ONCE A UPON A CHILD PLANNED FOR NEW ARROWHEAD ROAD RETAIL BUILDING

UPDATE: Since this article has been posted this project unfortunately has been cancelled.

A new retail building may soon bring life to a long vacant site along Arrowhead Road while also bringing the first One Upon A Child location to the Twin Ports.

J&S Partnership LLC has filed plans with the City of Duluth's Planning Commission for a retail building that would be constructed in multiple phases with the first being an 8,400 square foot building.

Located directly next door to Nortrax Duluth near the intersection of Arrowhead Road and Arlington Avenue, the retail development would span 23,400 square feet once fully built. The initial 8,400 square foot building would include two 4,200 square foot commercial spaces that could be subdivided even further into two 2,100 square foot retail spaces.

The site plan showing the first phase of development | Planning Commission

THE FIRST TENANT

Renderings show One Upon A Child taking one of the retail spaces, marking the entry into the Twin Ports market for the company.

While you may not know their parent company Winmark Corporation, you probably know the franchises, three of which currently have Twin Port's locations. Plato's Closet, Play It Again Sports, and Music Go Round are all part of the Winmark family.

Think of Once Upon A Child as Plato's Closet's little sibling... literally. They operate on the same business model as Plato's Closet but with kids merchandise. Customers are able to bring their gently used children's clothing, footwear, toys, furniture, and baby gear in exchange for money. Then Once Upon A Child resells the items at prices nearly 70% off of retail value.

In the Twin Ports Plato's Closet currently has a single location at the Burning Tree Plaza while Play It Again Sports has a location in the Kenwood Plaza retail center in Duluth and one location in Superior's Belknap Plaza. Lastly, Music Go Round has one Duluth location in the Central Village retail development near the intersection of Central Entrance and Arlington Road.

If approved by the Planning Commission construction could begin as soon as this Spring on the retail development with Once Upon A Child opening in Spring 2018.