The Booming Suburb of Blaine
How recent commercial development affected a growing suburb
Before the suburban boom in the 70s, Blaine had limited commercial activity consisting mostly of small businesses concentrated along historic transportation routes, which provided for the basic needs of the rural population.
Independent service stations at intersection of Highways 242 and 65, Blaine MN, 1956.
The Northtown mall, which opened in 1971 near the boundary of Coon Rapids and Blaine, provided shopping opportunities to both developing new communities. It was surrounded by a growing suburban neighborhood and close to a major transportation corridor (Highway 10). Northtown was a profitable enterprise in a booming area. Besides scattered businesses along the highways, Northtown had little competition.
The big box boom brought in stores such as Wal-mart, Target, Home Depot, and regional grocery chains Cub and Rainbow. The new businesses were needed to provide for the growing population of Blaine. However, the competition strained local businesses, producing a landscape increasingly dominated by large chain retailers.
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