When unrest in Minneapolis spread to the city’s Longfellow neighborhood last year, Ruhel Islam opened his restaurant, Gandhi Mahal, for medics to treat injured protesters. The next night, rioters set fire to the police building and dozens of businesses in Longfellow, and by dawn, his restaurant lay in ashes.
In a Facebook post that went viral the same morning, his teenage daughter, Hafsa, quoted him as saying, “Let my building burn, justice needs to be served, put those officers in jail.”
His words resonate a year later as more than an expression of forgiveness. Mr. Islam has helped form a neighborhood collective called Longfellow Rising that intends to rebuild the triangular, three-block zone that included Gandhi Mahal to further elevate – and celebrate – the neighborhood’s racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity.
A year after unrest, Minneapolis businesses struggling to recover
and last updated 2021-05-11 15:17:53-04
There is nothing more Cesia Baires wants than to be cooking again. The 30-year-old, first-generation American opened Abi s Cafe in Minneapolis six years ago, but these days, her kitchen sits quietly. Iâm ready to work. I havenât been able to work since the riots happened, Baires said while standing outside of her Salvadorian-themed restaurant.
Bairesâ small business began its days on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Lake Street is home to the city s now abandoned third police precinct and is also the epicenter of where last summer s civil unrest began.
The company’s latest drone video takes viewers on a flight through the Bloomington mall and its indoor theme park, Nickelodeon Universe.
Chris Grap, lead storyteller and experience designer at the Mall of America, said that the viral bowling alley clip and the evident passion behind it inspired him to work with Rally Studios.
“I’m a huge fan of Bryant Lake Bowl, and the reasoning behind Rally Studios working with them showed who they are: honest, passionate, compassionate storytellers from our community,” Grap said. “They love Minnesota; they love Mall of America. Working with them to help them achieve their vision was a privilege.”
Luis Tamay makes do in an alley until he can reopen his Lake Street restaurant. Author: Boyd Huppert Updated: 10:22 PM CDT April 22, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS Luis Tamay used to run a restaurant at Lake Street s front door. Now, he serves his food from a trailer in an alley.
“Very delicious,” the Ecuadorian immigrant says as he closes a to-go lid on an order of Papi Pollo, a chicken and fries combo popular in his home country.
The trailer is small, with less room to work than in his old restaurant kitchen, but, “We have to make money,” Luis says. “We have to do something.”
St. Anthony: LISC Twin Cities and partners deliver first of two riot-recovery funds April 23, 2021 10:12am Text size Copy shortlink:
In January 2020, Maya Santamaria sold her Odd Fellows building at 2709 E. Lake St. to Adenal Investment of Woodbury for $2.8 million.
In May, the building was destroyed by arson during the riots after the police slaying of George Floyd. Santamaria, who still had businesses inside including the La Raza radio station, decided to move it to Richfield.
Adenal Investment couldn t be reached last week to discuss the future of Odd Fellows. Hennepin County valued the property, before the riots, at $2.1 million for tax purposes.