Latest news with #StPaul
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Reopenings, renovations, new arrivals — in downtown St. Paul
Despite its well-documented challenges, some business advocates call reports of the fall of downtown St. Paul premature, if not entirely off base, given ongoing investment in office-to-residential building conversions, new eateries and other fresh offerings. Construction is underway on the Avalon, a new event hall within the long-dormant James J. Hill Center overlooking Rice Park. The former business research center, which opened in 1921, closed in 2019 amid growing maintenance needs. The Avalon could throw open the doors to weddings, cultural events and musical performances amidst its 14 Romanesque interior columns by late fall, according to developer Peter Remes of First & First Creative Real Estate in Minneapolis. 'I was born and raised in St. Paul,' said Remes, who didn't like at the idea of a century-old historic library sitting idle. 'It was very important to me. Having this building shuttered was not a benefit to anyone.' Remes, who is perhaps best known in St. Paul for reviving the Vandalia Tower business center, said it's taken four years to obtain permitting, secure state and federal historic tax credits and work through other obstacles for the site, which is getting a $3.5 million upgrade. That includes new bathrooms and heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems, as well as a new interior stairway to a new basement egress door. Despite the hefty price tag, 'much of it is stuff that you won't even see,' he acknowledged. Despite the well-chronicled foreclosures and other property setbacks downtown associated with major property owner Madison Equities, 'there's a lot of great things happening here,' Remes said. 'It's not widely talked about. The bad news gets the attention. But there are people who are really dedicated to St. Paul.' On Wabasha Street, chef Terry John Zila has relaunched the former Gallery Kitchen in the basement of the Osborn 370 building into a softly-lit event center geared toward private gatherings, cooking classes and musical performances. In addition to pop-up dinners to 'test the waters' on his catering menus, Zila plans to expand his HepCat Coffee space on the ground level, reorienting it toward the lobby of the former Ecolab building with the help of a city STAR grant. 'People are still discovering us,' said Zila, who moved his catering operation and coffee shop into Osborn 370 in February 2022. 'Two or three times a week, (customers) say, 'I didn't even know you were here.'' Zila hopes to become a bit of a commissary for the 174 new market-rate apartments under construction next door within the Stella, the former Ecolab tower at Sixth and Wabasha streets. Those apartments may be online by early next year, adding to the foot traffic already evident at Osborn 370, the former Ecolab Corporate Center, which has drawn a wide range of both young and established planning and financial firms, including Bridgewater Bank and the Greater MSP Partnership, since its repositioning under PAK Properties. Meanwhile, across downtown, a 'Coming Soon!' sign advertises the imminent arrival of Six Mears, a new Sixth Street restaurant where Barrio once opened its doors onto Mears Park. Another event center, Le Venere — a new addition to the A'Bulae event center — will host a Roaring 1920s-themed grand opening celebration toward the end of the month within the Gilbert Building on Wacouta Street. Prince Coal Fired Pizza is expected to open in July within the former Black Sheep Pizza space at the Rossmor Building on Robert Street. Palace Pub will be opening soon on Seventh Place in the space previously occupied by Wrecktangle Pizza's Wrestaurant at the Palace. Sherman Associates has completed its $80 million to $100 million conversion of Landmark Towers on St. Peter Street from a 26-story office building. It's now home to 187 new luxury apartments, with each layout named after 1980s icons like 'The Bruce' and 'The Axl.' The converted structure welcomed its first new tenants around the start of May. Homebuying options remain slim for middle-income earners St. Paul Planning Commission deals setback to Hamm's Brewery apartments Asked on Reddit: How to stop obsessing about money Trump tells US steelworkers he's going to double tariffs on foreign steel to 50% Taylor Swift has regained control of her music, buys back first 6 albums Phe Coffee opened within the Market House on Fifth Street in Lowertown this past January. SoYen Desserts, which opened in March 2024, continues to draw a sell-out crowd every weekend down the street in the Northwestern Building at 275 E. Fourth St. The Union Depot's retail spaces are now fully leased with the recent additions of Story Line Books and the 1881 Eating House, which debuted its new outdoor summer patio on Thursday. Global Storage Partners, of Carlsbad, Calif., was unable to install mini-storage in the Allen Building so it recently purchased four of the six floors in the annex building to the Custom House Apartments on Kellogg Boulevard. They've installed Extra Space Storage as manager, with large illuminated signage that has irked some neighbors. On Wabasha Street, Afro Deli is moving across the street from its current location and prepping a new food counter where Slice Pizza briefly served up pies within Treasure Island Center, a former Macy's department store. In July, St. Paul Brewing and Can Can Wonderland plan to reopen the recently-shuttered Dark Horse bar on East Seventh Street, with a new chef, decor and menu. The Town Square food court and skyway has drawn several former tenants from Alliance Bank Center, including B's Barbershop, Greenwolf Hemp and Organics and Paul Hartquist Jewelers. Other reopenings over the past year include Mickey's Diner, Ruam Mit Thai and Alary's — now home to Pete's BBQ. Two temporarily-shuttered downtown storefronts — La Noire Bridal and Garso Mini-Mart — also plan to reopen in new downtown locations this summer. In April, Exchange Ventures LLC of Lake Forest, Calif., purchased the Gallery Professional Building, a former medical office building at 17 W. Exchange St., from the Salvation Army for $199,000. Despite the rock-bottom sales price for the vacant eight-story structure, property taxes based on its assessed market value are high, as are maintenance costs, and parking is limited, said the buyer, who did not disclose his full name when reached by phone May 20. He said he's hoping to get some leeway from the city and county before renovating, likely for office and retail uses, he said. Following an $8 million planning and construction effort, the long-awaited Pedro Park will open by late summer at 10th and Robert streets. Along Kellogg Boulevard, Kellogg Mall Park will soon host a publicly available restroom and a designated 'park ambassador' to keep the park clean and amenities fresh, according to St. Paul Parks and Recreation. A full schedule of summer events is online at Osborn Plaza, the city-owned plaza along Wabasha Street, will be reconstructed this summer and fall. City of St. Paul hosts downtown block party Ellison drops objection to appointment of Otto Bremer Trust trustee's daughter Christopher Harrington: Experiencing the arts transforms the way we see the world Frost championship celebration livens up Xcel Energy Center Judicial cookout for the homeless renamed for late founder Jim Randall St. Paul Parks and Rec will soon replace a retaining wall in Mears Park, a $98,000 project. The free summer concert series 'Lowertown Sounds' returns this summer with the New Standards, Salsa Del Soul, Yam Haus, Kiss the Tiger and the Flamin' Ohs. A complete schedule is online at A downtown block party is scheduled at Mears Park from 5 to 7 p.m. May 30, with live music, as well as food and drinks provided by Barrel Theory, the Bulldog and Lost Fox. Vandals uprooted 60 freshly-planted trees along Shepard Road last November. St. Paul Parks and Rec replanted them on May 16. Not far outside downtown, the Victorian-style Irvine Park fountain has returned home following an eight-month, $120,000 restoration effort. A full schedule of downtown park events is online at
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dignity Made Launches to Fight Trafficking with Ethical Coconut Oil
St. Paul, MN, May 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --Dignity Coconuts, known for its premium, ethically sourced coconut oil, has rebranded as Dignity Made, a powerful new identity that puts its social mission front and center. More than a name change, the launch of Dignity Made signals a bold step forward in using business as a force to prevent human trafficking and empower coconut farmers in rural areas of the Philippines. Rooted in the belief that ethical jobs can prevent exploitation, Dignity Made partners directly with coconut farming communities in the Philippines to provide dignified work, education, and economic opportunity- especially for women vulnerable to trafficking. With each product sold, the brand fuels real solutions to generational poverty and systemic injustice. 'We're not just making coconut oil. We're creating a path out of poverty, one jar at a time,' said Erik Olson, CEO of Dignity Made. 'Our rebrand reflects who we've truly been all along: a company committed to making better products and a better world.' Same Mission, Bigger Vision Originally founded in 2010 as Dignity Coconuts, the company has earned awards for its raw, centrifuge-extracted coconut oil and transparent sourcing model. Now, with a growing lineup of clean beauty and wellness products, the Dignity Made name reflects a broader commitment to both consumers and the communities behind each the tagline 'Better for You, Better for All,' Dignity Made continues its pledge to offer clean, safe products while empowering the people who make them through fair trade, safe jobs, and skills-based employment. Real Impact Where It Matters To date, the company has helped over 200 families rise above subsistence living. Through on-the-ground programs in financial literacy, education, and job creation, Dignity Made is breaking cycles of dependency and trafficking vulnerability—replacing them with dignity, purpose, and hope. 'I used to feel hopeless,' says Angeline, one of the women employed through Dignity Made. 'Now my child is in school, I have peace at home, and I'm always smiling. I can't explain the joy—it's spreading through our whole community.' As a verified member of the Fair Trade Federation, Dignity Made adheres to the highest standards of ethical production and environmental stewardship, including a goal to have zero-waste coconut processing that maximizes every part of the crop. To learn more or explore Dignity Made's product line, visit Dignity MadeDignity Made is a purpose-driven social enterprise committed to fighting poverty and human trafficking through clean, coconut-based products. By building direct trade partnerships with Filipino farmers and investing in community transformation, Dignity Made goes beyond commerce to create lasting change. Every product supports ethical labor, environmental responsibility, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to live free from exploitation. CONTACT: Press Contact: Heather Holmes heather@ +1 (828) 332-5307 in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Beer shortages, dirty parks: What happens without a Minnesota budget deal?
The Brief Minnesota is now one month away from its first government shutdown since 2011. For 20 days that July, the state laid off 19,000 workers. State parks and rest areas didn't get cleaned. Horse tracks couldn't operate because the Minnesota Racing Commission was closed. And liquor stores, restaurants, and bars started to run out of beer because the DPS employees who renewed alcohol licenses were laid off. Leaders are optimistic they'll avoid a shutdown in 2025. They're expecting a special session as soon as next week. But some high hurdles still need to be jumped for that to happen. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - There was no obvious movement on Friday towards a complete budget deal at the Minnesota Capitol, but legislative leaders say they're confident a special session should come next week. They have one month to avoid the first government shutdown since 2011. What's shaking? A few privately arranged agreements popped up on the legislature's website Friday, leaving just three omnibus budget bills to sew up. But there are still some big hurdles to jump and legislators who were at the Capitol for the last shutdown are hearing some echoes of 2011. Like a semi overturned in the Lowry Hill tunnel blocking traffic, cutting MN Care insurance for undocumented adults while keeping it for kids could block the road to a budget."If that is to pass, it's going to have to pass separately," said Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul). "That has not been a part of the discussion in the rooms," said her House counterpart, Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring). Maybe we have For now, the blockage doesn't seem as immovable as it was in 2011 when a GOP majority in the House and Senate couldn't convince DFL Gov. Mark Dayton to sign off on a budget. Then-Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch says this year sometimes feels the same, but she sees differences. "They have more like pots of trouble where we had like the one big thing," Koch said. Parks, horses, beer During a 20-day government shutdown in 2011, the state had to lay off 19,000 state workers, forcing closures at state parks and rest areas, and stressing out a lot of people. "I didn't know if it was going to last two hours, two days, two months, two weeks," state worker Brice Wickstrom told FOX 9 after the 2011 shutdown ended on July 21. Horse tracks couldn't operate because the state racing commission was shut down, so Canterbury Park lost nearly $3 million. That won't happen this year because a new law allows the commission to continue working with outside funding. But a beer shortage could once again ail liquor stores, bars and restaurants. "They're just disgusted," Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association rep Tony Chesak told FOX 9 about those businesses in 2011. "They're upset to the point where they're just trying to stay in business."State employees responsible for renewing alcohol licenses could be out during a shutdown. Koch believes that was a major motivating factor convincing Gov. Dayton to agree to Republican terms and end the shutdown. She hoped it would be a political winner. "We're going to run on this budget," she told FOX 9 in 2011. "We're going to talk about closing $5 billion forecast deficit without raising taxes. That's a big thing." The GOP lost both the House and the Senate in the next election, but budget forecasts have stayed sunnier. "Since then, we've never had a deficit," Koch said Friday. Until now, that is. The latest forecast predicted nearly a $6 billion deficit by 2029, which is one of many reasons this year's negotiations have been so difficult.
CBS News
19 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- CBS News
Sculptures in St. Paul honor migration and cultural diversity
After years of delays caused by the pandemic, a trio of towering sculptures blending birds, homes and the neighborhood's diversity has taken flight in St. Paul. "We did a lot of brainstorming on the theme of migration and started getting a little silly thinking about birds migrating back and forth and people migrating back and forth," said artist Gail Katz-James. Katz-James and Chistoperaaron Deanes started the project in 2019, envisioning a whimsical yet meaningful tribute to both human and avian migration. Now complete, the three sculptures stand nearly 10 feet tall at the intersection of West Wheelock Parkway and Nebraska Street. "We're in a cohort of artists that were selected in 2019 to make five different artworks along Wheelock," said Katz-James. "It's taken a while to get the projects finished because of the pandemic." The artwork is called "Flock of Houses." Each house is topped with sculpted wings and adorned with native Minnesotan birds — a loon, a blue heron and an eagle — representing the natural rhythm of migration. "There are different cultures of people that you can find in each one of the houses. I've painted different cultures eating their traditional family meals. There's an African American family, Asian family and Hispanic family," said Deanes, who is the director of ROHO Collective. Now that it's been erected, the artists hope it will be a mainstay for families to play near and enjoy. "What I believe that public art is all about is that anyone can encounter it and enjoy it," said Katz-James.
New York Times
a day ago
- General
- New York Times
USWNT ‘on track' to meet Emma Hayes' June deadline for establishing a core group of players
ST. PAUL, Minn. — As a year without a major tournament, 2025 has sometimes felt listless when watching the U.S. women's national team. That isn't an indictment of their quality or caliber — far from it. Since winning the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, head coach Emma Hayes has undergone a thorough examination of the broader player pool beyond the core she inherited from predecessor Vlatko Andonovski. A year into the job, Hayes has already given 23 players their USWNT debuts, and three more players could earn their first cap in this window. Advertisement After a few months of analysis, Hayes is narrowing down her squad. Earlier this year, Hayes said she hoped to identify her core group of players for the buildup to the 2027 Women's World Cup. She affirmed that timeline on Friday at Allianz Field ahead of Saturday's friendly against China. 'I feel we're very much on track for identifying that core group,' Hayes said. 'It's important not to get too drawn in on identifying 23 players; the pool has to be bigged up because of injury, because of illness, because of pregnancy, because of whatever. My job is to develop a larger group of players that, by the time we reach a tournament setting, have been given the right exposure to put ourselves in the best position possible.' Throughout this window, the majority of focus will be on the senior team. However, Hayes was quick to point out the ongoing camps involving the under-20 and under-23 teams as well. The U-20s kicked off the Concacaf Under-20 Women's Championship on Friday with a dominant win over Guyana, while the U-23s defeated Germany with a last-minute goal in the first of a pair of friendlies. That U.S. squad is almost entirely built of professional players — the lone college player, Evelyn Shores, scored the winner on Friday. The U-23 camp has a few members of Hayes' broader player pool: Jaedyn Shaw, Korbin Albert and Mia Fishel made the trip to Germany. While they'll be playing away from the senior squad, this camp gives this trio and other more established professionals a chance to showcase their leadership. USWNT U23 v Germany: Jordyn Bugg finds Evelyn Shores for the game winner [image or embed] — USWNT Cuts (@ May 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM 'Think about Jaedyn Shaw, Korbin Albert — 20, 21, respectively — being accelerated from youth football to senior football without that step,' Hayes said. 'Sometimes I think we expect so much from them, and they're still inexperienced players that maybe need a little bit more time in that age group. Advertisement 'I think we need to remain patient with the squad. I've seen so much development. I always view things tactically: How well are our players understanding what we're asking, and how well are they applying it?' Hayes praised her 'great group of senior players' who have continued to establish benchmarks for newcomers to meet. Lindsey Heaps is once again captain for this camp, while vice captain Naomi Girma returns to the national team for the first time in 2025, having previously dealt with minor injuries and a move to Chelsea. Five members of the 23-player squad have over 60 caps with the USWNT: Heaps, Lynn Biyendolo, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett and Emily Fox. They have been in multiple camps this year, giving some continuity in a time of heavy rotation. Even if there's some understandable desire to slow this merry-go-round of selections from window to window, it's all part of the buildup to the 2027 Women's World Cup and 2028 Olympics. 'It's a crazy time, because we're obviously missing a lot (of players), but I think it's crucial for us to see who else can be in that major player pool,' Heaps said. 'This is how it works, and how the cycle works, and I think it's given us the ability to really look at these youngsters coming up and stars coming up, which is really special.' Unique to this camp, Hayes has called up a player who is both a rookie and an experienced leader. Lo'eau LaBonta, 32, has been among the NWSL's best all-around midfielders since the Kansas City Current debuted in 2021. Hayes previously said her staff 'agonized' over whether or not to give LaBonta her debut as part of last summer's 18-player Olympic squad, but she has now found an ideal window to bring her into the fold. Several members of the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympic squads remain out due to injury reasons (as is the case for Trinity Rodman and Rose Lavelle), pregnancy (Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson) or both (Andi Sullivan). Hayes acknowledged these factors have undeniably altered her planning for each window. Advertisement 'I can only pick available players. People often ask me, 'Where is this player?' ' Hayes said, 'A lot of the time, they're unavailable.' But having a player like LaBonta, who captains her club and has played at a high level for years, gives a different kind of leadership for young players to study. 'Lo'eau's situation should serve as a reminder to everyone that we watch every game and that we are invested in what you're doing, day in, day out,' Hayes said. 'Age is just a number. She's fit, she's healthy, she's someone who's always striving, and I've heard her speak a number of times. Even her self-awareness, she's someone who constantly sees that there's room for improvement in what she's doing. 'You take someone like Lily Yohannes, at 17, or Claire Hutton, at 19, there's still a gap. (LaBonta is) a way to close that, and I think she could be a good role model for Lily, for Claire.' LaBonta has relished the opportunity. She referred to club teammates (and, now, international teammates) Hutton and Michelle Cooper as 'her babies,' a title of endearment that she extended to Yohannes when speaking in the mixed zone on Friday. Still, she isn't here to be an extension of the coaching staff in the heart of the park. As Hayes acknowledged, LaBonta is in the mix to make additional squads moving forward. While the veteran expected a different kind of atmosphere in a 10-day camp, where, as Hayes said, 'you can't waste a session,' even LaBonta had to appreciate how it feels to participate in these windows. 'I would say what I expected, but I didn't even know until I was in it, was the level and speed,' LaBonta said.'I think at the professional level, we have Vlatko (Andonovski) coming from U.S. Soccer at our club. We're like, 'Oh, he demands standards,' but here it's just even quicker. I love it so much. I'm out there like, 'I need to bring this back to my club.' I would have loved to develop in this environment, but I'm here now, and I'm enjoying it.' Advertisement While Hayes is undeniably a studious tactician, introducing new members with each successive window can complicate some of that coding. The game relies heavily on combinations, whether it's the relationship between the goalkeeper and their backline, how a defensive unit operates or how a midfield duo or trio works in tandem. As such, much of the education process is ensuring each player knows their role, with the next step being to foster those relationships. Even for someone as young as Yohannes, those instructions have come through clearly. 'Emma makes it clear what she expects from me, as well as for the team,' Yohannes said. 'Every camp, we just continue to build on that. With every different opponent and different style of play, we try to adapt, and that's just something that you try to bring into a game to help the team.' As has become customary since Yohannes' emergence, Hayes urged for patience before piling expectations onto the 17-year-old midfielder. Still, Hayes pointed out how valuable her time with Ajax has been in helping her learn how to operate against teams playing with mid-to-low defensive blocks — a defensive structure that the U.S. often faces as opponents hope to slow their progress into the final third. Given all the changes, the World Cup still feels far away — perhaps even more distant than the 754 days between Saturday's friendly and the tournament opener in Brazil can illustrate. Still, those plans in identifying a core group of players remain on track as far as Hayes is concerned, as are the broader initiatives she and her backroom staff have undertaken to ensure that she leaves the program better than she found it last summer. 'I can't believe I've only been here a year, to be honest with you,' Hayes said. 'When I reflect on the work that's being done by so many people, it's so exciting to think, if I'm to fast forward to 2031, the work and the impact that everybody's having now for the future of the game. 'I think what we are putting together is a system so that it goes beyond just a pipeline of players. It's a support system around girls and women that I think will take our game up a notch.'
