Minot Shopping Plaza –

 The Downtown Shopping Plaza celebrated its Grand Opening on Thursday, September 7, 1972 and continuing on Friday and Saturday. The Downtown Shopping Plaza was the new parking lot located south of Central Avenue on First Street SW. This location is across the street from what is now Brady Martz. The celebration featured free parking, a fashion show at the Clarence Parker Hotel, free coffee and cookies, hot dog and beverage for 25 cents, clowns helium balloons and musical entertainment. Downtown merchants stayed open until 9 pm n Thursday and Friday night for shopping convenience. A portion of the parking lot was covered with straw. Hidden in the straw were coins galore and gift coupons from downtown merchants. Also savings accounts from five different downtown financial institutions. This area is now the future home of a proposed new Parking ramp in Downtown Minot