Minneapolis, MN
Dreamer entrepreneur behind new Mexican flavored markets in Minneapolis
Daniel Hernandez, the owner of Colonial Market and Restaurant in south Minneapolis, points up to a sea of brightly colored pinatas in the store.
“The most traditional pinata is the one that is the star,” he said. He’s giving a tour of the store’s various offerings. The star pinatas are the top sellers and are made in the U.S., including in Minnesota, by Mexican employees.
He also gushed about the various meats in the butcher shop that are popular and showed off the space where his workers produce tortillas, which he said are served in half of all Mexican restaurants in Minnesota.
Hernandez has another section that’s special: vegetables.
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“I’m very proud that we bring number one tomatoes,” he said, referring to Grade A produce. “They’re really, really beautiful … Cilantro, I love the smell of cilantro.”
The outside view of Colonial Market & Restaurant on Sept. 12 in Minneapolis.
Sophia Marschall | MPR News
A boy who dreamed of success
Hernandez, who grew up just outside of Acapulco, Mexico, has always been excited about work and figuring out how to make money.
At 10, he would take people’s garbage to a dump three miles away for three pesos. He hired his older brother to help him carry the refuse.
“I will knock on the doors and say, Hey, can I take your garbage?” he said. “I was making money. I was always an entrepreneur. I always have my own little businesses, which I really enjoy and like.”
Like thousands of others in Minnesota, Hernandez said he came to the U.S. as teenager and has DACA status — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
As an adult, the hustle continued. Hernandez, now 40, has worked in restaurants, construction, landscaping, car washing, and dishwashing.
“I did everything, anything I could in order to make it,” he said.
By the time he was 24, Hernandez started up an event photography business. He later moved on to magazine publishing; he opened a tax and accounting business and later invested in a car dealership.
In mid-2019 his business partner told him about a smaller market, Marisa’s, that was up for sale.
“So I said, ‘All right, let’s do that.’”
Bringing fresh produce to a food desert
Pineapples and bagged garlic on display at the Colonial Market and Restaurant in south Nicollet Ave in south Minneapolis.
Regina Medina | MPR News
Hernandez hopes that the fresh vegetables he is so proud of will also be a hit with customers at the grand opening of the second Colonial Market.
In February 2023, Aldi Supermarket closed its north Minneapolis store at Penn and Lowry Avenues, leaving nearby community members frustrated that another supermarket had shut its doors.
Earlier this summer, Minneapolis city leaders announced Colonial Market and its Mexican restaurant will take over the site.
City council member LaTrisha Vetaw, who represents the neighborhood, said she remembered what questions came to mind when she learned Aldi would close.
“What’s next? How can we ensure that people don’t go deeper into a food desert?,” Vetaw said.
She said she met Hernandez more than a year ago and he told her about his vision for the space and Vetaw said she looks forward to walking or biking to the new supermarket.
“I’m excited for the future of what Colonial is going to bring, not only the fresh fruits and vegetables but the jobs right here in this community,” she said.
The new Colonial Market will be located in a zip code where 34 percent of residents identify as African American; 34 percent identify as white and 14 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino.
And while the market will have a Mexican restaurant and sell ingredients used in Latin American dishes, it will also stock foods and ingredients for customers with different tastes.
Not only will Colonial Market bring fresh food back to this part of north Minneapolis, Hernandez said it will create 40 jobs paying between $18 to $20 per hour that come with healthcare benefits and paid time off.
The north Minneapolis store is expected to open in December. Hernandez also plans to open a second store in the Hi-Lake Shopping Center in October. And he says there are another five locations in the Twin Cities metro region in the works.
The inside of Colonial Market and Restaurant on Sept. 18, in Minneapolis. Daniel Hernandez, the store owner, hopes to open the store in the next few months.
Sophia Marschall | MPR News
“You will expose yourself to things that most of the public won’t see, except maybe once in their life. But yep, we’re doing it. Fire departments are doing it on a very regular basis,” said Mike Dobesh, president of MNFire, an organization dedicated to keeping firefighters healthy, mentally and physically, and on the job.
“The fire service is recognizing that any of those unexpected events that we go to, yes, we sign up to do it, but at the same time, those unexpected events can cause trauma; that trauma can lead to PTSD,” Dobesh said.
However, paying for all those firefighters on mandatory PTSD leave is putting the Minneapolis Fire Department in the red. It’s all the overtime needed to fill in for the firefighters on leave.
“From the therapists that I’ve talked to, usually eight to 10 visits can get that firefighter back on the rig,” Dobesh said, which is the goal of the mandatory leave with treatment. “But then it’s going to be something that’s going to have to be managed for the… probably the rest of their career, because it’s not something that’s just going to go away.”
Dobesh says that PTSD was the number one claim MNFire had on its critical illness policy last year.
In 2023, Minnesota lawmakers created the PTSD leave policy in an effort to keep firefighters from applying for permanent duty disability benefits. The policy requires firefighters and other first responders to take up to 32 weeks of paid leave and get treatment first.
“A trauma-informed therapist can meet with a firefighter, desensitize that firefighter, get them back to work,” Dobesh said.
But that policy is costing some fire departments millions. The Minneapolis Fire Department told the city council this week that 7% to 8% of its firefighters are currently out on PTSD leave, and the overtime other firefighters are working to fill in for them has put the department up to $7 million over budget in recent years. It’s projected to go over again this year.
So what are things they can do to maybe prevent some of these problems that they’re having because of PTSD? Speed up access to treatment, according to Dobesh.
“The sooner we can get in and have that firefighter seen, the more likely they’re going to have a very positive outcome and get back on the job,” he said.
Dobesh says if and when a firefighter needs help varies from person to person, but his organization provides five free treatment sessions for any firefighter who’s struggling.
Minnesota firefighters can call MnFIRE’s helpline 24/7 at 888-784-6634 or visit mnfirehealth.org.
MFD Interim Chief Melanie Rucker shared the following statement late Wednesday night:
“The utilization of these leaves is often unavoidable and reflects benefits that support the health and well-being of our fire personnel. We take the health and wellness very seriously, including mental health. Through transparent communication with leadership regarding evolving staffing needs and necessary overtime budget adjustments, we can effectively address the budget overages and return to a sustainable path forward.”
Click here to watch the Minneapolis Budget Committee meeting on May 4.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed a new ordinance that carries a ban on assault weapons but won’t take effect unless there are major changes to state law.
Minneapolis gun ban ordinance signed
What we know:
The Minneapolis City Council approved the ordinance during its meeting last week.
The firearm regulations ordinance includes a ban on assault weapons, ghost guns, binary triggers, and high-capacity magazines. The ordinance also includes safe storage provisions for firearms.
Big picture view:
Many of the provisions in the law won’t go into effect unless there is a change in state law. Currently, Minnesota law prevents municipalities from enacting gun regulations.
Minnesota law only allows cities to bar the discharge of firearms within city limits and adopt regulations that are identical to state laws. Any regulations that go beyond state law are voided, according to state statute.
Local perspective:
Action on the gun ordinance was spurred by last year’s shooting at Annunciation Church and School. Two students were killed while attending morning mass at the church and more than two dozen students and parishioners were hurt in the barrage of gunfire.
Last week, parents of Annunciation students spoke out in support of the ordinance at a public hearing.
Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus threatens lawsuit
The other side:
Last year, St. Paul passed a similar law. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus filed a lawsuit shortly after the ordinance was signed. Arguments were heard last month on the case and a judge has set a trial for next year.
In a statement last week, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus said it was evaluating its legal options in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Chair Bryan Strawser said:
“The City of Minneapolis is attempting to make a political statement with an ordinance it has no legal authority to enact. Minnesota law clearly preempts the entire field of firearms regulation, and local governments cannot simply ignore state statute because they dislike the policy outcome.
“If the City Council moves forward with this unlawful ordinance, we will evaluate every available legal option to challenge it, just as we did in Saint Paul.
“The law is not optional, even for Minneapolis.”
A man was hurt in a shooting in south Minneapolis late Tuesday night, according to police.
A report of shots fired brought officers to the 2600 block of Third Avenue South around 9:50 p.m., the Minneapolis Police Department said. They found evidence of gunfire and began investigating.
Later, a man with survivable gunshot wounds showed up at Hennepin Healthcare.
No one has been arrested.
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