March MPLS Spots: Women-Owned Businesses
Happy March to our SALT family! March is Women's History Month, commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. In honor of Women’s History Month, we are honoring some of the best places to eat, grab a drink, and shop that are solely women-owned and women-operated. While these are only just some of the many in the Twin Cities, here are some places to start.
Places to Eat
Eat: Rise Bagel Co.
Sisters and co-baker-owners Jen and Kate Lloyd are the artisanal bagel artists located on the streets of North Loop. The duo opened their first retail location in the North Loop area back in 2017, and it’s been a hit ever since. The bagel company has been featured in over 70 Twin Cities’ publications as a must-eat spot.
North Loop, Minneapolis
Eat: Hai Hai
Hai Hai is a Southeast Asian street food restaurant & bar in Northeast Minneapolis. Chef and owner Christina Nguyen is making Vietnamese food for the next generation here, and if you leave town without trying her banana blossom salad, you’re missing out, according to Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine. Since 2018, this restaurant has been awarded four prestigious awards for its amazing fare, including being named to Esquire’s 20 Best Restaurants in America 2018.
Northeast Minneapolis
Eat: Book Club
West Coast Inspired, Neighborhood Conspired eatery from Kim Bartmann and Asher Miller is in the Armatage neighborhood in South Minneapolis. The WCR president owns a great many local restaurants, and she’s responsible for a lot of the good feminist energy pulsing through the Twin Cities these days. Her signature properties also include: Retro bowling alley and Belgian beer specialist Bryant Lake Bowl, burger champion Pat’s Tap, French corner-bistro Café Barbette, sustainable diner Tiny Diner, and Wisconsin-style supperclub Red Stag.
South Minneapolis
Places to Drink
Drink: Twin Spirits Distillery
Raise a glass to all that women can accomplish in the food and beverage world, and do it with a sip of Mamma's Moonshine in Michelle Winchester's cocktail room. Michelle is the first one-woman owned distillery in Minnesota. She started this project in 2014 and spent two years getting the distillery up and running, including renovating a 1920’s property that serves as the distillery and cocktail room.
North Minneapolis
Drink: Urban Growler
Looking for a cold one? Jill Pavlak and master brewer Deb Loch of the first local woman-owned brewery in Minnesota, which opened in 2014, will pour you a Blue Ribbon-winning Midwest IPA from their comfortable and relaxed taproom.
St. Anthony Park, St. Paul
Drink: Betty Danger’s
The most fun you can have in Northeast is defined by America's only punk rock princess who owns a private ferris wheel: Minneapolis' own restaurateur Leslie Bock, of not only Betty Danger’s, but Psycho Suzi's, too. Betty Danger’s Country Club has many wonderful amenities not often found in “exclusive” country clubs like dining and drinking on the Danger (a vertically revolving patio) or putt putting with your dog.
Northeast Minneapolis
Places to Shop
Shop: Queen Anna House of Fashion
A couture platform inspired by relevant trends and textiles, this boutique focuses on giving back to the community and nonprofit organizations. Entrepreneur Nicole Jennings opened Queen Anna in memory of her grandmother, selling everything from clothes and sandals to scarves and bags, all at attainable prices. Jennings prides herself on the affordability of her store because she wants a wide range of women to be able to shop her products. Queen Anna embraces womanhood, so part of the store’s profits get donated to charities that support women, such as Tubman, a complex that houses women of domestic violence.
North Loop, Minneapolis
Shop: Ergo
Ergo is an experienced wedding florist and full service flower and plant shop located in St. Paul. For 40 years, Robin Rivard grew the floral shop into a Twin Cities staple. Since retiring in 2018, she sold the shop to her managers, Nicole and David. Since then, they have continued to build and develop the unique shop that Robin built.
Cathedral Hill, St. Paul
Shop: Howard Soap Co.
It was 2009 when owner Kathrine Howard of rural Greenbush, Minnesota became interested in increasing warnings of the adverse effects of the commonly used chemicals in soaps, and decided to make homemade bar soap for herself and as gifts. Now, Howard makes an abundance of products in bath, body, and, of course, candles.
Sold throughout Minnesota & at SALT