South Metro Roundup: 100-Store Outlet Mall Planned, New Fro-Yo & Swap Meet Shops Coming

Though you might live or work in or Rosemount, chances are you're curious about what's happening in your neighboring communities. Here are some of the stories posted on our neighboring Patch sites last week that could impact, help or be of interest to you. Read each story by clicking on the headline link.

Burnsville

Couple Brings West Coast-Style Swap Meet to Burnsville

Burnsville will soon be home to Stop, Swap & Shop (The Marketplace), a hybrid of the flea market, farmer's market, art show, trunk sale and urban street vending. It's one of several summertime innovations at Buck Hill, which recently allowed a garden center on its premises during the warmer months.

Burnsville will be blessed with yet another self-serve frozen yogurt bar—Freeziac Live Culture—which describes itself as an "innovative, frozen yogurt phenomenon with a mod, hip feel." After three years of existence, the chain is expanding throughout the Twin Cities region.

Eagan

A developer hopes that a proposal to build a 400,000-square-foot outlet mall will start a business renaissance in the largely vacant Cedar Grove area of Eagan. Plans call for the construction of 90-100 high-end retail shops in an open-air mall format on 35 acres of property in the Cedar Grove Redevelopment Area. The development would likely include one or two 25,000-square-foot anchor stores, and may cost as much as $100 million.

After learning from friends who created online garage sale groups, an Eagan woman has decided to create her own Facebook garage sale group for this area. Community members request permission to join the group, then can post pictures and information of items they're selling, and message sellers.

Using Facebook as a platform to host digital garage sales offers several advantages over eBay and Craigslist, Shearer said.

Due to low ridership, Jefferson Lines will discontinue operating intercity bus schedules through the Minnesota Valley Transit Station at 3470 Pilot Knob Rd. in Eagan.

Lakeville

Stealing Cars Gets Lakeville Tow Driver 180-Days in Jail

A scheme to sell stolen cars to a St. Paul metal scrapper has landed a Lakeville man a 180-day jail sentence in Ramsey County Court. Matthew Bruce Williams, 29, was sentenced May 31, and in addition to jail, was ordered to pay nearly $23,000 in restitution for his role in the theft of 14 vehicles that were sold to a St. Paul business called Metro Metals.

A Lakeville man faces burglary and arson charges and could face additional felonies after a bizarre incident involving an ex-girlfriend on May 12. Eric Eugene Contonikolas, 31, is accused of burglarizing his ex-girlfriend's Lakeville home, then trying to start the stove on fire after the woman confronted him.