S.H.A.K.E. breathes new life into Coliseum Building

The Historic Coliseum Building in the Longfellow neighborhood has undergone a dramatic transformation. Built in 1917, the stately brick building anchors the corner of East Lake Street and 27th Avenue South – where it has served the needs of the community in many different ways for more than a century. 

Four local businesswomen stepped in to save the building from destruction in 2021. It was slated for demolition because of heavy damage sustained in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder the year before. The fully renovated Historic Coliseum Building is now preparing to celebrate its first anniversary on Juneteenth 2025. 

 

BIPOC business owners Alicia Belton (Urban Design Perspectives), Janice Downing (Common Sense Consulting), and business co-founder Shanelle Montana (Du Nord Cocktail Room) co-developed the Historic Coliseum Building along with Taylor Smrikárova of the nonprofit community development corporation Redesign, Inc., who served as lead developer.

To hear Belton tell it, the first time they toured the building it wasn’t exactly love at first sight. She said, “The building had obviously been through tough times. It was cold, dark, and damp but it was also clear that it had ‘great bones.’”

Because the Coliseum is one block from the former Third Precinct Minneapolis Police Station, it took a particularly heavy hit in the uprising. Belton said, “It’s hard to look outside our windows and see the boarded-up former precinct every day, but it also reminds us of why we’re doing the work we do.”

 

Belton and Downing have been friends and colleagues for more than 30 years. In addition to redeveloping the building, they have created a Black-owned, women-owned business on the second floor of the Coliseum Building called S.H.A.K.E. Their vision is to curate spaces for BIPOC entrepreneurs and professionals to work with others in a supportive environment, empowering businesses from underrepresented communities to grow and thrive there.

The letters that make up the acronym S.H.A.K.E. represent their business values of service, honesty, adaptability, kindness, and experience. Each of the five conference spaces they have available for rent is named for one of these business values. 

Belton said, “While our spaces are centered on BIPOC entrepreneurs and professionals, all are welcome who share our values and sense of mission. Our event center is named for Dr. Josie R. Johnson, the first Black regent at the University of Minnesota. Our learning center is named for Dr. Reatha Clark King, the first Black president of Metro State University and the retired executive director of the General Mills Foundation. We are excited to carry forth their spirit of working for justice, and to honor them as strong, enduring role models in our community.”

To date, S.H.A.K.E. has hosted nonprofit organizations, corporate businesses, retirement parties, baby showers, book clubs, fundraising events, and neighborhood public safety meetings to name a few. Their spaces can accommodate groups from 2-200, and events include the planning services of one of their concierges. 

 

A guiding principle behind the vision of S.H.A.K.E. is to lift up women, and to address their unique needs. There is easy access on the second floor of the Coliseum Building to a lactation room, where mothers can nurse their children in privacy. There is a meditation room, where those needing a quiet space for prayer can do so with dignity. There is also a station for Wudu, the Islamic ritual of washing one’s face, hands, arms, head, and feet with water before prayer, an all-gender restroom, free off-street parking, and indoor bike storage.

To inquire about pricing and availability of rental spaces, contact www.shakeatthecoliseum.com/rental-spaces. Spaces are available to rent for half day, full day and evening events. Rental rates vary on size and length of event; rooms can be bundled together for multi-use events.

 

This day of celebration is a continuation of Juneteenth, and kicks off with a parade starting at 2800 East Lake Street, one block east of the  Coliseum Building, at 9 a.m. S.H.A.K.E. is partnering with Bus Stop Mamas to shine light on the critical value of women in the community as mothers, spouses, aunties, friends, sisters, neighbors, and caregivers. The very first “Mama Parade” is a one-mile walk along East Lake Street between the Coliseum and 35th Avenue that celebrates the essential contributions of mothers and caregivers in our communities.  

Bus Stop Mamas is a platform for connecting women looking for work with companies that want to hire them – especially women who may have stepped out of the workplace to raise children or are looking for hourly or part-time work. 

From 10 a.m. to noon, S.H.A.K.E. and the Bus Stop Mamas are co-sponsoring a job fair and wellness event on the first floor of the Coliseum Building. From noon to 2 p.m., there will be an open house with tours of the spaces available for rent on the second floor. No pre-registration is necessary. 

The Du Nord Cocktail Room, located on the first floor, will be hosting an anniversary party from 3-9 p.m.  

Belton said, “We want people to know we’re here, and that we’re open for business! It was really important for us to bring a level of hope to this community. We see ourselves as a catalyst for other businesses to grow in this building. We want to be a resource to others – and a good neighbor.”