We are finding ourselves once again needing to rally as a community and support our members in particular need. As a Community Bank it is our mission to help all of our community members thrive. We have always said that our small businesses are the heartbeat of our beloved State. We were here when they had to shut their doors processing over 300 PPP loans and helping save over 4,200 jobs and we are still here to help pick up the pieces from the past few weeks.
Today we are going to look ahead and share ways we can show tangible support to our local community. Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine recently shared a list of Black-Owned Businesses in the Twin Cities. How you spend your money has a huge, visible impact on your local community. It's also great way of building racial equality. We are sharing just a few, you can find the full list at mspmag.com.
Food & Drink
I had the pleasure of dining at Soul Bowl the brainchild of Gerard and Britney Klass, a new way to do soul food. Patrons can customize their bowls with reinvented, but classic flavors and textures. Check them out in Graze Food Hall. I chose the Blue Ivy if you were wondering. Delicious!
One Fermentary & Taproom, the experimental brewpub that opened at the end of 2019, is co-owned by Ramsey Louder. Besides dishing out tasty beers, including collaborations with other local breweries, Louder and Joseph Alton, the other co-owner, want to make the craft beer scene more diverse. One is taking orders to go.
B'beri Desserts in Coon Rapids is owned by Diane and Fritz Ebanda. B'beri makes quiches, cakes, tarts, and eclairs. They offer a delivery service to customers in the Twin Cities and can be found at the Maple Grove, Shoreview, and New Hope Farmers Markets.
Du Nord Craft Spirits, a family business owned by Chris and Shanelle Montana, has strived over the past seven years to diversify the craft alcohol community and recruit women and people of color. While their cocktail room is currently closed, you can still pick up some of their award-winning spirits, like the Apple Du Nord or Fitzgerald Gin. You may not know this, but they also produced massive batches of sanitizer amidst the COVID outbreak. Now they have pivoted once again and are using their space as a food shelf and donation center. You can find more information about the Du Nord Riot Recovery Fund on their Gofundme page.
The Minneapolis distillery that started making hand sanitizer after COVID 19 hit is now pivoting once again and turning it's space into a food shelf and donation center. Learn more about the Du Nord Riot Recovery fund on their Gofundme page.
Beauty and Wellness
The Nail Bar, owned by Kiara Ellis, offers manicures, pedicures, nail art and design, and nail enhancements in Uptown. They also have a shop filled with phone cases, t-shirts, and bags.
Omari Brow Studio, owned by Syreeta Seve, offers threading, eyebrow waxing and lash lifts in a modern, relaxing space in St. Paul. They're almost ready to launch online threading master class, where you can distance-learn from the Omari experts themselves–keep an eye out!
The Lash Haus specializes in lash extensions and emphasizes education in south Minneapolis.
Rituals, owned by Antoinette Williams, offers everything beauty related from hair products, to body butter, to aromatherapy, and more. Their sweet smelling shop in Midtown Global Market is currently closed, but their online store is always open.
Retail
D.NOLO has been open in the North Loop since 2013, offering chic womenswear, home furnishings, and more. This is also the home of one of our favorites Jaxon Grey.
Gigi's Flair Emporium sells flair including pins, patches, stickers, and magnets. Gigi's flair is available for sale inside The Future in The Witch District in south Minneapolis. You can also buy online at two locations.
Bouquets by Carolyn, opened in 1990, is the first floral shop owned by a black woman in St. Paul. Bouquets by Carolyn has the perfect flowers for whatever the occasion is, from celebrations to sympathy flowers, birthdays, and more.
Fitness
612 Jungle is a hip hop yoga studio that offers a range of classes perfectly suited for those just beginning, intermediate, and experts. During coronavirus, 612 Jungle has been providing free classes via Instagram just about every day.
Element Boxing and Fitness is the first co-working and collaborative boxing gym in the world. They provide exercise and wellness programs for both youth and adults.
PUSH Fitness Studio in St. Paul has a variety of classes, including yoga, tabata, and barre. Their classes have been made available online through Zoom during coronavirus.
Medicine
Adefris & Toppin Women's Specialists, M.D.P.C. is a women's health clinic in Woodbury providing comprehensive Ob/Gyn care.
Crutchfield Dermatology and Charles E. Crutchfield III provide thorough dermatologic care in Eagan and are now offering virtual visits.
Arts
Mosaic on a Stick is an Indigenous and black-owned business in St. Paul prioritizing accessibility to art and creative expression. The community art studio and supply store offers classes where you can make a mosaic.
New Rules features a community workspace for members designed to assist creatives in pursuing their goals and building lasting relationships. Located in North Minneapolis, New Rules also has event space and a social marketplace where artists’ works are sold to the public, supporting the local community.
New Dawn Theatre, located in St. Paul, opened in 2018. In a Pioneer Press article, founder Austene Van said the theatre wants to put a spotlight on voices that often aren't heard, focusing on minorities, women, and LGBTQIA+ people. Past plays included Crowns and Skeleton Crew.
Printing
Wolfpack Promotionals specializes in high-quality, personalized promotional printing, strategic marketing, and corporate branding. Wolfpack also sells its own line of Alpha Wear apparel.
Pets
St. Paws Pet Grooming in St. Paul offers daycare and boarding, grooming, and sweet peanut butter treats for your furry friends.
This is just one way to show your support in the local community. Security Bank will continue to be a resource for all of the members of our communities. When we say we are here for you Minnesota, we mean all of you. We are Minnesota Strong. We stand together.
