:: Unofficial Waconia Minnesota ::

If you’ve driven down highway 5, you can’t miss the construction of the new Walgreen store. It’s located on the corner of 284 and Hwy 5 and has been making quite a few advancements over the past few months.

The new Walgreens store won’t be open anytime soon, but at the rate they build business’ these days, a late spring or summer opening shouldn’t be that hard to meet.

Have you been out to Z’s yet to get your Christmas tree? We have!

Actually, this is only my second real Christmas tree ever and the first time I’ve ever gone to cut one. We went out on Saturday morning in the cold and snow. For newbies, Z’s was a great choice. They were friendly and told us how it’d work. We then hoped on a wagon to go out and find a tree.

Now I wasn’t to sure about cutting my own, but the saws they provided cut through that tree like a hot knife though butter. They then put it on the wagon and back to the main farm.

We were also a bit concerned about fitting it in my little Ford Focus. However, they hauled it to my car and put it in and bungeed down my trunk. They did all the work for us and we were quite impressed.

Trees are $40 for long needle, $60 for short. I don’t know how that compares as I’ve never been out to cut my own tree before, but it was the experience we paid for. And a good experience at that.

Z’s Trees also has precut Christmas trees, wreaths & roping, landscape evergreens, fireplace wood and custom log sawing.

Z’s Trees is technically in Cologne but it’s really just outside Waconia on 284. Between Highway 5 and 212.

Z’s Trees - John M Zimmerman
10850 110th Street
Cologne, MN 55322
952.466.2577
www.zstrees.com

The name brands are coming.

Kwik Trip is up and running and I’ve been there several times. Not only are the gas pumps fast, but the store has lots of goodies inside and the car wash even made a point to wash my rims.

Target should have a groundbreaking yet this fall. The 145,000 square foot store should open in October of 2008.

AmericInn is almost done too. It could be complete this October but not sure when the opening date may be.

And Walgreens may be coming to town. The city is going to review plans for a store at the intersection of 284 and 5. Personally I don’t think that’s a good location with the intersection being so busy, but something going to pop-up eventually.

Have you heard any news or rumors you’d like to share?

Sports fan in Waconia have at least two stores to get geared up at.  CDP Sports and The Sports Locker.

Both stores are located in downtown Waconia and should have everything you need for basketball, football, wrestling, volleyball, golf and much more.

I can’t say as I’ve been to either yet, but I would like to check them out.  I usually just don’t like to go and just browse so I need to find a good reason to swing by.

If you’ve been to either, let us know what you think.  If I’ve missed a store let me know.  I think there use to be a Sports Korner but for some reason, I feel as if they have gone away.

CDP Sports
141 W 1st St, Waconia, MN
(952) 442-8625

Sports Korner
1 W Main St, Waconia, MN
(952) 442-5252

I’ve had two experiences with Zen Gardens Center in the past week.

The first was when they delivered flowers for my wife. It’s a beautiful bouquet and quite nice.

The second we went and visited Zen Gardens Center. Their pumpkins were priced quite nicely, however no mums as of Saturday. The inside of the store was very nice. Very clean and lots of cool products. We looked at quite a few of the solar decorative lights and almost bought some. The prices seemed reasonable and the store is worth a checkout.

We even asked a few gardening questions and got great answers. It turns out we need manure for our garden area.

If you get a chance, I suggest checking out Zen Gardens Center. It’s a great addition to Waconia and I know we’ll be going back in the spring of not later this fall too.

Zen Gardens Center is located at the corner of Highway 5 and County Road 10. Phone 952-442-3220

Earlier this year there were talks of a Target on the east side of town, however those plans were pulled as Target had bigger plans.

SuperTarget is now setting it’s sights on Waconia and it could become a reality. The 177,000 square foot store would be located on the south side off highway 5 on the east side of town.

Target hasn’t officially announced it’s plans, but the idea has gone to the planning commission for approval.

No start date or completion date is known, but it does look like SuperTarget wants to make Waconia home.