Dec 20, 2022
Work could begin early next year to convert a vacant Burnsville Center & anchor space into an Asian supermarket and international food hall.
Minneapolis-based firm Studio M Architects recently finalized design plans for the Pacifica of Burnsville food hall, and the bid process is underway. The project's development team, which includes broker Marshall Nguyen of Caspian Group, expects to choose a contractor in the coming weeks so the buildout can begin as soon as possible. The team initially hoped to open Pacifica of Burnsville as early as January 2023, to coincide with Lunar New Year, but the timeline was pushed back as the design was refined a few times. "We're trying to ensure that it’s a beautiful project and buildout. We have a lot of eyes on this project," Nguyen said, adding that the group behind the plan didn't want to rush the process. "It's pretty important for the city, and for us as well.” The project was originally called Pacifica Square Burnsville, but its name was changed to Pacifica of Burnsville in order to maintain brand continuity, said Cristal Z Hayes, chief architect for Illinois-based developer Windfall Group and owner of Chicago-based ZSW Architects. Windfall Group is behind Pacifica Square in Aurora, Ill., a growing pan-Asian hub of restaurants, stores and other businesses that's touted as one of the largest Asian lifestyle centers in North America. The company plans to replicate that project in other markets, including Burnsville, and name the sister developments "Pacifica of" followed by a unique geographical indication — hence the change to Pacifica of Burnsville. A group of investors helmed by Windfall Group CEO Eddie Ni in early 2022 paid $10.6 million for the approximately 125,000-square-foot portion of Burnsville Center containing Dick's Sporting Goods, Kirkland's, Panera Bread, Noodles & Co. and a big-box vacancy left by Gordmans, the now- defunct discount department store.
Pacifica of Burnsville will feature Asian grocery store Enson Market, Brazilian steakhouse Bullvino's Churrascaria and a food hall featuring 10 concepts. ZSW ARCHITECTS
Pacifica of Burnsville will occupy the roughly 62,000-square-foot former Gordmans space. It will be anchored by new-to-market grocery chain Enson Market and a food hall featuring 10 fast-casual concepts. They're expected to take up about 50,000 square feet and 12,000 square feet, respectively. The lineup of food hall vendors hasn't yet been finalized. Some of the brands that appear in the renderings, like Mango Mango and Bonchon, might not be in the mix when the food hall launches. A planned addition near Dick's Sporting Goods will feature Brazilian steakhouse Bullvino's Churrascaria, which launched in St. Paul's Lowertown in 2021, as well as another restaurant – potentially an international hot pot chain. The project still has to work its way through Burnsville's Planning Commission and City Council. An application related to the facade remodel and 15,000-square-foot addition is in for development review, and a final decision could be made in January. Regina Dean, assistant community development director for Burnsville, said she's excited about the project's potential to attract more visitors to the mall and bolster the city's shopping and dining options. Being a catalyst for Burnsville Center's revitalization is exactly Pacifica of Burnsville's goal, Nguyen said, and the team wants to ensure every components' success. Nguyen and his Caspian Group colleagues also handle leasing for all of Burnsville Center. That same group of brokers lined up tenants for the new Asia Mall in Eden Prairie. Nguyen said it's possible that Pacifica of Burnsville will open sometime in 2023.