Seven Points (Minnesota)

The atrium-style indoor mall was created in an early 1980s style of redevelopment{{cite book|title=AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul|last=Millett|first=Larry|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press|year=2007|isbn=978-0-87351-540-5|pages=255|author-link=Larry Millett}} by local developer Ray Harris from a series of older buildings, including the Geanakoplos Building (1917).

In the early stages, neighborhood activists opposed to the project started the "Dump Updale" campaign. "Up" referred to Uptown; "dale" was a reference to suburban shopping malls in the Twin Cities whose names end in "dale" (e.g. Southdale Center, Ridgedale Center).{{Cite web|url=http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/has-there-been-any-decent-architecture-st-paul-last-30-years/|title=Has there been any decent architecture in St. Paul in the last 30 years? - Twin Cities Daily Planet|date=2008-11-23|website=Twin Cities Daily Planet|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-18}}

Harris's renovation and construction was finished in 1983, and he remained the owner until he sold the mall in 2004 to a Des Moines, IA, investment group.

In 2007, Calhoun Square was sold to an affiliate of New York-based BlackRock Inc. for $47.3 million. After a 2008 renovation, the mall drew new national and international names, including LA Fitness, H&M, and CB2.{{Cite news|url=http://tcbmag.com/news/articles/2014/new-owner-plans-calhoun-square-tune-up|title=New Owner Plans Calhoun Square Tune-Up|work=Twin Cities Business|access-date=2018-05-03}}

Local ownership returned in 2014 when developer Stuart Ackerberg bought the mall from BlackRock, seeking to restore “the magic and the sizzle of Calhoun Square going back to the 1980s", when many of the tenants were local operators. The Ackerberg Group completed a remodel of the mall's interior in 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/calhoun-square-facelift-coming-corner-of-hennepin-and-lake/299093431/|title=Calhoun Square facelift coming to Hennepin + Lake|website=Star Tribune|date=8 April 2015 |access-date=2016-05-03}}

The musician Prince wrote a song titled "Calhoun Square", released on disc two of his Crystal Ball CD.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/crystal-ball-mw0000595184|title=Crystal Ball - Prince {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2016-06-18}}

Chicago-based investment firm Northpond Partners purchased the building for $34.5 million in October 2019.{{cite web |last1=Norfleet |first1=Nicole |title=Chicago investment firm buys Calhoun Square for $34.5 million and plans to make changes |url=https://www.startribune.com/chicago-investment-firm-buys-calhoun-square-for-34-5-million-and-plans-to-make-changes/564615252/ |website=Star Tribune |date=7 November 2019 |access-date=22 October 2020}}

On June 19, 2020, the owners of the building announced that Calhoun Square's name would be changed "to disavow the slavery advocate for which the building was originally named," John C. Calhoun. This follows the 2017 decision to rename the nearby lake from Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska, as well as the murder of George Floyd.{{cite web |last1=Norfleet |first1=Nicole |title=Uptown's Calhoun Square will be renamed to disavow 'known racist' |url=https://www.startribune.com/uptown-s-calhoun-square-will-be-renamed-to-disavow-known-racist/571369852/ |publisher=Star Tribune |access-date=19 June 2020}} On October 21, 2020, the owners announced that the building would now be known as Seven Points, stating “A property named for a known racist and champion of slavery has no place in Minneapolis or anywhere in our society.” The new name refers to the pointed sign atop the roof of the building. Ownership also set forth a conceptual vision for the building that includes an outdoor plaza addition, a market store, and “flexible mixed-use space” that includes retail, office and residential components.{{cite web |title='New Chapter In Uptown': Calhoun Square Renamed As 'Seven Points' |url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/10/21/new-chapter-in-uptown-calhoun-square-renamed-as-seven-points/ |publisher=WCCO-TV |access-date=22 October 2020 |date=21 October 2020}}

Figlio

Figlio was a landmark Italian restaurant that operated from 1985 to 2009 in Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood, occupying a prominent corner of Calhoun Square at Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street. Owned by Parasole Restaurant Holdings, Figlio was celebrated for its pioneering open-air kitchen, vibrant bar scene, and signature dishes like tortellini with prosciutto and peas, Pollo Mattone, and wood-fired pizzas. The restaurant’s lively atmosphere and innovative menu made it a central hub for the community, attracting a diverse clientele and fostering a sense of neighborhood camaraderie. {{cite web |title=Figlio Closes Again|url=https://twincities.eater.com/2014/9/22/6828789/figlio-closes-again|website=Eater|access-date=2 May 2025|date=22 September 2014}}

After its closure in 2009, Figlio was replaced by Il Gatto, which struggled to capture the original’s charm and closed shortly thereafter. In 2012, the Figlio name was revived by new ownership at the Shops at West End in St. Louis Park, aiming to recreate the beloved dining experience with updated dishes and a modern ambiance. Despite these efforts, the revival ultimately closed in 2014, leaving the original Figlio as a cherished memory in Minneapolis’ culinary history. {{cite web |title=Figlio, Uptown's shuttered stalwart, resurfaces at the West End|url=https://www.startribune.com/figlio-uptown-s-shuttered-stalwart-resurfaces-at-the-west-end/188121501|website=Star Tribune|access-date=2 May 2025|date=24 January 2013}} 

Figlio’s legacy endures as a symbol of Uptown’s vibrant past, remembered fondly for its role in shaping the neighborhood’s dining scene and community spirit. Its influence is still felt today, with many considering it a defining establishment of its era.{{cite web |title=Does Figlio Still Haunt Uptown?|url=https://mspmag.com/eat-and-drink/does-figlio-still-haunt-uptown/|website=Mpls.St.Paul Magazine|access-date=2 May 2025|date=8 July 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.calhounsquare.com Calhoun Square official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124235054/http://www.calhounsquare.com/ |date=2007-01-24 }}

{{Twin cities shopping malls}}

Category:Shopping malls in Minnesota

Category:Shopping malls established in 1983

Category:Buildings and structures in Minneapolis

Category:Shopping malls in Hennepin County, Minnesota

Category:Tourist attractions in Minneapolis

Category:1983 establishments in Minnesota

Category:Name changes due to the George Floyd protests

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