Honoring History Through a Modern Build
Originally opened in 1975, South Lyndale Liquors had outgrown its space by the early 2000s, sparking a decade-long search for a new location. The result is a spacious 34,000-square-foot store featuring a 62-door beer cooler—reputed by the owner to be the world’s largest—a 20,000-bottle wine cellar, and a 1,000-bottle tasting wall. A warehouse basement provides additional storage, ensuring the business can meet its growing demand.
The building’s interior pays homage to the Prohibition era, while the architecture complements the 1920s aesthetic of the surrounding neighborhood using brick coursing set into wall panels. Brick coursing alternates recessed and protruding bricks, creating a textured façade that adds depth and visual interest. This dynamic technique enhances the building’s aesthetics by playing with light and shadow, making the exterior more engaging compared to a traditional flat brick wall. This thoughtful detailing adds character and modernity to the structure while still complementing the surrounding historical architecture.
The construction of the architectural wall panels required advanced coordination due to the tight site on Lyndale Avenue, a very busy street in Minneapolis. Panels on one side were set from the parking lot hill using a shoring wall for safety, while the other side was installed via a side street to minimize traffic disruption.
The new store offers more than just retail space—owner Dan Campo plans to host educational events, bringing in winemakers, distillers, and local chefs for pop-up dinners and talks about their crafts.
"Maybe I’m oversimplifying, but it’s going to be awesome," Campo said of the expansion.
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