Adventure Park in former Herberger’s

Another change is eyed for the largely dormant Midway Marketplace. In mid-July banners placed on the former Herberger’s department store announced that Lululand Adventure Park will soon open there.

The banners promise 80,000 square feet of fun in the form of arcade, playground, trampoline and AR game space. AR games are augmented reality games that can be played using a smartphone, tablet or headset.

Little information has been made available about when the local Lululand will open, and when any hiring will take place.

Lululand’s website lists three adventure parks, in Virginia and Florida, and seven on the way including St. Paul. But no one is commenting and Lululand’s phone number is disconnected.
Its corporate website describes Lululand Adventure Park as “America’s premier indoor adventure park, built for families who want to jump, climb, slide, and play together. From professional trampolines and ninja obstacle courses to wave slides, interactive arcade games, and dedicated toddler areas, every Lululand location is packed with attractions designed to keep kids of all ages active, engaged, and smiling for hours.”

The website indicates that the adventure parks can be booked for parties and events, and can take walk-in clients. Costs for admission aren’t listed.

The website also stated that, “With multiple locations open across America – including Richmond, Jacksonville, and Hampton – and many more on the way, we’re on a mission to bring joyful, active entertainment to families nationwide.”

Herberger’s at 1400 University Ave. opened in late 1999 and closed in August 2018 after its parent company, Bon Ton, went bankrupt. Its predecessor in the Midway Marketplace space was a Montgomery Ward department store. That store was an original Midway Marketplace tenant.

The former Herberger’s space is about 124,000 square feet in size, meaning there would be room for another business or businesses. The previous department stores each operated in two levels.

A small part of the space was used a few years ago as a seasonal Halloween store. But for the most part it has been vacant.

The building’s tower was designed to resemble the tower on the block’s longtime Montgomery Ward store and regional warehouse.

Reaction on social media to the notion of a Lululand opening here has been mixed. Some have liked the idea of a family-type entertainment venue, noting that St. Paul doesn’t have a lot of commercial options of that type. The area’s last year-round roller skating rink, Skatium in the North End, closed in fall 1996.

Lululand would be the second major change to Midway Marketplace. This summer the adjacent former Cub Foods and At Home stores were sold by Minneapolis-based developer Kraus Anderson. Kraus Anderson has owned much of Midway Marketplace since 2019.

The sale was to Gsc Re Saint Paul LLC, an affiliate of the popular H Mart grocery chain. H Mart is known for its wide selection of Korean foods, unique Korean snacks and personal care products.

The former Herberger’s is owned separately. Ramsey County records indicate it is owned by an affiliate of New York City-based RD Management LLC, which owned the former Midway Center for many years.

But some media accounts indicate that the owner is Twin Cities real estate brokerage and mall redevelopment firm Wyn Group and Marshall Nguyen.