Christy DeSmith [2]It seemed like a bold move at the time, but when Ini Iyamba opened a second store—his Ivy Men’s + Design [3] boutique at 1220 Glenwood Avenue—just this March, design devotees started buzzing about the potential of his new address. This street, which fans out from International Market Square’s [4] nest of interior design businesses while brushing against such unseemly destinations as the Minneapolis Impound Lot, is the latest subject of urban renewal. As of late, the Glenwood Avenue streetscape has been getting a makeover thanks to some new lighting fixtures. Iyamba and plenty of others think it will one day be a “design corridor,” chock-full of trendy boutiques and restaurants—much like Los Angeles’ Melrose Avenue.

Glenwood Avenue has not yet been branded, à la Nicollet Avenue’s “Eat Street,” but the un-manicured neighborhood still boasts several attractions. The area is easily accessible from both downtown and Bryn Mawr. Later this summer, Glenwood will be a straight shot from Kenwood, too, when Van White Boulevard, a link between north and south Minneapolis, is completed. And it doesn’t hurt that the avenue has a rich history of design and textile businesses. For seventy years, International Market Square and several other buildings along the lane served as Munsingwear factories, whereat fashionable undergarments were manufactured between 1915 and 1981. Then, in 1985, what we now know as International Market Square opened its doors. Seven years ago, Ligne Roset [7] and Abitaré, two impressive furniture and interior design studios, opened just across the street. But Iyamba’s move to an address four blocks from IMS represents the boldest endorsement of the neighborhood to date. “It’s just like in L.A.” he said. “One designer moved in over there, and, before you knew it, everyone followed … Somebody has to start it all. And in this instance, I guess that’s me.”

Read Christy DeSmith’s fashion blog [8].