The owners of Vandalia Glassworks plan to leave St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood for a larger space on Concord Exchange in South St. Paul.

They will buy and renovate the former Hitching Post Motorsports building at 103 Concord Exchange N. and open their glass-making studio and gallery space by early next year. On Monday, the South St. Paul City Council granted them a conditional-use permit to operate in the building.

Concord Exchange is seeing a burst of building activity, with the construction of Kaposia Club, a new family-owned restaurant, and the conversion of a four-story office tower into a 68-unit apartment building.

City Council Member Lori Hansen said Vandalia Glassworks is a good idea for the former motorsports building and the area.

“I think it’s going to be a great asset to the city,” she said. “It’s fun and it’ll be entertainment, as well as a cultural piece.”

The business opened three years in the renovated Vandalia Tower, the former King Koil mattress factory near Interstate 94 and Vandalia Street that has become a destination for the artsy crowd. Tenants include Bob Mitchell’s Fly Shop, FilmNorth, Gremlin Theater and Lake Monster Brewery.

Erick Schmidt, co-owner of Vandalia Glassworks, said they have outgrown the space.

“We do a lot more classes for community (education),” Schmidt told the city council Monday. “We have larger groups coming in.”

Schmidt already owns a South St. Paul business with his brother — South Park Corp., a manufacturer of bells and other parts for fire trucks.

“We found this building,” Schmidt said, “and I thought this would be a good spot for South St. Paul and for us, and be convenient for me.” Related Articles Hastings bar owner: $7K state fine for alleged mask violation is ‘outrageous’

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Vandalia Glassworks employs four artists, and its new 9,800-square-foot building will “expand the size, safety, and amenities of their hands-on teaching and demonstrations,” according to a project narrative submitted to the city. Local artists will also be able to rent studio space.

In addition to retail sales of blown and fused glass work, the 1,500-square-foot art gallery will offer views of the studio space so patrons can interact with artists and learn about the techniques used to create the pieces.

About 1,700 square feet of the building will be available for a retail, restaurant or office tenant.

Vandalia Glassworks also plans to upgrade the building’s exterior, including windows and entries, paint, landscaping and amenities.