A Guide To Black-Owned Minneapolis
Minneapolis and St. Paul — the two hubs that make up the collective Twin Cities—became the foundation of Minnesota’s Black community in the late 1800s during the Great Migration, a time when Black Southerners traveled north in search of better jobs and opportunities. Today, Black history and culture are thriving, with Black-owned businesses spread across the two cities.
To get the best recommendations on where to spend your time and money on your next visit, we asked Minneapolis local Hope Ogunbamiyo of Hopes and Dreams Travel to share her Black-owned go-tos, from a can’t-miss comics store to Prince’s iconic Paisley Park.
“I patronize and promote black owned businesses because it’s important to uplift and support our community,” says Ogunbamiyo. “It’s my duty as a black business owner to support other black businesses, and I do so with honor. Black business in Minnesota makes up a very small community—a community set and services with pride.”
Where to eat
When it comes to soul food, Taste of Rondo should be first on your list. Beloved by St. Paul locals, it’s a go-to spot on summer Fridays, thanks to weekly live music and an outdoor patio. A slew of the menu is named after the city’s iconic streets—like the signature Rondo Ave punch, the Aurora Avenue shrimp and grits, and the Louis St. po’ boy—and should you be here on a Sunday, you can’t go wrong with the exclusive Mama’s Pot Roast.
On West Broadway Ave. in North Minneapolis, just steps from the Old Highland Peace Garden, Sammy’s Avenue Eatery has made a name for itself as a choice scene for breakfast and lunch. Start your day with an egg, cheese, and turkey pastrami sandwich, grab a casual lunch of a jerk chicken sandwich with fries, and cap off the meal with a slice of cake, pie, or banana pudding.
Rock and roll is alive, and it lives in Minneapolis—and no one knows that better than Cheesecake Funk, officially so named by the Purple One Himself, the late, great Prince. He was such a fan that, having catered the dessert table for “The Beautiful Collection” launch at Paisley Park in July of 2021, it is now the the only food item offered at Paisley Park on a daily basis.
These sweet treats are not to be missed, and you can order them at all eight Twin Cities Crave restaurants, Tequila Butcher, Coastal Seafoods Minneapolis, Union Rooftop, The Butchers Tail, Oak Eatery and Oak 19 restaurant, along with it being on both the restaurant and room service menu at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest Hotel.
Additionally, orders can be placed 2-3 days prior to desired pickup via the website, giving you something decadent to look forward to as you plan your trip to the Twin Cities. Owner Vanessa Drews shares a kitchen with the pickup location, Minneapolis Marriott Southwest Hotel.
Some bestsellers include white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, chocolate rain cheesecake, banana cream cheesecake, and the white chocolate caramel cheesecake.
A fusion between African, American, and Mediterranean cuisine, the Afro Deli on Washington Avenue in Minneapolis East offers a unique mix of flavors. From their signature Afro steak dinner, curried chicken, and lamb gyros, to their veggie stew, Somali sweet spiced tea, baklava and tres leches cake, it’s a great spot for bringing together tastes for different corners of the world onto one table. A hop and a skip from the Weisman Art Museum and the Prospect Park Water Tower, there’s plenty to take in both before, and after those tasty vittles!
What do see and do
Since 2018, the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery has been preserving, curating, and holding events to educate visitors on Black history in Minnesota. From art exhibitions to scholarly lectures, spoken word to panel discussions on the state of Black business in Minneapolis, the MAAHM aims to nurture your mind, heart, and soul.
The current art exhibition features the Community Quilt Project, which will run through July 1, 2023, and the permanent Unbreakable: Celebrating the Resilience of African Americans in Minnesota exhibit.
Museum hours are Tuesday-Friday, 1p-5p, and Saturday 10a-2p.
Minneapolis is synonymous with the late, great musical mastermind, Prince. Paisley Park opened in 1987, and was the site where Prince—and a ton of other greats such as Lizzo, Tevin Campbell, REM, and Madonna—recorded songs that are still dominating radio stations today.
Open Thursday through Monday, tickets must be ordered in advance using the following link: https://www.paisleypark.com/tickets. So get out your flyest purple duds, and prepare to walk the same halls once traversed by Prince Rogers Nelson, musician, innovator, legend. And don’t forget to order your slice of Cheesecake Funk while you’re there!
A hip-hop yoga studio? Yes, please! 612 Jungle’s owner, Gabrielle Roberts, had one goal upon completing her yogi certification: “to make yoga accessible, relatable, and empowering for everyone.” From the lower-impact “R&B Restore” sessions to the “Trappin’ Hard” class—a hot vinyasa session for more advanced yogis—there are options for those at every stage of their yoga journey. You can pop into one of those studio class for $20, or join the pay-what-you-want outdoor classes each Sunday at the Dickman Park farmer’s market throughout the summer and fall.
Head on over to Papa Legba Lounge to groove and schmooze. Open seven days a week, the signature cocktails are crafted by an expert mixologist, and you can enjoy live music from a variety of accomplished artists, including Trio Caroica bring bossa nova and Brazilian jazz to the stage, Bass Face Dre plucking bass lines that are sure to get your hips moving, Taliah Elizabeth crooning some of your favorite R&B hits, along with some original covers~ the list goes on. Check out their live music calendar, and enjoy the sounds you can only experience at Papa Legba Lounge. The classy (but still laidback) ambiance makes this one of the best places to be out and about in Minneapolis.
If you’re here for the drama, Penumbra Theatre is home to some of the best live performances in the Twin Cities. With a focus on African-American performance art, the Penumbra Theatre’s mission to “maintain and stabilize a Black performing arts community” is achieved by offering productions, workshops, performance space, and opportunities that have historically been inaccessible to the Black community on a grand scale.
With annual reprisals of the Black Nativity, past performances of “for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf”, August Wilson’s “Jitney” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, “Rollin’ on the T.O.B.A.” and so much more, you definitely need to check out their repertoire, and keep up with their ever-changing events page to see what might be happening at the Penumbra while you’re in the Twin Cities.
Located at 37th Street and Park Avenue, the Say Their Names Cemetery was established by artists Anna Barber and Connor Wright in 2020 in response to George Floyd’s murder just a few blocks away. Today, the art installation and symbolic cemetery marks the lives of more than 100 Black Americans lost at the hands of police, including Sean Bell and Breonna Taylor. Nearby, at the intersection of 38th Street East and Chicago Ave. South, you’ll find the George Floyd Memorial, where people continue to bring offerings and flowers.
With the overwhelming support of the Minneapolis community, there is a push to replace the temporary headstones with permanent ones. Currently standing as an outdoor art installation, it’s suggested you go during daylight hours, to ensure you’re able to take in the full impact of this ever-expanding memorial.
Where to shop
Established in 1998, Mind’s Eye has been serving the Twin Cities’ southern suburbs for over 20 years with its ultra-organized collection of comic books, graphic novels, manga, toys, models, and posters. Now-owner Eric Childs was a committed customer at Mind’s Eye before taking over the store in 2018, bringing a special focus to Black-authored comics and graphic novels that celebrate Black history and culture.
For fans of graphic novels, “Dark Blood” is a title in stock for fans of The Walking Dead, Into The Badlands, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and so much more. Described as a “bold, evocative genre-bending saga”, this story, complete with a Black protagonist, champions resilience, the importance of family, and the immutable love that sustains us through the unimaginable.
To support the local BIPOC comic book creators, definitely pick up the Mind’s Eye Comics exclusive, Lake of Tears. “A story of captivity and redemption told through the eyes of three teenagers who meet on Lake Volta. It is an ode to the plight of many children who are trafficked and forced to work in Ghana’s hazardous inland fishing industry.”
And if what you’re looking for is more mainstream, Mind’s Eye has a huge selection of comics from DC, Marvel, manga, and various indie comics, along with great models, games, and apparel.
Housed in the old Sears building on Lake Street, the Midtown Global Market has vendors and eateries that blend history, culture, cuisine, and the arts for anyone seeking authentic, multi-ethnic wares. With over 45 businesses spanning over 22 cultures, you will be introduced to an extraordinary variety of tastes, arts, and crafts, as well as music and dance programs throughout the week.
If you have a taste for Moroccan, stop by Moroccan Flavors for a delicious taste of couscous, mediterranean salads, sandwiches and tagines. To flaunt that pan-African style, stop by the New Start Fashion stall Monday-Saturdays, 10a-6p. For beautiful hand-made goods by local artisans, The Art Shoppe is not to be missed. With inventory spanning fabric items, ceramics, felted animals, jewelry and more, you are sure to find that special something for your loved ones, and most importantly, yourself.
When it comes to beauty products designed to nurture and heal, Rituals of Minneapolis offers handcrafted items that are sure to pamper all who use them. They offer a variety of natural body products, including soaps, lotions, body butters and oils, all of which would be amazing gifts for family and friends, spouses, and most importantly, yourself.
Opened in 2020, Black Garnet Books stocks an impeccably curated selection of books and art by authors and illustrators of color. There’s a particularly strong kids’ and young adults section, and plenty of chairs to take in the first chapter or get some work done. Be sure to check the bookstore’s events calendar for author talks, queer speed dating events, and art fairs that overlap with your visit. (Plus, they sell some great merch for bibliophiles in-store.)
Mosaic on a Stick serves as a community art space, art supply store, and offers classes. BIPOC- and woman-owned, the studio is a one-stop shop to foster your own creativity, while celebrating the work of others.
With a rotating class schedule, there are monthly offerings in foundational courses, such as color and contrast, lines and movement, perspective and composition, as well as a mandala mosaic class in June 2023. While there, you can stock up on the materials you need to continue your art long after your visit to the Twin Cities. The in-house inventory of tools and items needed to create both indoor and outdoor mosaic pieces is vast, and their staff is more than happy to help you decide what will best further your projects.
The art on display is breathtaking, the staff are welcoming and knowledgeable, and a visit to this space is an experience you are sure to keep with you for years to come.
Where to stay
A pure treasure of a bed and breakfast can be found just 30 minutes outside of Minneapolis. The Aurora Staples Inn of Stillwater is a Black-owned B&B that can be rented by the room, or even in its entirety for larger events. This Victorian home boasts period decor and 21st-century amenities like whirlpool tubs and gas fireplaces. The real challenge will be leaving when your stay is wrapped up.
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