Askov Finlayson Announces Expansion

The quickly-growing North Loop district has seen exponential growth in the past year alone, with the openings of Filson and Shinola stores, and a number of restaurants, including Gavin Kaysen’s highly-anticipated Merchant in November.

Then this week, more news: Three years to the day of their third anniversary–and hot off a recent inclusion in Esquire magazine’s “11 Best Men’s Stores in America” list–North Loop retailer Askov Finlayson has announced plans to expand to a larger storefront.

For the move, it’s not going far. The Andrew and Eric Dayton-owned store will move from its original 1,000-square-foot space in the same historic warehouse that houses Dayton-owned businesses the Bachelor Farmer and Marvel Bar, next door to the Historic Hennepin Hotel. The shop will take over the entire first floor of the hotel when it opens in summer 2015, doubling its size in the process. The 8,400-square-foot hotel was purchased by North Corp, the Dayton brothers’ holding company, in 2012, with the intention of eventually moving the store there.

The new location will expand on the store’s penchant for high-quality, classic, and hard-to-find men’s clothing and accessories as well as home and gift items from Minnesota-made names such as Faribault Woolen Mill and Sanborn Canoe Co. It will also capitalize on the store’s in-house label, which currently includes its “Explorer” pant, ballcaps and knit hats embroidered with the word “North,” sweatshirts with canvas arm patches, and screen-printed t-shirts.

As for the soon-to-be-former storefront, it will be replaced by a cafe and sandwich shop operated by the Bachelor Farmer. The area between the two buildings, currently occupied by a concrete alley, will also be transformed into a “pocket park” with grass and seating.

In the meantime, check out a selection of some of Askov Finlayson’s in-house products below, available online at askovfinlayson.com and at their current home at 200 N. 1st St. in the North Loop of Minneapolis.

Askov Finlayson North Stocking Cap in Red/Gold, $24 @ www.askovfinlayson.com

Askov Finlayson Star Tee in Midnight/Multi, $28 @ www.askovfinlayson.com

Askov Finlayson Explorer Pant in Two-Tone Navy/Black, $218 @ www.askovfinlayson.com

Askov Finlayson Aegis Sweatshirt in Crimson Mix, $125 @ www.askovfinlayson.com

Askov Finlayson Flag Tee in White/Blue, $28 @ www.askovfinlayson.com

Askov Finlayson Askov Crew Sweatshirt $105 @ www.askovfinlayson.com

Askov Finlayson Explorer Pant in Golden Khaki, $218 @ www.askovfinlayson.com