During your stay in Bloomington, check out some of these nearby stores to take home a special memento of your stay in the Bold North.
Love from Minnesota: Located in Mall of America and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Love from Minnesota goes straight for the state icons, including loons, moose, lakes, and of course, Prince. Besides the classics, check out their selection of Minnesota Made items, like wild rice soup mixes, ceramics of the great north woods, and soap and beauty products.
Shopping at Mall of America
Askov Finlayson: The clothes may not be Minnesota-made, but this North Loop Minneapolis store is certainly Minnesota-owned. Brothers Andrew and Eric Dayton named this men’s store after two neighboring towns they passed on the way to their family cabin, and while that gives the shop a homey start, the clothes and accessories are nothing if not upscale casual. After you’re done shopping, stop by neighboring restaurant and cafe The Bachelor Farmer for a Minnesota-inspired and locally sourced bite to eat.
The Dayton’s Project: Located in the former Dayton’s department store in downtown Minneapolis, The Dayton’s Project is a rotating collection of Minnesota-based shops. Pick up a souvenir from retailers like Kobi Co. or Larissa Loden, then explore the beautifully restored architecture throughout the building.
The Farmer’s Daughter: Minnesota has bustling metros like Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Bloomington, but the state still has that Midwestern simple hospitality at its heart. Stop by the quaint downtown of White Bear Lake for an even quainter visit to The Farmer’s Daughter, featuring the best of country living and locally made gifts.
Fine Craft Collective: About two dozen artists make up this collective, and you can peruse all of their works at the NFLD Arts Guild Gallery with a half hour jaunt to Northfield, Minnesota.
General Store of Minnetonka: When a locally owned family business has been able to expand to more than 15,000 square feet of space, you know the community is behind them. Their tagline is “gifts and goods in endless variety,” and you can find just that here, including locally-made brands like Sota Clothing.
I Like You
I Like You: With a shop in each Twin City, I Like You is spreading its Minnesota spunk across the metro. Get a knit hat or mittens with embroidered Minnesota phrases, and soon everyone will know the words “uff da” and realize that “hot dish” and “gray duck” trump “casserole” and “goose” any day.
Minneapolis Visitor Information: Right on Nicollet Mall, the street where multi-block party Super Bowl LIVE presented by Verizon took place, is the Minneapolis Visitor Information Center. Not only do its gifts embody Minnesota with visages of Prince, tributes to our northern woods, and state-inspired local artwork, but travel resources and information are plentiful, too.
Minnesota Makers: Local art and design of all kinds can be found in this collective store in the western suburb of Excelsior. Feeling inspired? Check their calendar and sign up for the classes they host every week in areas like mandala rock painting, string art, arm knitting, and more.
Northrup King Building: Nestled in the Northeast Arts District is the Northrup King Building, where creativity, artist studios, and classes abound. Stop by Saturdays for an open invitation to their galleries and make sure to explore the rest of Nordeast while you’re there.
The Prince Store: Flying through MSP International Airport? A stop at The Prince Store, located in Terminal 1, is a must. This retailer sells all things Prince-related, from coffee mugs to vinyl, and is always playing an excellent selection of music from Minnesota’s favorite musician.
