With Halloween well over a week away and leaves just beginning to turn, a temporary Christmas-themed pastry shop has opened its doors in the middle of October.

Crowds were out the door Wednesday night at the opening of the Merry Marc Heu Christmas Pop-Up in Minneapolis.

“I’m a little bit embarrassed by how much I love Christmas,” said Gaosong Heu, co-founder of Marc Heu Patisserie Paris.

Heu, alongside her husband and chef, Marc Heu, said they found vacant space in Linden Hills less than two months ago. They’re selling their croissants, cakes, tarts and drinks, much like they do at their St. Paul location. This Christmas shop just adds a bit more holiday flair.

“The neighbors wer just so curious they were like ‘what are you doing, why is there trees and lights?’” said Heu.

“I was excited to see that it was just down the street from where we live,” said Megan Shakow.

Shakow was at the pop-up Sunday, despite the fact her Halloween decorations aren’t even up yet.

“It’s a little odd, feels a little premature, but I like Christmas,” said Shakow.

“We heard that like things sold out by noon yesterday, so we were like we have to be here before that happens,” said Oubedia Ouro-Akondo.    

Ouro-Akondo and her friend Cathy Ngo wanted to see the holiday hype firsthand. Ouro-Akondo said she’s feeling the October Christmas spirit, despite the fact it’s way too early to decorate at home.

“I just thought since we’re going into the holiday season, people love Christmas, I love Christmas, let’s do a holiday pop-up,” said Heu.

The pop-up stays up through Dec. 31 and is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Heu said she and her husband are in talks with the building owner to potentially stay at the location beyond the holidays.

MINNESOTA (WCCO News) – Thousands took to the streets throughout dozens of Minnesota communities, protesting President Trump’s policies. The protest was part of the nationwide “No Kings” movement.

It is the second nationally organized rally under the “No Kings movement” this year. The first was in June, designed to counter Mr. Trump’s military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, as well as Trump’s 79th birthday.

Marchers on Saturday voiced concerns about the National Guard being used to police cities, immigration enforcement, and “corruption and cruelty” from the Trump administration.

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith made an appearance at the Minneapolis protest.

“I really have not seen anything like it,” said Smith. “There is a sense of patriotism and love of country — and that’s the foundation to live off for any democracy.”

“I am proud of the turnout and the people and the horn honking and so forth. That’s terrific. And it scares, I believe it scares Trump, or if it doesn’t, it should,” said Dave Brandenburg, a former military veteran and a Lakeville resident who participated in his local “No Kings” protest.

Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer was on Fox Business News earlier this week and discussed the “No Kings” protests.

“We call it the hate America rally. Because you’ll see the hate for America all over this thing when they show up,” Emmer said.

“The rumor is they can’t end the shutdown beforehand because this small, violent vocal group is the only one that’s happy about it.”

At least one Minnesotan disagrees with Emmer’s comments.

“Honestly, Tom Emmer should be ashamed. That’s what made me come out,” said Louis Koahn of Minneapolis.

Indivisible Twin Cities, Women’s March Minnesota, and the Minnesota AFL-CIO organized Saturday’s protest. Indivisible Twin Cities estimates 100,000 people rallied downtown.

“There are no kings in America, and we believe in affordable health care, good jobs, safe communities, democracy, and the Constitution,” said Jennifer O’Brien with Invisible Twin Cities during a press conference held Friday.

Other “No Kings” events are planned in Duluth, St. Cloud, Owatonna, and Alexandria, among other Minnesota communities.

Nationally, the events were coordinated by No Kings Coalition, which says that nearly 7 million people attended No Kings Day of Peaceful Action events in more than 2,700 cities. The group is calling it one of the largest single-day nationwide demonstrations in U.S. history.

Copyright 2025 KVLY. All rights reserved.