St. Cloud’s 5th Avenue: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow [PART 2]

ST. CLOUD - Today we're continuing our stroll down 5th Avenue in St. Cloud with a look at the street's past, the present, and the future of this very important road. Today we're highlighting the west side of 5th Avenue, from St. Germain Street to 1st Street South.

Starting with the Press Bar. It was originally Edelbrock's Variety Store. The St. Cloud Times used to be in the building, thus the current name. It's been home to the Press Bar since 1942.

The building that's home to the Red Carpet bar was originally called the Mitchell Building. It was built in 1883. It's been a variety of businesses over the years. The Red Carpet moved into a portion of the building in 1971, several expansions and remodels later and the Red Carpet now occupies the whole building.

The building that's home to the House of Pizza was originally built as a fur shop. Several barbers, St. Cloud Floral Company, and other businesses once called it home. The House of Pizza has been there since 1964.

The parking lot next to the House of Pizza used to have buildings there. The Journal-Press was published there. In the 1930's the "Friday Sister's Hat Shop" was there. And, in the 1940's the Red Cross was there.

There isn't room for a lot of new development along 5th Avenue, but St. Cloud Planning Director Matt Glaesman says the city would like to see a developer come up with a project on the current Riverboat parking lot next to the House of Pizza.

This week:
Monday: the block from 1st Street North to St. Germain Street
Tuesday: the west side of the block from St. Germain Street to 1st Street South
Wednesday: the east side of the block from 1st Street South to St. Germain Street
Thursday: the block from 1st Street South to Division Street
Friday: the block from Division Street to Ramsey Place

(WJON Video Reporter Alex Svejkovsky contributed to this story)