Iron Gallery opens in Rochester

A family-owned business – The Iron Gallery – opened its doors for the first time in the Apache Mall in Rochester on Nov. 15. However, it certainly is not a new operation for owner and Rochester native Cheryl Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald, who grew up in Rochester, ran Iron By Cheryl in Calhoun Square in Minneapolis for about 10 years before moving back to her hometown this year.

Now she is back selling hand-crafted home and garden products made of iron like candle stands, benches, coat racks, and tables.

“No two of anything are exactly alike,” she said. “It is all made right here in Rochester.”

The store takes up about 1,000-square-feet of the former Chin’s Asia Fresh site across from Applebee’s. Fitzgerald has two people on staff, supplemented by help from family members.

She sees the move to Rochester as very positive.

“Rochester is growing so fast and there was nothing like this in town, Fitzgerald said. “ I had good feeling about coming back here.”

Comments

[Sean]

The outside windows should help, too. Was there ever any background as to why Chin's failed? I'm in Saint Paul now, so it's not like I was there a lot, but it seemed busy the times I was there. Usually, our fellow Rochesterites jump at the idea of new chain restaurants.

[Jeff Kiger]

Chin's Asia Fresh was a new concept for Chin's and it just had two or three operating when the Rochester store opened. All of the others were in college towns.

I think it was not defined well enough – it seemed too fancy for a place you order at the counter like Panera's, but it was not fancy enough to go out to for a nice dinner.

People didn't know what it was.l

Just my opinion.

[Sean]

That's a feasible analysis, not defining their niche well enough. Marketing, people!