CVS is gone

Will demolition of one of Midway’s most notorious problem properties bring needed redevelopment or just another vacant lot? Either way, the former University-Snelling CVS is no more. Demolition began March 18, 2026. The last piece standing was the drive-through overhang and pillars. Twisted steel and small piles of rubble were all that was left as March ended.

No plans have been announced for the site at 699 N. Snelling Ave., which is owned by a Washington state-based limited liability corporation. The owners and CVS opposed demolition, seeking time to rehabilitate and reuse the building. City-ordered demolition is estimated to cost more than $100,000, an amount assessed back to the property owners.

A specialized excavator began chipping at the building’s west side March 18. Care was taken to protect the adjacent Turf Club, its mural and mosaic.

Different attachments were switched out as demolition continued. A claw carefully picked out steel beams. Others pounded away at the building or were used for hard-to-reach spots. The University-Snelling clock/message tower, added as a concession to community design demands, came down with a mighty crash March 20. One hard tap with a long attachment was all it took.

Demolition was postponed a few times. Work was to start March 9, but contractor Veit’s demolition equipment didn’t roll in until March 16.

Once work started, neighbors stopped to watch the work. Many took pictures or shot videos. Some cheered as large sections of the building came down.

The delays didn’t stop watch parties including those held by Midway Saloon and Midway Chamber of Commerce, although the extent of excitement at times was to see orange cones and “sidewalk closed” signs going into place. Chad Kulas, Chamber executive director, said the March 16 event provided one last look at CVS from above.

Molly Coleman, Ward Four Council member, attended the Chamber watch party. She called the demolition “long overdue.”

“I’ve heard from a number of folks who are eager to see CVS torn down,” she said. Coleman cited the nuisance conditions at the property and said she’s eager to see redevelopment.

Calls for demolition drew dozens of people to legislative and City Council hearings. Hamline Midway Coalition (HMC) leaders Lisa Nelson and Justin Lewandowski issued a statement, citing the importance of University-Snelling and the surrounding area. They noted that frustration grew into a shared effort to improve the area, noting a Community Vitality and Stewardship pledge signed by hundreds of neighbors, the Stabilize Snelling & University campaign, and the Snelling & University Alliance’s creation.

“The CVS coming down is more than the removal of a long-empty storefront. It’s a step toward the kind of intersection our neighborhood deserves – and a reminder that collaboration, from neighbors to city leaders, can move things forward,” HMC stated.

The vacant property’s condition became an issue in the 2025 mayoral race. Mayor Kaohly Her said, “Demolishing the former CVS building represents meaningful progress as we work to build a more vibrant and economically strong city. For too long, this property caused disruption for nearby residents and businesses. Clearing the site will help restore safety and create new opportunities at one of the most active and promising intersections in our city.”

COLORFUL HISTORY
Demolition ends a short but colorful Midway history chapter. CVS replaced a furniture store and a former Midwest Federal building designed to resemble a tree. The “green tree of shelter” savings and loan housed restaurants before its demolition.

CVS announced plans for its University-Snelling store in 2003. It was the first CVS in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Midway Chamber of Commerce and business leaders welcomed the store.

Design plans became a flash point, with the group University UNITED, area district councils and transit advocates objecting. The main entrance was near a 50-space parking lot north of the store, not at the corner. Lack of windows was another complaint. A December 2003 meeting to debate design attracted more than 50 people.

City staff sent the site plan to the Planning Commission for a decision. The commission approved the site plan in March 2004, sparking an appeal to City Council.

Revised building plans won council approval in April 2004, including a second entry near the University-Snelling corner, a tower, more windows and other features. The store opened in 2007. It closed after civil unrest in 2020, after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, as the store extensively damaged.

After months of renovations, CVS reopened and then closed in 2022. The city declared it to be a vacant building later that year.

The property racked up hundreds of police calls, as it became a place for criminal activity. People broke in through the roof, lifting a ladder down to gain entry. The building was stripped of much metal. The site was finally fenced to deter trespassing.

City Council members ordered demolition in November 2025, hiring a contractor when the property owner didn’t do so. Costs will be assessed back to the property owner.

Not everyone agreed with the demolition. The advocacy group Sustain St. Paul issued a statement noting that demolition isn’t generally a desired outcome for a city struggling with rising property taxes burdens. With demolition, property taxes for the site will decrease by about $12,000.

Calling out the site’s potential and nearby redevelopment at Allianz Field, the group urged city officials to plan a better future for the property. One suggestion, which requires legislative action, is for a land value tax pilot in the Midway, shifting taxation from buildings to land itself. That’s seen as a way to encourage development, rather than having parcels sit vacant, and spreading taxation more equitably.

Legislative hearing testimony in September 2025 indicated that 499 N. Snelling has an estimated market value of $634,000 on the land and $2,392,100 on the building itself.