50th & France is a commercial district located in the area of West 50th Street and France Avenue South in the cities of Edina and Minneapolis. The district was a forerunner of the new concept of walkable urban neighborhood centers over five decades ago —a living example long before it became a popular trend. Today, it includes over 175 retail shops and offices. Shops include various apparel stores, craft stores, jewelers, restaurants, cafes, spas, salons, and the Edina Theatre.
The 50th & France Business & Professional Association provides marketing, management, promotional and event planning services to ensure that the vibrant commercial district offers goods, services and events to support an exceptional visitor experience.
The Association was founded in the 1970s by Hosmer A. Brown, D. Robert Sykes, along with Robert Kalland, Lyle Bing, Clair Peterson and others. They were among the group of 50th & France business leaders who brought the Association to life as it currently exists.
Among their leadership accomplishments through the Association are the streetscape improvements on both the Minneapolis and Edina sides of the business hub, the Edina Art fair, the Ewing parking lot (donated by Kalysboro Company, Inc.), streetscape maintenance, and holiday decorations.
In 2018, Nolan Mains started as a collaborative vision between the community and developers to completely reimagine an under utilized street of Edina’s famed 50th and France neighborhood into a vibrant center for community and commerce. Today, the development boasts 100 upscale apartments, a 5,000-square-foot plaza and a variety of high-end retail shops and restaurants. The momentum is continuing to grow the addition of new housing and commercial space in the years since and projected in the years to come.
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