MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — This holiday season businesses are encouraging people to shop local; on Lake Street, they're rewarding shoppers for it.
It's called the Lake Street Loyalty Challenge.
The Lake Street Council first launched the program during the holiday season in 2021 as a way to thank shoppers who support small businesses in the area.
The program, which started Nov. 15 and runs through Dec. 15, requires shoppers to spend at least $15 at a small, locally-owned business within the Lake Street corridor. That's defined as the West River Parkway on the east, 26th Street on the north, the border of Minneapolis and St. Louis Park on the west, and 34th Street on the south.
Participants then submit their receipt online and will receive a $15 gift card to one of these six businesses: Arbeiter Brewing Company, Corazon, La Carreta Restaurant & Bar (1507 E Lake St.), Lake and Bryant Cafe, La Michoacana Purepecha and Merlins Rest Irish Pub.
"I think it's a good idea to start driving up more business in town. Gotta support the local, independent stores," said Mark Nelson at Extreme Noise Records — a volunteer-run, punk rock record store.
Profits at Extreme Noise Records are invested back into the shop and the local punk community.
"It's always fun to see people's parents coming in, buying records for the kids... and parents not having any idea what their kids want," Nelson said.
About a mile away on Lake Street is the Midtown Global Market — home to about 35 local businesses.
"This is a huge opportunity for people to come and support local, small entrepreneurs, businesses along Lake Street and certainly here at the Midtown Global Market," said Eduardo Barrera, part of the management team at Midtown Global Market.
"This is a really valuable part of the community," said Susan Gainen, a "whimsical wildlife documentarian" and one of the artists featured at The Art Shoppe at Midtown Global Market. "We have two owners and 72 Minnesota artist consigners. Everything you see here... made in Minnesota by a Minnesota artist."
Than Zaw, owner of Intown Sushi, has had a spot inside the market since 2018 and said, "Especially in the Midtown Global Market and Lake Street area, we need more people coming here. Right now it's very safe, very smooth here."
"After the COVID pandemic, as well as the civil unrest, the market... as well as the corridor, suffered some decrease in foot traffic which obviously impacted the economic activity that was happening here," Barrera said. "We are bouncing back. Lake Street is vibrant, is back in business."
The Lake Street Loyalty Challenge is limited to 500 people. More than 150 have already taken advantage of the program so far. The total will continue to be updated, here.
One person will also win a grand prize valued at more than $500.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: