ROCHESTER — Iconic local retailer Paul Bennett is bringing life back to a 109-year-old downtown Rochester building as a holiday gift shop after a local Realtor bought it for $800,000.
For the first time since 1992, families bringing children downtown to see the annual Rescue of Santa Claus on the day after Thanksgiving won’t need to hurry by the China Hall/ Stebbins building at 218 First Ave. SW. Downtown Intimates, formerly known as Downtown Book and Video, sold adult entertainment and vaping gear there until
it closed in June 2025.
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Bennett, who owns and operates the popular Dwell Local and Marlowe shops in Zumbrota, is
with a special pop-up store called Dwell Local: China Hall Edition. Although the idea is only a week old, he hopes to open the downtown holiday shop on Nov. 13 and run it through the end of the year.
“I love history and old buildings, so I’m very excited. It's going to be kind of a mini Dwell and Marlowe combined," he said. “I've always wanted to do something in downtown Rochester. It is going to be so much fun with the rescue of Santa right next door and Downtown Dazzle Parade going right by the front door.”
Bennett, who will continue to operate his ...