St. Cloud Retailers Expanded Downtown Footprint
Local operators can study how these downtown shops used multi-floor expansions and vendor curation to increase foot traffic.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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O'Brien's Dry Goods and Metz & Co. expanded their downtown St. Cloud operations throughout 2025 and 2026. The two businesses, located on W. St. Germain St., focused on increasing retail space to accommodate more local vendors and lodging services.
Why it matters
By adding second-floor space and diversifying inventory, these businesses sought to create new reasons for customers to explore the downtown area. The owners aimed to provide a consolidated physical retail hub for local collectors and craftspeople to reach a broader audience.
The retail footprint now supports 40 vendors selling items, with the business model currently utilizing six employees to manage operations. These expansions occurred alongside the 2026 launch of the Grey Cannon Guest House above the retail storefront.
The players
O'Brien's Dry Goods
A St. Cloud-based retailer operating at 611 W. St. Germain St. that focuses on curated vintage goods and local vendor inventory.
Metz & Co.
A multi-story retail business located at 623 W. St. Germain St. that functions as a hub for local vendors and collectors.
Grey Cannon Guest House
A lodging facility situated above O'Brien's Dry Goods that serves as a diversification strategy for the retail storefront.
The details
Metz & Co. expanded its physical footprint by taking over a second floor, while O'Brien's Dry Goods diversified its revenue streams by opening a guest house in 2026. Both shops utilize a curated model that incorporates vintage items, clothing, records, and arcade games to cycle inventory. This strategy of mixing retail categories with hospitality services is designed to keep downtown foot traffic consistent throughout the week.
Timeline
O'Brien's Dry Goods opened in April 2025.
Metz & Co. opened in November 2025.
The Grey Cannon Guest House opened in June 2026.
Metz & Co. completed its second-floor expansion in 2026.
Market Landscape
The businesses' physical improvements were recognized by the 2026 City of St. Cloud Heritage Preservation Award. This acknowledgment follows a pattern of local shops using historical building revitalization as a strategy to anchor downtown commercial traffic.
Operators in historic districts should monitor how multi-use retail and hospitality models affect long-term lease viability. Evaluating the use of arcade and vintage inventory as a draw can help determine if similar curated vendor approaches could improve local customer engagement.
The takeaway
The successful integration of lodging and retail demonstrates how diversifying square footage can maximize revenue in small-footprint urban environments. Owners should evaluate if their current building configuration allows for similar vertical expansion or service-layer additions.
Further reading
For more on local development shifts, visit Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by St. Cloud Times.
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