9 businesses in Richfield affected by strip-mall redevelopment plans

Affected businesses may be eligible for grants that would help keep them in Richfield.

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Nine businesses are facing pressure to relocate after the City of Richfield approved a plan for redevelopment of a strip-mall.

Among the businesses impacted by the redevelopment approval is Lyn 65 Kitchen & Bar, a critically-acclaimed restaurant that has faced the same financial hardships as all Minnesota restaurants during the COVID pandemic.

The strip-mall along Lyndale Avenue South, just north of 66th Street and south of Hwy. 62, is now slated for redevelopment, giving all of the businesses that call the block home months to find a new location.

"The tentative closing for the strip mall is May 2021. Due to COVID and other conditions we hope to have LYN 65 remain open till April 2021. We are actively looking for new locations and to hopefully maintain our wonderful staff," Lyn 65 announced in an Instagram post Monday night.

There are 11 businesses with addresses at the strip-mall, nine of which are still open, according to a spokesperson with the City of Richfield. The 11 with addresses:

Lyn 65 Kitchen & Bar
Taqueria El Ranchito
The Enchanted Rock Garden
Minuteman Press
CBD House
Signaturetone Recording
NeuLife Wellness
Boost Mobile
LA Beauty School
Goodfellas Barber Studio
Nails Only

Melissa Poehlman, director of community development with the City of Richfield, tells Bring Me The News that a contract and tax increment finance plan was approved by the Housing Redevelopment Authority in November but "no specific development plans have been approved yet."

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"The developer is planning to apply for land use permits in the next week or so and that will come before the Planning Commission and City Council in the coming months," Poehlman said in an email to BMTN.

"I know the developer would like to start construction sometime this summer. I don’t have any more specifics than that. We’ll be sending out a postcard to the affected businesses in the coming weeks about the [Economic Development Authority's] displaced business grant funds that could potentially help them to relocate within Richfield."

Lyn 65 informed its employees of the situation in December and is now asking the public to help identity any new locations that could become its next home, which they hope to be slightly larger than their current home on Lyndale Ave.