Patrick Danz, Owner of Slant Avenue Mercantile
In 2008 after several years of visiting and falling in love with Lanesboro, Minnesota and surrounding nature Patrick Danz turned the Doc Westrup building into a home and store front. Built in 1895, on Slant Avenue, 105 Elmwood St. E as its now named is the perfect historical location for a unique and intelligent retail store that offers great priced gifts and treats for all occasions it’s the place to find products from all over the world including local artist’s ware like jewelry and home décor. Toys for kids of all ages, collectable tin wind-ups for the collector to the cutest stuffed animals and hats for infants. All the games we loved when we were kids to the best coffee, teas and accessories we crave as adults. Fun books and reading along with sketchbooks and journals that are great in companion with the quality pens and pencils Slant Ave sells. Patrick has a huge sweet tooth and is always searching for the best treats from all over including the newest addition B.T. McElrath chocolate bars from Mpls. The store is an eclectic array of products just to numerous to mention which is part of the fun shopping here, you never know what you’ll find each time you visit.
Expansion Plans for Slant Avenue Mercantile
Future plans for Slant Avenue Mercantile and Patrick include the addition of a new studio at the rear of his store so new products and designs can be created to sell in the store. The original building will continue to be restored to its original glory along with Patrick’s home upstairs. This spring a new color will be tested on the front of the building and comments are welcomed. Patrick invites everyone to come and view the new studio designs that will help improve the rear alley and longevity of the original 1895 structure. One of the hardest parts of running a retail store and renovating a building is not having the time to be more active in the arts that attracted him here like the Cornucopia Arts center now known as the Lanesboro Arts Center and also the Commonweal Theater. Attending the shows, biking and skiing on the great trails and fishing on the Root river are other passions along with all his support to all the awesome B&B’s and camp grounds so every guest tends to get an additional 10% at Slant Avenue Mercantile when they lodge in Fillmore County.