Discover Duluth: West End snapshots

Though its reputation suffered as a result of the Yoshiko Sauna, there is a lot happening in Lincoln Park these days. Not only has that infamous massage parlor been razed — a tip of the hat to businessman Kevin Lund — but the arts and culture scene in the neighborhood is slowly being rebuilt (thanks largely to the increased visibility of The Venue at Mohaupt Block).

The West End is also establishing itself as a haven for those who practice the frugal way of life. Like any neighborhood, it has some random pawn shops, but Lincoln Park is also home to an expansive Salvation Army unit, the impressively stocked Second Look Books and a smattering of secondhand shops. Basically, if the idea of visiting the congested Miller Hill area makes your blood boil, give this on-the-rise shopping district a shot.

On a recent walkabout, cloaked in unseasonably warm temps, I snapped a few photographs of the West End. While it’s evident that a lot of work still needs to be done in the neighborhood, the worth-checking-out businesses that have set up shop seem to shine a little brighter in the wake of the aforementioned “sauna.”

With more forward-thinking citizens like Lund on its side, the West End will come a long way.