With the initial opening of Revival in 2021, Texa Tonka has started incorporating newer businesses, weeding out older, less favored places. With its range of experiences, from getting a coffee at Angle Food to getting your nails done at Lily Nails, Texa Tonka has become a place for many Park residents to pass their time.
Angel Food’s general manager Leslie Rich said the move from Minneapolis to Park has affected their customers, as more local people are entering Angel Food. He said Texa Tonka has allowed them to reach a different demographic, and Angel Food has helped the strip mall become what it is now, post-remodel.
“We moved to Park from downtown Minneapolis, so it has changed us a lot. Our daily business downtown was almost entirely office-based, and here at Texa Tonka, we’re much more of a neighborhood business,” Rich said. “Angel Food being in the strip mall has certainly helped reach a different audience, and I feel we play a very strong part in the intended vision of Texa Tonka.”
Senior Jeremy Eichten said Texa Tonka has added several more hip stores, new restaurants and food places where he can spend time. Despite these benefits, he said there’s a significant increase in traffic.
“There’s a lot of cool new places there, so it benefits me because I can go and get food (at) a lot of spots, but there’s also a lot more traffic,” Eichten said.
Senior Jake Bergman said he enjoys the new updates to the strip mall because it was barren before the remodel. He said that with the new businesses being implemented, it’s become more vibrant, and living near the mall is more pleasant.
“I like it because before the remodel, it was dead and there was no one there, so it was kind of boring,” Bergman said. “Now, after the remodel, there are more stores to look at and explore, and it’s a lot more lively, so it feels a lot more enjoyable to live around Texa Tonka.”
According to Eichten, with this remodel, Texa Tonka has had an influx of younger people, such as students, who pass the time there. He said businesses like Angel Food and Brito’s Burritos attract the younger generation.
“Texa Tonka has already brought in younger people because (of) places like Angel Food and Brito’s Burritos,” Eichten said. “A lot of people who are younger go there.”
Rich said the remodel was a good initiative, and he was glad it happened. He said the shift has impacted him as a Park resident as he sees the city continue to flourish.
“Remodeling the strip mall was a wonderful thing to do, and I was glad to see it,” Rich said. “The changes have a great impact on Park, and to me, as a resident, it feels like Saint Louis Park is a growing city.”
According to Bergman, there’s been an influx of traffic in the area and on Minnetonka Blvd with people trying to access the strip mall.
“(The traffic) has gotten a little worse, just because of everyone trying to turn into those roads right off of Minnetonka, so it definitely can get a little crowded,” Bergman said.
Eichten said his proximity to Texa Tonka is advantageous. He said the food locations serve good food, so he frequently goes to the restaurants but hasn’t been able to visit any of the surrounding businesses.
“I live pretty close to it, so it’s pretty convenient for me. I’ve been going to all the food spots because those are pretty good,” Eichten said. “I haven’t gone to any other locations, though.”
Rich said the objective was achieved by taking an older strip mall that many didn’t use and turning it into a neighborhood destination. He said at Angel Food, they see an abundance of people stopping by for many different reasons, and it has become a regular spot for people to go.
“The goal, as I understand it, was to take a fairly typical, low-traffic strip mall and breathe new life into the neighborhood — that goal has been achieved,” Rich said. “We see lots of families walking with pets and children, and Angel Food is for sure a regular destination for those families, whether it be for pleasure or for a change of atmosphere for those that work from home.”
