Washington Pavilion to open new museum store at The Steel District
July 27, 2023
An immersive arts experience will be the focus of a new museum shop the Washington Pavilion will open next year at The Steel District.
The 1,500-square-foot space is a one-of-a-kind place that’s designed to become a hub for arts-related activity and commerce, said Darrin Smith, president and CEO of the Washington Pavilion.
“This truly is going to be an experience for guests,” he said. “You’ll be able to buy a wide range of artwork, traditional museum store products and other really unique items – things you won’t find anywhere else in our region — but beyond that, you’ll also be introduced personally to artists through receptions and other special events, and you’ll be able to enjoy a beer or glass of wine during your visit.”
The museum store also will provide a space for visitors to buy tickets to events, camps and classes, as well as Pavilion memberships.
“For 25 years, we’ve been committed to growing our impact on the arts community, and this is an exciting new step in doing that,” Smith said. “We anticipate hosting art exhibitions here, holding specialty and hands-on events, showcasing live performances and allowing this to become a space the community can help make its own.”
The museum store was inspired by a visit Steel District developer Craig Lloyd and photographer and business owner Paul Schiller made to a similar museum store in Florida. Both decided to bring forward support to help make it a reality in Sioux Falls, they said.
“I thought The Steel District was the perfect location,” Lloyd said. “A big part of the Rysdon family’s dream for redeveloping this land was to connect to the arts. That’s going to happen all throughout this development, and this store is going to be a centerpiece for arts activity.”
Schiller said he sees a strong opportunity to highlight local art and provide a venue for artists to sell their work.
“You can get introduced to the arts in a big way here,” he said. “It’s going to add another dimension for artists and musicians, along with a way for residents and visitors to shop and support them.”
The location on the north end of downtown is a strong complement to the Pavilion’s presence on the south end, Smith said.
“We really see this as an extension of the Pavilion, building on our presence downtown with the Orpheum and now continuing north as a way to highlight the arts and build awareness of all the Pavilion offers,” he said.
Smith added that the store also will feature STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and math — items for kids and families, as a nod to the popular Kirby Science Discovery Center at the Pavilion.
“We’re grateful to Craig and Paul for their inspiration and support in helping to bring this forward,” he said.
The museum store hasn’t been named officially yet and is scheduled to open in June 2024.
“Coincidentally, that aligns perfectly with our 25th anniversary,” Smith said. “It feels like it’s meant to be.”
The Washington Pavilion will join other retail tenants in the building that wraps around The Steel District’s parking ramp, including Pasque Boutique and The Commonwealth restaurant and bar.
“This is an ideal addition to our tenant mix,” said Raquel Blount, vice president of commercial real estate for Lloyd Cos. “There’s going to be fantastic synergy with the residents and visitors here, and the programming offered by the museum store will help serve to bring even more activity to the area. We’re thrilled with how this retail space has filled up and are looking forward to being able to offer more space in a future phase.”
