New St. Cloud Storefront Seeks Economic Development Authority Support for Facelift

(KNSI) — A new storefront is asking the St. Cloud Economic Development Authority for some help to spruce up the place.

Chad O’Brien is the co-owner of 611 West St. Germain Street and plans to open an antique and vintage market in the spring called O’Brien’s Dry Goods. He’s asking for $2,500 from the Downtown Exterior Improvement Program to help bring it back to life. KNSI News caught up with O’Brien at the store, and he explained exactly how he wants to use the money. “The biggest thing is we have a big broken window that we need to get replaced. This whole window system was installed in the 50s or 60s, and it’s really obsolete. And so getting anybody to work on it’s really difficult and expensive.”

The funds would also help pay for repairs to the front door and a new sign. The city’s staff is recommending approval. The business would match the grant funding.

O’Brien tells KNSI he admires the past and relishes the chance to resurrect the space. “When I started to look for a spot, there was no doubt that I wanted to be downtown, that I wanted an old building, and I wanted the opportunity to bring it back. We’re just trying to get it back to what it looked like in the 1880s when it was built.”

Work on the inside has already revealed its original tin ceilings, hardwood floors and exposed brick.

Since the Downtown Exterior Improvement Program program started in 2022, the EDA has doled out $72,200 to 12 projects, totaling $72,215 and leveraging over $330,000 in private investment.

The EDA meeting gets underway at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday at city hall.

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