Downtown, Above Zandbroz

It’s not just the high-end condos that attract people to live in Fargo’s historic downtown. Students and average, everyday working people are finding their homes there as well.

For Joshua Dahl, 31, and David Valdez, 29, living in downtown Fargo is a lifestyle. The couple has lived downtown for 11 years.  Their first apartment was in the Ivers Building. For the last 6 years, they have been living above Zandbroz Variety Store. Their quaint, one-bedroom apartment is a mix of modern art and the charm of days gone by. The building they live in used to be home to Leeby’s Grocery Store. And the hardwood floors in the apartment are a reminder of the building’s history. Most of the artwork that adorns the walls is from local or regional artists.  Along with the brightly painted walls and hardwood floors, this living space has a homey yet sophisticated feel.

Not only do the men live downtown, it is also where they spend most of their time. Dahl works right below his apartment at Zandbroz. Valdez works in southwest Fargo, but says that’s really the only time he leaves the downtown area. “We rarely venture out of downtown. We do most of our shopping downtown and find most of our entertainment here.”

Both men grew up in small town North Dakota—Dahl in Eckelson and Valdez in Carrington. Valdez says he quickly discovered after moving here that he preferred downtown to the rest of Fargo. “Downtown is unique; a lot of the rest of town is cookie cutter houses and strip malls.”

The couple enjoys living downtown so much they are even thinking about starting a business there. Valdez designs jewelry and Dahl designs furniture. The couple would like someday to combine their talents and open a high-end store.

Ironically, Valdez says there’s one thing missing in his downtown experience. “I wish there was a grocery store so I could do all of my shopping downtown.”
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