Mayo Clinic Square

Block E is the name of a block on Hennepin Avenue that is also bordered by Seventh Street, First Avenue North, And Sixth Street. It is considered part of the Downtown West, Minneapolis neighborhood in Minneapolis, but the block is more of a gateway between that neighborhood and the North Loop or Warehouse District. It is two blocks south of the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue (Hiawatha Line station) stop on the Hiawatha Line, which is a light rail train.

2001 - Present

The entire block is curretly occupied by an enclosed mall of the same name, Block E, which was constructed in 2001. The mall houses such establishments as a Hooters, an Applebee's restaurant, a nightclub, a Hard Rock Cafe, a Crown movie theater megaplex, and the five-star Graves 601 luxury hotel. The new Block E is approacable from the street level, and loosely models itself after buildings which previously existed on the site. The development also serves as an important link in Minneapolis's skyway system, connecting Target Center to City Center.

Supporters of the project expect that the New Block E will bring back retail that has historically left Hennepin Avenue for other enclosed malls clustered on the Nicollet Mall as well as in suburb malls. In re-etablishing the "character" of Hennepin as a Theater District, the new block E also attempts to promote itself as "Block Entertainment".

Critics of the project claim that it is another step in the gentrification process of downtown, and that the new Block E is little different than a suburban shopping mall. Others have pointed out that crime has increased on downtown streets since the project was completed. The underground parking ramp has also experienced a few design issues.

1988 - 2001

For over a decade, the block was a surface-level parking lot. The only structures on the entire block were the Shubert Theater and a two-story Billboard Advertisement. Many plans and discussions were held over the development of the land (which had a high value), but it was not until the late 1990s that a plan was actually carried out. The Shubert was moved next to the Masonic Temple by the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center, and the Billboard was removed to make way for development.

1950 - 1988

(this section is still under construction)

1920 - 1950

(this section is still under construction)

Turn of the Century

(this section is still under sonstruction)