The site of the former Pedro Luggage store in downtown St. Paul is in the beginning stages of becoming a public park.
On March 18, the $225,000 store demolition began, which will be followed up by site restoration work that will go through early May, according to Brad Meyer, a city parks and recreation spokesperson.
Once the building is leveled, the land will be a blank slate for the future park development, he explains.
Pedro's Luggage, which was founded by Carl Pedro in 1914, was in business for almost 100 years before it closed in 2009, he says. The highly recognizable store had occupied the building at 10th and Robert streets in downtown St. Paul since the 1960s.
Pedro family members explored various alternatives for the building before approaching the city about donating the land for a park. The idea jibed with a decade-long planning process involving a park for the Fitzgerald neighborhood. With no cost to the city, besides developing the future park, "we jumped at the opportunity," he says.
It's a dramatic change for the block, but the park will be named after Carl Pedro Sr. as a way to honor the late businessman.
Although further details of the park plans are yet to be determined, Meyer says that local businesspeople, residents and other stakeholders are enthusiastic about the prospects. "This will be a tremendous neighborhood greenspace and an asset for years to come," he says. "This park can serve as a catalyst for future investment," citing the positive impact of Rice and Mears parks.
Source: Brad Meyer, St. Paul parks spokesperson
Writer: Anna Pratt