WINONA, Minn. – The Winona County Board has quietly told its staff to explore possibly expanding the county campus to the west across Huff Street. This would mean purchasing the building at Huff and Second streets. The building has been vacant since April when the local Chrysler car dealership relocated to Highway 61. For years the Board has talked about consolidating facilities now rents around town. These include:

> The public health offices at the Winona Health clinic on Mankato Avenue.

> The licensing office at the Winona Mall.

> The Dive Rescue Team boat and vehicle garage near the levee.

> Property record storage at a downtown office building.

The Huff Street building has housed Chrysler, Chevrolet and Toyota dealerships over the years. It has a cavernous auto servicing area and an underground garage. The showroom would lend itself to offices. Too, the building could be razed with a new structure compatible achutecturally with existing county facilities on the other side of Huff. The dealership property comprises a whole city block, which could accommodate parking for the for cramped county campus area.

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A Kwik Trip bid?

The convenience store chain Kwik Trip has wanted a downtown presence for years, especially near the high-traffic interstate bridge from Wisconsin. In 2016 the LaCrosse-based chain proposed a shop at Huff and Third Street to replace the old YMCA building, which was being torn down. The company deferred when citizens objected to the proximity to a historic residential district. Kwip Trip also was thwarted in 2020 when it proposed bigger store 12 blocks way at its Huff and Sarnia location. Recent rumors have persisted that Kwik Trip has been eyeing the former Chrysler dealership site — a block from the from the old YMCA and near the interstate bridge and on the Riverview Drive gateway to downtown. The company has declined to address news media questions about the possibility. The Chrysler building has been open for leaseing since spring with no takers.