Anthropologie has closed its doors at Shops at West End in St. Louis Park. The women’s apparel retailer’s final day was Jan. 24—one week before its lease was set to expire.

The exit marks the end of a chapter for the outdoor center, which has struggled to find its retail footing since its opening days in 2008. Anthropologie was the last of the upscale clothing brands that developers of the center long hoped would be its calling card. This high profile departure is preceded by Evereve, Primp, Lululemon, and long line of stores that couldn’t make it work at West End, while restaurants like Crave and Rojo seem to thrive.

In advance of the store closing, Anthropologie amped up its bridal department at its 50th & France store in Minneapolis. Anthropologie also has stores at Mall of America, Rosedale Center, and in Wayzata.

Eden Prairie-based Hempel Real Estate purchased the 700,000-square-foot Shops at West End in 2023 with plans to focus on entertainment and services for the growing office and residential population that has sprouted up around the lifestyle center at the busy intersection of I-394 and Highway 100. Hempel’s executive vice president Ben Krsnak said the shift will take shape in the next year.

Although he couldn’t confirm new tenants this week, Krsnak said Hempel is considering everything from a swim school to another fitness studio (Solidcore and Hotworx operate at West End) to more entertainment that would complement the movie theater and Punch Bowl Social, a restaurant/bar with bowling and games. Krsnak said he expects signed leases in the next three to six months.

While there are no immediate plans for Anthropologie’s anchor space, Krsnak hinted at a possible furniture store that would be “unique to the Twin Cities.” Anthropologie’s exit was expected—the retailer was paying a reduced rent, and Krsnak said it’s not a major economic loss for West End. He positioned the news as an opportunity. “It opens up space for a larger concept,” Krsnak said. “So we’re actually okay with it.”

New to Shops at West End

Eagle Rock Bank, Puravida Orthodontics, and Prenuvo health clinic are among West End’s newer tenants that hint at the center’s evolving direction. But retail is not dead at West End. Longtime Hopkins-based toy retailer Kiddywampus opened a second location at the Shops at West End in September (in the former Creative Kidstuff space); owner Amy Saldanha said she was drawn to Hempel’s vision of a community-driven hub for events. During a Halloween festival last fall, Saldanha said Kiddywampus drew an estimated 800 children and their families.

“When families come to West End, we want there to be some sort of adventure and experience for them,” Saldanha said. “Our mission is to draw in as many people as possible and have something happening all the time.”

Kiddywampus has not yet reached profitability at its West End location, but Saldanha said she’s confident that will change later this year.

Local mindset

Hempel is the third owner of Shops at West End, but the first to be locally based. It makes a difference, said Greg Hunt, economic development manager for the city of St. Louis Park.

“One of the things that we appreciate about Hempel is that they are a locally owned and they have a full complement of real estate services within their company,” he said. “That was not the case previously, and so that is already starting to bear fruit in terms of discussions about potential tenants and how they’d be received.”

Hempel has its sights set on growing the entire West End neighborhood. The developer recently applied for a PUD (planned unit development) and financial assistance to acquire one of the four office buildings just south of the shops at 5401 Gamble Drive. That building is under 50% leased, Hunt said.

Hempel plans to redevelop the office building as a mixed-use building with six stories of 223 housing units and 21,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space for tenants such as a grocer, restaurant, or coffee shop, said Hunt.

“Apartments go hand in hand with restaurants,” Krsnak said. “We want everything a tenant needs within walking distance of West End.”

The PUD was approved by the city of St. Louis Park this week, and Hempel hopes to break ground this summer or fall.

Hempel has not yet submitted formal redevelopment plans for the Shops at West End itself, but plans are in the works for a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Marcus Theatres multiplex. Krsnak said the upgrades will include new seating, concessions, and a restaurant. To make space, the theater will reduce its screens from 14 to 10.