Larkspur

Market

adds deck

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- When customers glance by Larkspur Market, 16 N. Minnesota, they will see a new addition -- a cedar deck for outdoor dining.

Larkspur Market is a gift shop and delicatessen that opened last November. The delicatessen offers soup, salads, sandwiches and desserts.

The deck "was basically my idea and the customers' idea," said Larkspur Market Owner Barb Haroldson. "Hopefully, the weather will be nice so it can be used."

Construction started three to four weeks ago. Because Haroldson previously served on city planning commissions, she was familiar with the steps involved in adding the deck.

After the city council, building inspector and city attorney gave Haroldson the go-ahead, the steps fell into place. The deck is handicapped accessible per code and regulation from the city.

City Attorney Hugh Nierengarten said there is an agreement in place that the city can ask Haroldson to remove the deck at any time, under a 180-day notice in a non-emergency situation.

Nierengarten said that with the exception of emergency vehicles, the alley is blocked off from traffic.

"The alley is a dedicated public right-of-way and is closed to vehicular traffic," Nierengarten said. "In exchange for the alley Haroldson pays $500 a year, which is consistent with similar arrangements."

Haroldson feels the city supported her idea because the low-relief sculptures depicting pioneer life on the side of the building will receive more attention from outside diners.

Haroldson approached every store owner on the block and showed them plans for the deck. The city sent a letter to business owners asking them if it would be a problem to close the alley. No one showed up at the city meetings to dispute her intentions to build the deck, Haroldson said.

Haroldson responded to some of the reasons people are guessing why the city approved the deck.

"People tell me they hear people asking how I got the city to close the alley," Haroldson said. "Well, my reaction is that I asked them, and they accepted."

Haroldson said people are skeptical because she got the deck constructed so quickly.

"New Ulm has a reputation of looking at a new idea and analyzing it and taking a while for an approval to be made," Haroldson said. "This happened in just a few months, because it was something that the city supported and we moved quickly."