We're advocating for local businesses like you

Anna Tsantir

PAID LEAVE QUESTIONS
Do you have paid leave questions as a business owner? We’ve got answers! Through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), we can link you with experts to talk through any sticky points you’re encountering. Plus, we can help you figure out funds to cover the absence of any key staff.

WE’RE HIRING!
We bid farewell to staff member Colleen Budge as she opts to focus more on her marketing business, and are hiring a part-time executive director. Reach out if you’d like more information on the posting!

ADVOCACY
We advocate for our local businesses regularly. On Oct. 19, 2026, President Anna Tsantir, along with Janice Downing of the Coliseum, attended a city council budget committee hearing to advocate for an extension of the cultural district along Lake Street to go past Hiawatha into Longfellow. This will enable us to access more money to help pay for ambassadors to focus on keeping the area clean, safe and vibrant.
We learned a lot this year through our pilot Clean, Safe and Active Ambassador program and are seeking $150,000 in funds to bring it back next summer. This year, donations funded $60,000 for a four-month pilot along E. Lake at 27th and Minnehaha.

SCAMS
Two of our local businesses have been hit by scams involving Quickbook invoices sent to their customers from someone who wasn’t them. Their advice: check with the company directly before paying invoices. In one case, a Wonderwoman Construction client paid the fake invoice, losing thousands of dollars that they are working to recoup. The email address of the scam artist was off by a letter from the company’s email address. Meanwhile, the companies are working to tighten up their customer lists to keep them safe from hackers. We may hold a workshop in the future to help businesses prepare for issues like this.

OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS
Square Roots restaurant has officially opened in the former Du Nord restaurant space at the Coliseum. Leading it up is Jared Brewington, formerly of Funky Grits near 38th and Chicago. The restaurant provides training to those in the culinary fields, and sets its prices to be affordable.
Levitated Dispensary opened at 4145 Hiawatha. Two of its four co-owners operate Elevated Beer, Wine and Spirits next door.
Mixed Culture Brewing has started fall patio days during three weekends in the lead-up to opening their tasting room, serving inaugural beers: Stumpy Cow Blond, Oktoberfest, and Nouveau IPA.
Falls Liquor closed and then reopened under new ownership once they received the appropriate licenses. Arya Coffee closed and Stone Phin (a Vietnamese coffee shop) will be moving in. Near it, the Legacy Building has closed as Fancy and Emmanuel Duncan move on to new projects, including Fancy’s upcoming children’s book, “The Super-Special-Spectacular Fort.” Iron Clubworks opened at 3931 E Lake St.; they repair golf clubs. Urban Forage is seeking a new owner, if you know of anyone who would like to run an urban winery and cidery. Minnehaha Scoop is closed for the winter, which also means they aren’t selling kombucha, brewed by owner James Fried’s brother, Paul Freid of John The Baptist Beverage company, until they reopen next spring. We’ll miss getting a growler full!
Did we miss anything? Email info@longfellowbusinessassociation.org.
Anna Tsantir of Two Bettys Green Cleaning Company is the president of the Longfellow Business Association.