ST. PAUL, Min. — Payne Avenue in St. Paul has fallen on hard times.
An area that was hit by numerous economic setbacks and a few holiday periods where survival was the only thing on the agenda.
“I don’t think people have thought of Payne Avenue as a great commercial shopping area for decades and it’s really at an influx point right now,” said Peter Majerle of the Latino Economic Development Center.
Brunson’s Pub opened in 2017 and owner Thomas Lafleche wasn’t sure if they were opening in the right neighborhood.
“It was a little bit of a tougher street, there were a little less businesses here,” Lafleche said.
In the midst of that struggle, something remarkable happened. Sharing optimism has brought new life to the streets.
“The entrepreneurs work together more often and it creates a better company culture and a better place for people to live and shop,” Lafleche said.
“This neighborhood has seen its share of immigrants. It started with Swedish and Italian. Now Hmong and Hispanic, Spanish and Hispanic are coming here. And so everyone’s different, right? Each of them has a story about how they got here. But what they are doing now is working together and forming this community and corridor,” Majerle said.
For Lorena Facio, owner of Sweet Sensation, the change was welcome.
She says the most important thing that has happened is that the neighborhood and businesses have started working together – a place where community is built.
“I think the future is bright, we’re on a good trajectory. It’s time to learn and grow. We definitely want people to come to Payne Avenue,” Lafleche said.
When a community comes together – when it refuses to let go of its dreams, its pride and its people – anything is possible. This is just the beginning.
