Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood at a pivot point: “People need to start coming back”
MINNEAPOLIS — Some might say the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis is at a bit of a pivot point right now.
Kuva Salon is a business struggling to hang on.
“That’s what Uptown was: everybody came here to get their hair done,” said Will O’Hara, Kuva’s owner. “That’s why we opened here. It was a cool place to get your hair done.”
Several businesses though have closed the last few years.
O’Hara says foot traffic is down, stylists have left to work elsewhere and Kuva also now faces the possibility of having to close.
“My business is hurting, so it’s difficult when we owe back rent,” he said.
Aidan McCluskey, who lives in Uptown, says he’s noticed more vacancies recently.
“It’s not fun anymore,” he said. “Not as fun as it used to be.”
MORE NEWS: 3 shot on Lyndale Avenue in south Minneapolis
Lisa Ricci, another neighbor, says she’d like to see independent small businesses come to Uptown rather than corporate stores.
Scout was a clothing and gift store that just moved into Uptown last summer, but it’s already gone.
Its neighbor two doors down, Paper Source, is on its way out too. Julia Celley, the manager, says it’s because sales are down.
“Between not having enough places to attract people and then not having parking for the people who do want to come here from outside of the area, it’s just been a decline in customer traffic,” she said.
But people who know Uptown best say things are absolutely turning around.
For example, the Uptown Theater was packed for a concert Saturday night.
“We’re creating a renaissance and there are so many things going on here,” said Natasha Greiling, the president of the Uptown Association. “We have three live music venues now.”
O’Hara, the owner of Kuva, says Uptown is making a resurgence.
“There are new businesses coming back,” he said. “It’s going to be fine. People need to start coming back.”
Ricci says Uptown still has a strong feeling of community.
“I feel like the people that are meant to stay here will stay here, and that gives me hope,” she said.
Adding to navigation and parking issues is the Hennepin Avenue reconstruction. Greiling says the project will take two years.
The scene of the crash at 26th Avenue North and Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis woman was sentenced for her role in a deadly crash that killed two women and injured two other people in December 2024.
READ MORE: Minneapolis woman charged in fatal high-speed crash faces additional charges
Woman sentenced in fatal Minneapolis crash
Big picture view:
Prosecutors say Teniki Steward drove a Buick Enclave into a bus shelter and a Ford Explorer after speeding through a red light.
Both of the women in the Ford Explorer died in the crash. They were identified as 53-year-old Ester Jean Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Elaine Reece.
During the crash, the Ford Explorer went off the road, injuring a 17-year-old boy who was waiting for a school bus.
The passenger in Steward’s vehicle also suffered injuries.
Minneapolis police said that Steward was also injured in the crash.
Steward pleaded guilty to multiple murder charges.
What they’re saying:
During the sentencing, the daughter of one of the victims had a statement read on her behalf:
“There’s nothing that can truly prepare you for the moment your entire world is taken from you. Losing my mom has left a pain in my heart that words will never be able to explain.”
What’s next:
Minnesota law requires that Steward serves at least two-thirds of her sentence, a bit under eight-and-a-half years, in prison.
Fatal Emerson and 26th crash
The backstory:
According to the criminal complaint, through surveillance videos from the scene of the crash and witnesses, investigators learned that Steward, driving the Buick Enclave, had been driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Emerson Avenue North.
Before the fatal crash, Steward sped through the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and Broadway Avenue North, running a red light and nearly causing a crash, the charges said.
Steward then continued to speed northbound down Emerson Avenue North, and ran another red light at 26th Avenue North, hitting the Ford Explorer, which was traveling eastbound, according to the complaint.
The Ford Explorer had been at the intersection of Emerson and 26th on a green light.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty shared the following statement:
“This was an egregious act that took Rose and Esther’s lives and injured a child waiting to go to school at a bus stop. Ms. Steward was driving at extremely dangerous speeds on city streets and narrowly avoided multiple collisions before the incident occurred. Third-degree murder charges are appropriate to hold her accountable and protect our community.”
The Source: This story uses information gathered from an Olmsted County court appearance and previous FOX 9 reporting.
A motorcyclist is dead after an early morning crash in Minneapolis Friday morning.
The Minnesota State Patrol said that at 1:20 a.m., a Suzuki Motorcycle going north on I-35W at Johnson Street hit the left side of the median guard rail.
The motorcycle continued north for about another quarter mile before coming to a rest on the right-hand side.
State Patrol said the rider came to rest on the left shoulder. He was later identified as 21-year-old Andrew James Neuberger.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Rochester Spartans boys volleyball team played its second game on consecutive nights. The Spartans beat Minneapolis Camden 3-0.
Rochester’s next game will be Tuesday, April 21, at St. Anthony Village at 7:00 p.m.
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