So I’m headed to chilly Minnesota from my warm south Florida home this afternoon and have made a habit of buying a shirt or visor from a local running store in every new city I visit. I’ll be staying right downtown and will have some time tomorrow to boot around and check some places out (though no car) so does anyone have any suggestions of a store to hit up?
Also, any suggestions on somewhere I HAVE to eat when visiting the twin cities? I’m not eating lutefisk.
Thanks!
The only good shop I know of close to downtown is the Freewheel.
http://freewheelbike.com/index.cfm
It’s a decent outfit. Pretty standard bikes shop fare. The kind of dabble in both roadies and hipsters, which is unique to some extent.
If you get a chance to swing into Saint Paul (my hood), Run 'N Fun is the flagship of Twin Cities running stores as far as i’m concerned. Nice people. Good service. Do their best to cater to triathletes, despite most employees just being 1337 runners.
Good luck! (also, if you’re looking for recreation at night, check out the Local. Irish pub. Old. Huge. Sells more Jameson than any other bar in the world.)
Ahh, and food… the Local makes some pretty good stuff, but if you want the best burger in the TC, it’s about a block away. Place called Vincent. Very spendy, except for their bar menu, on which you’ll find an $13.50 burger(still a little steep), stuffed with ribs and cheese. Has won bigtime awards. The smell of this thing alone made my salivary glands burst.
That’s what I’m talking about…jameson, meat, and running-the holy trinity of a vacation.
Thanks for the advice.
I just got back to MPLS today from warm balmy FL. I kind of envy you, just a little bit. Where in FL are you form?
Other places/merch. to check out:
http://thehubbikecoop.org/index.cfm
And no specific reccommendations, but find your self some good, solid MEAT. Either a nice walleye done up in panko, or a good steak.
Murray’s Steakhouse is in downtown Minneapolis and is very good (but a bit pricey as well)
http://www.murraysrestaurant.com/
Not so much help with the running stores. Too bad you weren’t here last weekend when it was gorgeous. This weekend isn’t looking so hot again…
Yeah, as others have said, there are no real local running stores right near downtown…the only reasonable option would be to hop a bus that goes down Hennepin Ave towards Uptown and hit “The Running Room”. And that’s hardly a local running store.
As others have said, not really any running shop downtown.
The closest (beside Running room) real running shop would be http://www.marathonrunwalk.com/
If you like weird bikes, coffee and the best cookies in the world http://www.oneononebike.com/
For food…depends on your taste. No disrepect above the Murray’s, but it’s rather old school. The “new” Manny’s would get my vote for steak (and scenary, esp on a Thurs/Fri/Sat). http://www.mannyssteakhouse.com/
For sushi (and scenary): http://7mpls.com/
(I’m assuming you fit into the ST demographics)
You can’t go wrong at The Local or Britt’s. Your run of the mill pubs.
If you want to hear music, head over to Bunker’s, Fine Line or Gluek’s.
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Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I got here last night and hit up The Local to take off some of this chill…jesus it’s cold up here!
I live in Deerfield Beach, where it hasn’t fallen below 45 in 10 years! Thankfully I’ve got a chauffeur for tomorrow and will hit up some of these shops.
x2 with Marathon Sports as being the best running store - not too far from downtown, but not walkable - However a number 4 bus will get you there - but I wouldn’t recommend it. Probably within reach of a long run from downtown around the lakes. Best Tri store is probably Gear West - which you would need a car to get to.