SHAKOPEE, Minn. — Months after downtown Anoka started letting visitors carry sip alcohol and stroll outside sidewalks — and into selected businesses — the social district concept is set to expand to two more cities.
The Minnesota legislature has approved an expansion of the the social district pilot program to include both Stillwater and Shakopee.
Just a couple of weeks before the end of Minnesota's 2024 legislative session, Senator Karin Housley told KARE 11 that the trial period for the social district in Anoka last year was such a success that she decided to author a late bill that would add Stillwater to the state pilot program.
"Anoka's district is back for the summer and they're actually adding more businesses to it," Housley said. "Stillwater's city council actually discussed it and they would like to have the option, and so they passed it unanimously to be able to have that option. They asked if I could author the language."
Though it was too late for Sen Housley's bill to pass on its own, the language adding Stillwater made it into the commerce bill that passed through both chambers late last week.
It turns out that change also added Shakopee to the list, thanks to a bipartisan effort from legislators in that region as well, that brought together DFL Representative Brad Tabke and Republican Senator Eric Pratt.
"(Shakopee and Stillwater) were two of the cities that were probably the most passionate and persistent," said Rep. Pratt. "They were trying to get (social districts) back when Anoka got approved. It's really been about a two year process trying to move this thing forward."
Now that the state has cleared the way, both Shakopee and Stillwater will need to determine the details of their social districts — including hours and boundaries — and develop a strategy for managing alcohol use and public safety.
"We want this district to be thriving, successful, but also safe," said Tim Zunker, President of the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, which has advocated for a social district after seeing the downtown area successfully navigate its popular Rhythm on Rails concert series.
"For that, we do close down streets in our downtown and we are able to allow people — because of our liquor license — to move within that footprint with alcohol."
The Chamber is so confident in the concept, that they're hoping the city council doesn't stop with downtown.
"We believe we have two premier areas within the city of Shakopee to implement social districts, one being in the downtown and then also the Canterbury Park district," Zunker said.
"They're starting this new amphitheater (at Canterbury Park)," Sen. Pratt said. "Which is going to be next to the track and we've got some local breweries. It really becomes a separate, distinct, social district away from the downtown."
Advocates for the districts in Shakopee and Stillwater say they plan to set ground rules that are similar to those in place in Anoka. You are only allowed to carry alcohol in clearly marked cups that you purchase from participating bars and restaurants. While drinking, you can only stroll around a specific area of downtown and window stickers within the district make it clear which businesses allow alcohol inside and which ones do not.
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