Minneapolis, MN
Small Business Saturday event in North Loop highlights local shopping
Shoppers looking to support small, local businesses following the rush of Black Friday got the opportunity this weekend.
Small Business Saturday is when small businesses offer deals during the busy holiday shopping season and encourage people to shop locally.
The state of Minnesota says there are 500,000 small businesses across the state, and in Minneapolis’ North Loop, 12 businesses hosted the ‘Shop Small Crawl.’
“Small Business Saturday creating a day that is intentionally focused on the small locally owned businesses is really huge,” said Rachel Cafferty, the owner of Story and Teller.
Cafferty opened the home goods shop online last year and then moved to North Loop about eight months ago.
Her business, along with her next-door neighbor Treats Cereal Bar & Boba and the Hewing Hotel, are just a few to host the Shop Small Crawl.
Visitors got a postcard and if they visited all 12 shops, they got the chance to win a prize valued at over $1,200. Shoppers who turned in their cards will find out if they won a prize next week.
The state of Minnesota says small businesses employ 75% of Minnesotans.
Many businesses are still trying to bounce back from the pandemic and deal with inflation, with so many relying on Small Business Saturday to help boost sales.
“Supporting small local businesses keeps those dollars in your community,” said Cafferty. “And having a dedicated day to really drum up support helps make sure that our doors stay open so we can continue to bring value and connection into our neighborhoods here in the Twin Cities.”
Minneapolis leaders are divided over whether to keep paying for ShotSpotter as the city weighs a new contract for the gunfire detection system.
A public hearing at City Hall focused on the technology as Minneapolis negotiates a new contract with SoundThinking, the company that provides ShotSpotter. Deputy Chief of Investigations Travis Riddle told the council the system supports gun violence strategies and can alert police no later than 60 seconds after shots are fired.
Critics at the hearing said the technology is not proven enough and argued the money could be spent in other ways. The proposed deal would cost $3.7 million through 2029 and would expand ShotSpotter into new areas of Minneapolis.
“We have actually had a contract with SoundThinking for their ShotSpotter services since 2014, and even with this technology for over 12 years now, MPD’s solve rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings were some of the worst in the country,” Council member Robin Wonsley said.
Council members pushed back on the long-term proposal and said they want a one-year deal instead. Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw disagreed with concerns raised by her colleague during the debate.
“In my opinion, and in folks I’ve heard from the North Side who have shown up here time and time again to say that we want this technology, we believe that ShotSpotter is a tool that the police use to save lives,” LaTrisha Vetaw said
City Council is set to take up the issue again on June 17. Minneapolis police are expected to return with a one-year contract instead of the three-year contract brought forward at the hearing.
Premiere vocal ensemble, Cantus is bringing the songs of Dolly Parton to the stage with fresh interpretations. The show will cover her classics like “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” Cantus Presents, COVERS: Dolly & Friends runs through June 7th at the Luminary Arts Center at 700 N 1st St. in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis police are investigating a hit-and-run that left a man seriously injured Tuesday afternoon.
The crash happened near Oliver Avenue North and Lowry Avenue North just before 2 p.m., according to the Minneapolis Police Department.
Investigators say an SUV struck another vehicle, which then collided with a motorcyclist. The driver of the SUV then fled the scene.
The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. Police say the driver of the other vehicle was not injured.
No arrests have been made as of Tuesday night.
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