Property advances 5th Street revitalization goals, brings opportunity for street-level retail
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Dec. 11, 2025 – The Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation (SPDDC) announced today it has purchased the Empire Building, a 55,000-square-foot property located at 360 N. Robert St., and the adjacent Endicott Arcade located at 134 5th Street, immediately north of the Minnesota Museum of American Art and historic Pioneer Endicott. SPDDC is not disclosing the full financial details of the transaction beyond that the $745,000 purchase was fully funded by private investment and no public funds were required to secure the property. Cushman and Wakefield will serve as property manager.
The Empire Building includes a one-story arcade with approximately 12,000 square feet of ground-level commercial and retail space. The building’s seven floors of commercial and office space have been vacant for several years and the entire building is currently closed. Photos of the Empire Building courtesy of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance are available here.
“As we work to build a thriving, more connected downtown, the Empire Building and adjacent Endicott Arcade will help that vision become a reality,” said SPDDC President Dave Higgins. “With this acquisition, we can activate a key block along 5th Street and begin connecting the areas of strength in downtown to its core. Our goal is to bring new opportunities to the area and create more reasons for people to want to live, work and visit downtown Saint Paul. As plans get developed, we will engage the community for input on our overall thought process, to balance community aspirations with market drivers.”
The acquisition is another step forward in executing the Alliance’s Downtown Investment Strategy with a particular focus on revitalizing 5th Street. 5th Street uniquely connects nearly all of the major civic spaces in downtown, from Grand Casino Arena to CHS Field, with Rice Park and Mears Park in between. Transforming 5th Street into a vibrant, mixed-use corridor is a priority, and the Empire Building and ground floor commercial within the arcade building offer potential for street-level activation. SPDDC aims to bring new uses to the retail space in the near-term.
The Downtown Alliance and SPDDC recently announced its community and stakeholder engagement plan, Reimagine Downtown Saint Paul: Transforming the Core, a comprehensive, community-driven initiative designed to inform the future of downtown’s economic vitality and urban experience. Stakeholders will be invited to participate through community meetings, events, focus groups and an online survey, which is available now through Jan. 31. More details, event locations and engagement updates will be available at downtownstpaul.com/reimagine and through the Downtown Alliance’s communication channels.
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About the Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation
The Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation is a nonprofit real estate development and finance organization focused on advancing redevelopment initiatives in downtown Saint Paul. A subsidiary of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, the organization partners with local public and private stakeholders, developers, and investors that prioritize urban development and revitalization with a commitment to accelerating the next chapter and long-term success of Minnesota’s capital city. For more information, visit downtownstpaul.com/ddc.