New retail center planned across from Miller Hill Mall

"Platinum Plaza" located at 1661 Miller Trunk Highway in Duluth, MN. Image provided by Platinum Properties

Just when work begins to wrap up on the Hansen Center being developed a few blocks away, work is tentatively set to begin this spring on another retail center in the Miller Hill Mall area.

Platinum Plaza will be located directly across the street from the Miller Hill Mall on a three acre site at 1661 Miller Trunk Highway. Area developer Platinum Properties are the developers behind the 24,000+ square foot retail center; the fifth of it's type they've developed in the area. If you're trying exactly pin point where we're talking about this development actually being built, you're probably right in what you're thinking. It's the in the heart of the Miller Hill retail area that seems to be somewhat surreal in the fact that it has yet to be developed.Three partners comprise Platinum Properties; one of which has owned the site for many years now. Parter Stevie Paulson says that the driving force for the project is due to the retail "market is in an up-draw" right now. They're hoping to tap into the recent surge of retailers and restaurants looking to find space in Duluth to call home.

If you're not familiar with the developers themselves, we can guarantee you that you probably seen or visited a few of their developments in the area. Look below and you'll just exactly what developments we're talking about.

-Maple Square (Maple Grove Road in Duluth) Tenants include Nevada Bob's Golf, Eyemart, Country Financial, and a catholic book store.

-Hermantown Square (Highway 53 and Lavaque in Hermantown) Tenants include Do North Pizza, Pottery Burn, Country Financial, Reliable Insurance, Hermantown Chamber of Commerce, McKenzie's Bar and Girl, A Le Salon, Total Tan, and Pacor Mortgage.

-Sugar Maple Crossings (Miller Trunk Highway in Hermantown) Tenants include Crossfit Duluth, Fastenal and a Dickey's BBQ location that will open this coming spring.

-Anytime Fitness Building (Miller Trunk Highway in Hermantown) This building solely houses Anytime Fitness now after their expansion a few years ago. Before Platinum Properties owned the structure it also housed a Quizno's Subs location

Location of the new Platinum Plaza development in the Miller Hill Mall area. Image provided by Platinum Properties.

o what exactly is planned for the Platinum Project development?

Well, two retail buildings will be constructed on site with space for up to ten different tenants; that's depending on who exactly signs a lease for the space. Paulson says that Platinum Plaza currently is at the "entrance stage of the project." He says that's a good thing as "there will be an opportunity to specifically design for tenants needs." What this ultimately means is that the overall appearance of the development could change depending on what retailers decide to call the site home. This also could include the addition of more retail square footage.

Right now developers are in talks with multiple fast casual restaurants who are interested in located in the project; many of which would be new to the Duluth market. There also are talks swirling around of a restaurant that serves "after dinner desserts" possibly locating in one of the retail buildings. Could this be Duluthian's long desire to have a CherryBerry or similar frozen yogurt franchise finally coming true? We'll keep our fingers crossed as long as you do also!

Renderings for the development show the type of retailers that ideally would locate in Platinum Plaza, however these are typically just references to what could locate within the project. Developers are hoping to have at least a few restaurants, one even possibly being a sit down restaurant, along with the possibly of luring a spa, a hair cutting chain of some sort, and possibly even a jeweler.

Paulson feels confident on the overall development as Platinum Properties has been "working directly with the city and their planning and development teams; even with the mayor's office" throughout the entire development process. He later went on to say that everyone seems to be pretty "ecstatic on the development."

Shovels will break ground once four leases have been signed for the space, that could possibly even be as soon as this spring. Platinum Plaza could begin seeing the opening of tenants as soon as this coming fall.