Upscale grocery = to join rink, eatery

From: Subject: Upscale grocery to join rink, eatery Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:05:59 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://pioneer.olivesoftware.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=UE5JLzIwMDcvMDYvMjUjQXIwMDEwMA==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 Upscale grocery = to join rink, eatery

Publication:Idaho Press;

Date:Jun 25, 2007;

Section:Main;

Page Number:1

Upscale=20 grocery to join rink, eatery

DOWNTOWN: Nampa=92s Belle District to = come alive=20 with cookware, houseware, other =91destination=92 tenants = NAMPA=97AnewEuropean-themed=20 upscale market will join an outdoor ice rink and restaurant in downtown =

By=20 Andrew Van Dam avandam@idahopress.com

Nampa this fall as central elements in a Nampa developer=92s = vision to=20 rejuvenate the city=92s historic Belle District.=20

    Developer Laurel MacKinnon of the = MacKinnon=20 Group envisions Market Limone (lee-mo-nay) as a =93specialty food and = home decor=20 destination=94 that will serve the customers who come to shop, sip wine = or a=20 microbrew, or learn tricks of the trade from the house chef then try = them out=20 themselves in the market=92s test kitchen. =

    Before=20 renovations began recently, Market Limone=92s future location on 13th = Avenue South=20 stood vacant for 25 years, MacKinnon said. The developer=92s other = holdings in the=20 Belle District include several works in progress and the recently = renovated and=20 restored locations of Trading Places and Ewephoria as well as a vacant = lot on=20 13th Avenue South and 1st Street South. The lot will soon become Belle = Park=20 Square, home to the Nampa Ice Factory rink and an unspecified = family-style=20 restaurant.

Rink will bring crowds downtown=20

    Construction on the restaurant, the=20 9,100-square-foot rink and a building to house locker rooms, a party = room and=20 skate rental for the rink will begin in July and finish in mid-October,=20 MacKinnon said.

    For the first year, the ice = will sit in a=20 temporary setup that will be permanently embedded in concrete the next = spring. A=20 Zamboni, chilling machine and a system of pipes will keep the outdoor = ice frozen=20 and groomed from mid-October to mid-March each year.=20

    The area around Belle Park Square will = be=20 planted with trees, landscaped and surrounded by a wrought-iron fence = enclosed=20 by ornate gates. Weather permitting, about seven garage doors set in the = buildings=92 walls will be raised to open the restaurant to its = landscaped,=20 historic, brick-covered surroundings. =

    Cliff=20 Long, the city=92s economic development director, described the project = as =93a=20 terrific boost in the arm for downtown Nampa.=94=20

    =93It=92s a magnet that=92s going to = draw visitors=20 from our community downtown,=94 Long said. =93When folks come to enjoy = skating=20 downtown, they=92re going to be Christmas shopping, eating in = restaurants ...=20 taking advantage off all the wonderful experiences downtown has to = offer.=94=20

    MacKinnon conservatively estimates = 15,000 people=20 a year will come to skate at the Treasure Valley=92s only outdoor rink = for=20 parties, events, holiday celebrations and classes teaching everything = from=20 figure skating to ice hockey.

    She said = the ice=20 rink development will serve as a winter counterpoint for the farmers=92 = market,=20 with the two combining to make the city=92s downtown a year-round = destination. The=20 rink area will also be open in the summer, when it will be used to host = outdoor=20 markets, concerts and other community events.=20

    According to MacKinnon, Nampans used to = enjoy=20 outdoor skating on a frozen lake in the city=92s Lakeview park, before = it was=20 drained in the early 1900s.

    =93(Ice = skating) was a=20 part of Nampa=92s history,=94 she said. =93We=92re just reviving = that.=94

=91360 degrees of shopping=92=20

    MacKinnon describes Market Limone = as a=20 =93360 degree shopping experience.=94 =

    The structure=20 itself boasts three floors, wood-framed glass doors that open to the = street=20 accordion-style, restored original interior paint colors such as bright = orange=20 and vivid =93asparagus green,=94 and open access and views from floor to = floor.=20

    The open floor plan lets shoppers peek = into the=20 chef=92s kitchen, watch the bustle of the market from tables on the = upper level or=20 check out what=92s going on a few floors down through what used to be an = elevator=20 shaft. Passersby, too, are drawn into the act with street-level displays = and the=20 easily opened glass storefront.

    The = market also=20 plans to offer local organic produce, dairy products and meats as well = as=20 artisan breads and fresh desserts. These products will be arranged = around the=20 store in a style designed to evoke the ambiance of European street = markets,=20 MacKinnon said.

    A wide array of = high-quality and=20 specialty dry groceries will supplement the fresh selections, as will a = broad=20 selection of wines and local microbrews, MacKinnon said. She added that=20 customers will have the opportunity to choose between buying raw = ingredients and=20 cooking at home or purchasing pre-made meals prepared fresh by the = market=92s=20 chef.

    Curious customers will be able to = =93taste=20 and try the majority of the products before purchasing,=94 MacKinnon = said, and=20 that=92s not all they=92ll be able to try. =

    Market=20 Limone will also run a test kitchen where shoppers can test drive = gadgets from=20 its full line of top-quality cookware from names like Mario Batali and = Rich=20 Bayless before they buy them.

    A = demonstration=20 area will also enable the market to offer cooking classes and educate = people=20 about nutrition, special dietary needs, children=92s cooking and a wide = range of=20 cooking styles.

    To complete the = experience, the=20 market=92s basement will host a selection of high-end and unusual home = furnishings=20 and housewares.

    Long said the market is=20 demonstrating the incredible potential of the historic downtown = corridor.=20

    =93Market Limone is truly an upscale = project that=20 will be very attractive to citizens in Nampa to offer them opportunities = for=20 gourmet groceries and items that aren=92t currently available in = Nampa,=94 the=20 development coordinator said.