Jared Brewington // Chris Juhn The Twin Cities is enjoying a restaurant boom with unique eateries offering niche foods and dining experiences. Among them is South Minneapolis’ Funky Grits. The Black-owned restaurant boasts a menu like none other in the area, with soul food recipes based off of cheesy grits with a twist towards vegan ingredients. But don’t be mistaken — a … [Read more...]
Black Business Spotlight: ME&I Fitness & Performance
Jeff Scott had been a personal trainer for 16 years before opening the doors to his own gym in North Minneapolis. Looking to leave a 25-year career in financial services, Scott opened ME&I Fitness & Performance last September. He hadn’t been dreaming of owning a gym — or any businesses. It was simply an opportunity that presented itself. When he saw construction for … [Read more...]
Black Business Spotlight: Nokomis Dental Center
After working at a dental practice for nine months, Dr. Grace Warren of Nokomis Dental Center not only knew she wanted to own her dentistry business but also own the building that housed it. She opened her first location in 1984 — a storefront on Lake Street, between a video store and a bowling alley. Six years later, she bought her own building on Cedar Avenue in South … [Read more...]
Fancy Ray’s remarkable rise to stardom
Fancy Ray // Tonnie Wulff From ‘loudmouth’ to messenger Now going on 30 years in the game, Fancy Ray McCloney has become a Twin Cities entertainment icon. Fancy Ray, as he’s known around town, got his start in lip-syncing concerts, eventually turning his impersonations and comedic stylings into a full-blown career. He won several local lip-sync competitions in the … [Read more...]
Black Business Spotlight: Lisa’s Shoe Shine
Lisa Fredell \\ By Jonika Stowes A weekly business profile series giving brief snapshots of Minnesota’s Black-owned businesses February 2019 will mark Lisa Fredell’s 28th year as a shoe shiner in downtown Minneapolis. In 2001, after working at a stand for 10 years, Fredell jumped on the opportunity of a lifetime to buy her own stand from her boss. Since then, Fredell … [Read more...]