percent off the excellent shade selection.

Glenrose Floral and Gift Shop (725 Mainstreet, 952-938-3838) is a

must-see for rose lovers. Two dozen vase-arranged roses are priced

at $30, for pickup or delivery. Check out the large super-premium

roses or two-toned color selection. The Hopkins Community Guide,

available in most stores, includes a 30 percent-off coupon for

Glenrose.

Hillary's Handpainted & Personalized Gifts (914 Mainstreet,

952-933-8365) has invitations, gifts and gift baskets for

individual and corporate needs. Many samples of personalized baby

and birthday gifts are on display. Also visit

www.hillarysgifts.com.

Mann Hopkins Cinema 6 (1118 Mainstreet, 952-931-7992) offers

second-run movies with $2 admission, except $1 on Tuesdays.

Mashek Tailors & Cleaners (916 Mainstreet, 952-938-8052) is

low-key, but stays plenty busy with its specialty - cleaning and

preserving wedding gowns. Most are cleaned for $200. Kathy Mashek

said the secret is a perc-free, gentler cleaning solvent at a

relatively low temperature.

Specially Yours (719 Mainstreet, 952-988-6963) is a contemporary

gift shop that stocks serving pieces, vases, art glass, bridal

registry, Judaica, sculptures and clocks. "I buy all of my gifts

here," said Joan Grossfield of Minnetonka. "Everything here looks

more expensive than it is."

Steve's Train City (912 Mainstreet, 952-933-0200) specializes in

new and old model trains, rockets, cars, planes and toys.

Suburban Feed & Supply (1404 Mainstreet, 952-935-2700) has

premium pet food for dogs and cats, as well as food for rabbits,

birds, deer and fish. The store also has aquariums and bird feeders

in its new location.

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Antique stores

With 13 antique stores, Hopkins is closing in on Stillwater's

specialty. Pick up a copy of the "Antique Shops of Hopkins"

brochure in any of the antique stores for a full listing, except

for R. Ralston and Pieces of April, which are new. Some of the

stores are closed Mondays and a few are closed Sundays.

Pieces of April (723 Mainstreet, 952-935-0100) is filled with

groupings of antiques for the bedroom, cabin, dining and baby's

room. But the sweetest part is the pastry case in the back. The

mouth-watering petits fours, eclairs and tarts look too beautiful

to eat, but you'll get over it.

R. Ralston (1719 Mainstreet, 952-930-3050) is a newer store with

an eclectic mix of collectibles, antiques, used furniture, vintage

and seasonal garden accents.

Somewhere in Time (6 N. 10th Av., 952-935-0300) is an excellent

place to shop for new and old European furniture and accessories at

reasonable prices.

The largest antique store is the Hopkins Antique Mall (1008

Mainstreet, 952-931-9748).

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Off the Main path

Capture the Memories (4334 Shady Oak Rd., 952-935-0045) is a

recently expanded scrapbook-supply store with albums, stickers,

scissors, die-cut shapes, colored paper and other supplies used to

assemble scrapbooks.

Durr Limited warehouse (on Excelsior Blvd. at the corner of 8th

Av., 952-933-3849) sells high-end European-influenced home

furnishings from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Shoppers often mistake this receiving warehouse for a clearance

center, but that's only during warehouse sales. (The next one is in

October.) There is a small clearance area, but most of the

lighting, wall art, antiques and furniture are full price. Even

when they're on sale, they're not cheap. The warehouse does not

have many of the accessories found atthe France Avenue location.

Mainstreet Consignment (4605 Shady Oak Rd., 952-933-9791) is one

of the best furniture consignment shops in the Twin Cities for home

furniture and accessories of good quality at a fraction of new

prices.

Treasures 'N Treats (corner of Shady Oak Rd. and Mainstreet,

952-933-3541). Fans of Bank's and Steve's Warehouse will savor the

distressed goods and the hit-and-miss bargains. The best deals are

the foods sold past the freshness dates (59 cents for a tub of

wafer cookies). During Raspberry Days, all baby items and giftware

are 50 percent off, Oneida steak knives $1.49 each, and candles and

hardware 30 percent off. You'll also find party supplies, napkins

and paper plates, picture frames, plastic toys, gardening and

hardware items.

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Eats and drinks

The back of the antique shop brochure lists most of the area's

restaurants.

Mainstreet Bar and Grill (814 Mainstreet, 952-938-2400) is a

popular burgers and fries joint. Monkabean's (1206 Mainstreet,

952-938-9056) is a cool coffee house for summer drinks, sandwiches,

pizza, salads and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Trattoria Michelangelo (802 Mainstreet, 952-938-2211) exceeds

Buca's kitsch with enough fake grape leaves to stock a Michael's.

But the Italian food has character and the accents are thick-a.

Live music after 8 p.m.

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- John Ewoldt may be contacted by calling 612-673-7633, sending a

fax to 612-673-4359 or at jewoldt@startribune.com. His articles are

online at http:// www.startribune.com/dollars.