You've probably seen it a thousand times if you've ever spent more than ten minutes in downtown Minneapolis. That massive, 52-story pillar of glass and steel that seems to catch the sunset just right? That’s 33 South 6th St. People around here usually just call it the City Center, or maybe the Target building if they’ve lived here long enough to remember the corporate logos shifting around. It’s not just a big box where people go to stare at spreadsheets. Honestly, it’s a weirdly accurate barometer for how the Twin Cities are doing.
It stands at 668 feet. Big.
When it went up back in 1982, it was a statement. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (the same heavy hitters behind the Sears Tower and Burj Khalifa) designed it. They didn't go for flashy curves or weird spires. They went for presence. It’s a late-modernist slab that anchors the heart of the 612. But the real story isn't the architecture—it's what happens inside those walls and how the building has survived the "death of the office" narrative that’s been floating around lately.
The Target Legacy and the Shifting Tenant Mix
For years, 33 South 6th St was synonymous with Target Corporation. They were the anchor. The big fish. When Target decided to give up about a million square feet of office space in downtown Minneapolis back in 2021, everyone panicked. People thought the building would become a ghost town. It was a huge deal in the local business journals. If the city’s biggest cheerleader was packing up its desks at City Center, what did that mean for the rest of the block?
But here's the thing about prime real estate: it's rarely empty for long if the owners have deep pockets and a plan. Shorenstein Properties, the folks who own the place, didn't just sit on their hands. They dumped millions into renovations. We're talking a massive lobby overhaul, new social spaces, and a fitness center that actually makes you want to work out.
The building transitioned. It’s no longer a one-company fortress. Now, it’s a mix. You’ve got law firms, tech companies, and professional services filling the gaps. It’s a more resilient model. If one company fails or moves to the suburbs, the whole ecosystem doesn't collapse. That’s basically the secret to why this specific address hasn't suffered the same fate as some of the older, less-adaptable Class B buildings a few blocks over.
Why the Skyway System Changes Everything
You can't talk about 33 South 6th St without talking about the Skyways. It’s the umbilical cord of the building. In Minneapolis, the street level is for the brave (or the tourists) during January. The real life happens on the second floor.
Because City Center is located at such a crucial intersection, it acts as a massive hub. It connects the Marriott Hotel, the retail core, and the parking garages. If you’re walking from the Warehouse District to the Financial District, you’re likely cutting through here. This foot traffic is gold for the retail portion of the building. While the "mall" aspect of City Center has seen ups and downs—mostly downs since the 90s heyday—the sheer volume of humans passing through keeps the lights on.
The Reality of Post-Pandemic Office Space
Is it full? Not exactly. No major office tower in a Tier 2 city is 100% leased right now. That’s just being honest. But 33 South 6th St is doing better than most because it’s "flight to quality" real estate.
When companies downsize, they don't always go home. Sometimes they just move into nicer buildings. They want the stuff 33 South 6th offers:
- High-end security that doesn't feel like a TSA checkpoint.
- The "un-office" vibe in the common areas.
- Proximity to the light rail.
- Views that actually make the rent feel worth it.
If you’re a CEO trying to convince Gen Z employees to stop working from their couches, you need a hook. A cubicle in a basement won't do it. A 50th-floor window overlooking Target Field might.
What People Get Wrong About the Retail
There’s this common myth that the retail at 33 South 6th St is dead. It’s not dead; it’s just different. Gone are the days when you’d go there for a full Saturday of clothes shopping. The Mall of America killed that long ago. Today, the retail is about convenience and the "lunch crowd."
It’s about Fogo de Chão. It’s about Brooks Brothers. It’s about the quick-service spots that feed thousands of office workers between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM. The challenge for the building has always been the "after 5 PM" crowd. Minneapolis has struggled with that. However, with more residential conversions happening in nearby buildings, the neighborhood is slowly becoming a 24/7 zone rather than a 9-to-5 zone. This shift is crucial for the long-term valuation of the property.
Technical Stats and The "Boring" Stuff
Let's look at the numbers for a second, because they actually matter for the SEO nerds and the real estate geeks.
The building has over 1.6 million square feet of space. That’s an absurd amount of floor area. It’s LEED Silver certified, which isn't just a badge for the lobby; it means the HVAC and electrical systems aren't eating money as fast as older towers. In a world where ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores actually dictate where big firms sign leases, those certifications are a massive competitive advantage.
The floor plates are roughly 32,000 square feet. For a tenant, that’s a sweet spot. It’s big enough for a massive headquarters but flexible enough to be carved up for four different smaller firms.
The Shorenstein Factor
Ownership matters. A lot. If a building is owned by a struggling REIT, the carpets stay dirty and the elevators break. Shorenstein is a private real estate investment firm out of San Francisco. They play the long game. They’ve owned 33 South 6th since 2012, which is a lifetime in commercial real estate. Their willingness to keep the building updated is why it remains a "Class A" property. Without that constant reinvestment, this building would just be another gray monolith.
How to Actually Navigate 33 South 6th St
If you’re heading there for a meeting or just to grab a coffee, don’t get lost. The entrance on 6th Street is the formal one, but most people enter through the Skyway on the 7th Street side.
- Parking: Use the City Center Ramp. It’s connected. It’s expensive, but it beats hunting for a meter in the snow.
- Security: You’ll need a badge for the elevators to the high-rise floors. Don't try to tail-gate; the security guards here are actually on the ball.
- The Food: If you’re over the usual chain stuff, walk through the Skyway toward the Northstar Center or the Wells Fargo towers for more options.
What’s Next for the Building?
The future of 33 South 6th St is basically the future of Minneapolis. If this building stays healthy, the city is fine. There’s talk of even more "amenitization"—a fancy word for making offices feel like hotels. Expect to see more collaborative spaces and maybe even more health-focused tenants.
The biggest hurdle? The perception of downtown safety. It’s the elephant in the room. The building management has doubled down on private security and "clean team" initiatives to make sure the immediate perimeter feels welcoming. It’s working, but it’s a constant battle against the headlines.
Actionable Insights for Tenants and Visitors
If you're a business owner looking at space here, negotiate hard on the "tenant improvement" (TI) allowance. Because the market is still stabilizing, landlords are often willing to pay for your build-out just to get a 10-year lease signed.
For the casual visitor, check out the 30th-floor views if you can get an invite to one of the firms there. It’s one of the best vantage points of the Mississippi River and the U.S. Bank Stadium.
Also, keep an eye on the event calendar for the atrium. They occasionally do pop-up markets and art installations that are actually worth seeing. It’s not just a pass-through anymore; it’s trying to be a destination.
Stop thinking of it as just a Target office. 33 South 6th St is a weird, complex, vertical city-within-a-city. It’s survived the 80s, the 2008 crash, and a global pandemic. It’s still standing, and honestly, it looks better than it did twenty years ago. If you want to understand the heartbeat of the Minneapolis business world, this is where you start.
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Check the parking rates before you go. Seriously. They'll get you if you aren't careful. Use an app like SpotHero if you’re staying for more than an hour. It'll save you twenty bucks, easy. Look for the "City Center" signage on the 7th Street side for the most direct elevator access to the main retail levels.
Keep your head up when walking the Skyway—the wayfinding signs in City Center are notorious for being a bit confusing if you’re not a local. Just follow the flow of people in business casual and you'll eventually find your way out. If you hit the Marriott, you’ve gone too far west. If you hit the Dayton’s Project, you’re headed the right way for more food.
The building isn't going anywhere. It’s too big to fail and too well-connected to ignore. Whether you're there for a deposition, a steak dinner, or just a shortcut to the light rail, 33 South 6th St remains the gravity well of the Minneapolis core.