As the gift-giving season begins, some are turning to malls for Black Friday deals or online retailers for Cyber Monday — and here in St. Paul, shoppers are turning to Grand Avenue for Small Business Saturday.
Grand Avenue, a staple of the Twin Cities, has recently made headlines for job openings left by well-known national brands, but some local small business owners have dismissed the concerns. In the past twelve months, more than ten new small businesses have opened their doors on Grand Avenue.
“Every year (Small Business Saturday) is such a wonderful spotlight on our small business community that powers our economy and supports nearly 50 percent of the workforce in the state of Minnesota,” said Brian McDonald, Minnesota district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration. office.
Founded in 2010 by American Express, Small Business Saturday is celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and brought in an estimated $17 billion last year, according to a consumer insights study commissioned by American Express.
Minnesota is home to 547,493 small businesses, and the majority of small businesses rely on holiday purchases for a quarter of their annual revenue, McDonald said.
Here we take a look at nine small businesses that recently opened their doors on the Avenue, which originally became a shopping destination with an emphasis on local entrepreneurship.
Betty’s baking
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A box of cookies from Baking Betty’s on Grand Ave. in St. Paul on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
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Gourmet cookie and pastry company Baking Betty’s officially opened its doors last month on Grand Avenue, where the best-selling cookie flavors to date are S’mores and Buckeye, a combination of chocolate and peanut butter.
Born in 2012 from a humble mall kiosk in California, Baking Betty’s has made its way to the Mall of America and now hopes to become a community staple in St. Paul.
When owner Emily Osterberg decided not to renew her five-year lease at the Mall of America, “I looked everywhere,” she said, including Edina and Minnetonka.
Osterberg, a Minnesota native, said she prioritized retail spaces with strong community ties and Grand Avenue fit that bill.
“I love that we can support each other,” she said of the other business owners along the avenue.
This month’s signature cookie flavor is Pecan Pie, one of Osterberg’s seasonal favorites, she said. Otherwise, she opts for the Goat Cheese and Raspberry Jam cookie.
With a few weeks of sales to look back on, Osterberg said, “It was overwhelming to see how many people came in.”
Betty’s baking: 1700 Grand Ave. and www.bakingbettys.com
Baby darling
“I’ve wanted to be in the Twin Cities for 25 years,” said Georgia Hurley, owner of children’s clothing store Baby Baby.
Baby Baby, which opened its flagship location in Rochester in 1999, sells toys, games and children’s clothing from preemie sizes to child size 18. “We’re little men and women’s best-kept secret,” Hurley jokes.
The Grand Avenue location, which had its soft opening in July, is a dream come true, Hurley said.
“I always wanted to be at Grand because it was one of my favorite places to come and shop,” she said. “We are happy to be part of this community.”
Although the clientele on Grand Avenue differs from that in Rochester, Hurley said she and her staff enjoy learning about the different needs of the children here in St. Paul.
“Every child is different and unique and that’s what we like to celebrate, that’s the fun of being a kid and enjoying life as a kid,” she said.
Baby Baby: 867 Grand Ave. and www.babybaby101.com
Mick’s Bottle Shop
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Owners Matt Huntington, left, and Mick O’Connell at Mick’s Bottle Shop on Grand Avenue in St. Paul on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
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Before opening his own bottle shop in May, Mick O’Connell spent more than a decade in the alcohol industry.
Having worked for companies like St. Paul-based Johnson Brothers Liquors and The Wine Thief & Ale Jail in Crystal, O’Connell knows how to serve customers.
Mick’s Bottle Shop, co-owned by Matt Huntington, focuses on fine wines and craft beer, in addition to a wall full of whiskey, chilled THC seltzer and an extensive selection of non-alcoholic drinks.
If a customer can’t find what they’re looking for, O’Connell says he’ll do his best to get it in stock.
In one such case, Mick’s placed a special order for a customer trying to track down Fernet Vallet, a Mexican Fernet with notes of menthol, spearmint, molasses and bitter flowers.
“As long as it’s available in the state, we’ll source it for them,” O’Connell said.
Mick’s bottle shop: 666 Grand Ave. and www.facebook.com/MicksBottleShop
Planet Home Loans
Planet Home Lending, a mortgage lender based in Connecticut, opened its St. Paul branch in July after acquiring Axia Home Loans, manager Chris Jensen said.
The three-person office, located a block off Main Street, offers homebuyer classes and real estate agent training and partners with Minnesota Housing and its First-Generation Homebuyer programs.
Planet Home Lending also hosts a monthly class to educate people interested in buying a home, said Jensen, who is also president of the Grand Avenue Business Association.
Planet home loans: 90 S. Dale St. and pipr.es/krjz1ta
Music on Grand
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Music On Grand co-founder Tyler Berry hands new student Kwynn Taylor, 6, ukulele equipment for his first lesson in St. Paul on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
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Ukulele, clarinet, piano, drums, violin and singing lessons are just some of the lessons offered at Music on Grand.
The music school, which opened in September, spans two floors, 2,500 square feet and can offer classes to about 400 students, said co-founder and creative director Tyler Berry.
As for the students, Berry said there are workshops for everyone from newborns to their oldest student, who is 78 years old.
Berry said he and co-founder Rose Carroll, a St. Paul native who also serves as director of operations, had looked at other locations before Grand Avenue, but after researching the need in the community, they decided to take the plunge.
When they first opened, Berry thought the students would be largely of school age, but a welcome surprise was the number of retirees taking the time to learn an instrument they’ve always wanted to learn.
Currently, the school, which also sells instruments and music books, has about 30 students, Berry said, and more than half of the students are 55 or older.
As the school continues to grow, Berry hopes to find ways to use the square footage in front of the store for musical performances. In the coming months, they plan to develop programs for home-schooled students.
Music on Grand: 740 Grand Ave. and www.musicongrand.com
Lilium Center
Stacia Hanson launched Lilium Center, a mental health clinic, more than 10 years ago on Grand Avenue as a solo practice. As the clinic grew, Hanson chose to move to Edina.
Now employing more than two dozen mental health professionals, Lilium Center has expanded its offices to serve clients from Edina and the original Stamp Grounds along Grand Avenue.
“I missed the character, the charm and the business,” Hanson said of the avenue.
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At the clinic’s Grand location, which opened last December, Hanson said they offer outpatient psychotherapy, life coaching, group therapy and corporate executive team building.
“We really work on resilience and personal growth, so we thoughtfully designed the Grand Avenue location,” said Hanson, which features a fireplace, chandelier and plenty of plants to connect people with nature.
“There are so many different reasons to decide to do business in Grand and support the east side of the metro,” Hanson said, noting the walkability of the area.
“(Clients) come for therapy, but then go to a bookstore or go for coffee,” Hanson said.
As the clinic continues to grow its client base along the Avenue, Hanson said they look forward to participating in community events. “I feel very honored to be where we are,” she said.
Lily Center: 1197 Grand Ave. and www.lilium-center.com
Russells
Russell’s, one of the newest eateries on Grand, opened a few weeks ago in the place of the iconic Tavern on Grand.
Owned by Todd Russell, the restaurant serves fine American fare such as jerk chicken, prime rib, walleye nachos and a smash burger with bacon jam.
The restaurant has a cabin-like interior and a stylish lounge, wrote Jared Kaufman in a recent Pioneer Press review: “Think leather, wood, dark brick and eclectic wall art depicting mostly birds dressed in formal men’s attire.”
In addition to a full bar of classic cocktails, Russell’s offers nearly a dozen non-alcoholic cocktails, wines and beers.
Russell’s: 656 Grand Ave. and russellsstpaul.com
At work
Employment and recruitment agency AtWork opened its doors in September and is already off to a busy start, says Caroline McKee, the company’s business development manager.
A franchise based in Tennessee, AtWork’s Grand Avenue location marks the company’s first venture into Minnesota.
The company offers direct hiring, rapid hiring and temporary hiring services, McKee said. “We consider ourselves matchmakers. We try to find candidates who really want to be in that position and a company that wants that type of person,” she said.
The Grand Avenue building, which employs four, is a home that has been commercialized, McKee said, adding to the neighborhood’s appeal.
At work: 1272 Grand Ave. and www.atwork.com/locations/saint-paul
Gray area
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Owners Kimberly Brenner, left, and Billy Drexler stand behind the counter of their Gray Area on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue on Friday, November 29, 2024. Gray Area sells Minnesota-made, hemp-derived seltzers, gummies, chocolates and hopes to soon be licensed to sell marijuana products. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
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Perhaps the youngest business along the Avenue, Gray Area Pharmacy, celebrated its grand opening on Friday.
Gray Area, owned by Bill Drexler and Kimberly Brennan, sells Minnesota-made hemp-derived seltzers, gummies and chocolates and hopes to soon obtain a license to sell marijuana products.
Drexler, who has a background in real estate, said he has been in the hemp and cannabis industry for more than two decades and was one of the judges of the first Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam.
Brennan, who was responsible for the company’s design, worked as a stylist in St. Paul for more than twenty years.
True St. Paulites, Drexler and Brennan “lived our entire lives within a mile of Grand Avenue,” Drexler said. “We like to support local businesses in our community and Grand Avenue is a big place for that.”
Gray area: 1330 Grand Ave. and greyareacannabis.com
Also new on the avenue
Stitches and styles: A vintage clothing store, located at 58 S. Hamline Ave.
Niko Niko Boba: A bubble tea shop, located at 1055 Grand Ave.
Razava Bread Co.: A bakery at 685 Grand Ave. (available soon)
Fresh tumbling: A coin laundry at 1745 Grand Ave. (available soon)
