Men’s lifestyle store Askov Finlayson will double in size as the first step in a major expansion plan for Eric Dayton and Andrew Dayton’s North Loop corner, which includes the Bachelor Farmer and Marvel Bar.
Askov Finlayson, which marks its third anniversary this week, is moving next door, to the Historic Hennepin Hotel building, which was purchased in 2012 by North Corp, the Dayton brothers’ holding company. The new store—roughly 2,000 square feet—is slated to open in summer 2015. It will give the Daytons room to expand their Askov Finlayson clothing label, which launched last year with men’s Explorer pants and caps, and has slowly been adding apparel and accessories, including a sweatshirt with canvas arm patches.
As the Daytons have found their footing in retail, they’re delving more deeply into clothing for the urban hipster who appreciates functional apparel—even when walking city blocks to an office. The growing assortment of leather goods, bags, books, and more have begun to overwhelm the store’s quaint space in the front of Bachelor Farmer.
With Askov out of that space, the Daytons will finally have a place to feed the North Loop a casual lunch—a sorely needed category, as the neighborhood has become a true shopping destination. For more on the yet-to-be-named café, read Stephanie March's Foodie File. I’m also excited about the “pocket park” the Daytons plan to create in the concrete alley between their two buildings.
