A proposed roundabout at the intersection of Lowry and University Avenues could wipe out Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room. (Mark Peterson)
Rav Harrypersaud has worked at Sterling Auto Care for 25 years, the last 20 as the business’ owner. He bought its property, at the southwest corner of Lowry and University Avenues NE, three years ago. He’s attended recent public meetings where the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) laid out proposals to radically change the intersection, possibly with a roundabout. Harrypersaud is concerned about the effects of the reconstruction, which might take a big chunk of his lot’s corner.
And he’s not alone. Three other corner business are in the cross-hairs of a MnDOT plan that, if chosen, would take parts of three property corners, and in one case, an entire building.
If MnDOT goes ahead with its proposed roundabout, above left, Rav Harrypersaud, owner of Sterling Auto Care could lose the parking spaces for the U-Haul trucks he rents. (Mark Peterson)
The Lowry-University Avenue intersection has had a traffic and accident problem for years. University is a state highway, and both University and Lowry handle a lot of commercial and freight traffic. Accidents at the crossing are four times higher than the city average, passenger cars compete with large semi-trailers for left and right turns and pedestrian crossings are generally difficult.
The intersection is part of a larger MnDOT plan for University, to reconstruct the street from Hennepin Avenue at the south end to north of 29th Avenue. The plan, which hasn’t been officially approved, calls for going from four to three lanes, removal of some street parking, the use of medians and reducing some cross-street entrances. It also is considering changing the University-Broadway intersection, possibly with its own roundabout, but that plan would gobble up less private property. At this stage, two of the Lowry plans pose the biggest threat to the four local businesses.
Harrypersaud said he was contacted about a year ago by MnDOT, but said the plans weren’t fully developed. His main concern is that the need for the roundabout space, if that what is decided, will take away a good part of his parking, including spaces for cars waiting for repair and parking for the U-Haul trucks he rents. The plan would also eliminate a driveway on Lowry, an entrance he said, “I use every day, often for test drives, much more than the University side.”
Olive & Lamb and Tobacco Outlet Plus, both owned by Mo Janatkhah, are kitty corner from each other. They would also lose parking space in front of their businesses. Proposal drawing provided by MnDOT. (Mark Peterson)
Across University from Sterling Auto Care is the Olive & Lamb restaurant, owned and operated by Mo Janatkhah, who also owns the Tobacco Outlet Plus, kittycorner from the restaurant.
In an interview, Janatkhah said he was also contacted by MnDOT last year, and said that his businesses would be compensated for any property taken for the project. He added, “While we believe having new and improved roads will in the long run benefit our business, we reiterated in our meeting the importance of retaining the businesses around us, especially Stanley’s … and the roundabout seems to us to be the least productive option.” He expressed concern about how the construction would affect sales, but said the company would look forward to working with city and state officials to minimize the impact of the construction.
He agreed that the area needs some kind of safety improvements. “Unfortunately, the intersection is prone to frequent accidents. We’ve had folks drive into rails, speed through our parking lot to cut through traffic and in a few extreme instances we have had to run out to help victims of crashes.”
He feels that there are better options that allow for road and traffic improvement without jeopardizing the surrounding businesses. “We encourage our community members to advocate for one of those plans with signals rather than roundabouts to be adopted,” he said.
The business with the most to lose is Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room, at the northwest corner.
The 125-year-old building has been a home to bars for more than a century, and current co-owner David Benowitz has run Stanley’s (named after his grandfather) at that site for 15 years. He said that he was shocked to find that two of the proposed plans being considered for the reconstruction of the intersection involved taking the building through eminent domain.
He added, “I didn’t think that was even an option — We’re not willing to move the business if it comes to that. It’s either here or nowhere.”
Benowitz said that they wouldn’t have built a four-season patio last year if they thought that removing the building was a possibility
MnDOT was considering.
On Feb. 13, David Benowitz, building owner Steve Benowitz and business partner Luke Derheim wrote to MnDOT, expressing their concern about the potential acquisition of their property as part of the street development. While understanding the need for “infrastructure improvements and support for the long-term vision of a better-connected and more efficient community,” they wrote that moving Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room to another part of the city is not an option.
”Our business is a cornerstone of the neighborhood, and we have made significant investments in our property over the years. These investments are vital to ensuring that Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room remains a sustainable and thriving establishment for both our loyal patrons and the broader community.”
The partners added, “We are deeply committed to our neighborhood and the relationships we have built with those who live, work, and visit here. Our presence in this area is more than just a business; it is a vital part of the local identity. Moving to another location is not a relocation, it’s starting a new business, and moving Stanley’s to a new location will destroy Stanley’s business as it exists today.”
At this point, MnDOT hasn’t made any formal proposals to Stanley’s, and has not discussed compensation. While the University Avenue project is scheduled for 2027, more design decisions have yet to be made.
