Southwest Minneapolis businesses: We’ve got what you need

Karen Binkowski is the Southwest Business Association (SWBA) Manager of Business Development & Marketing. The non-profit supports small businesses. Learn more at swba.wildapricot.org or email info@experiencesouthwest.com.

There is so much to enjoy and experience through our small businesses here in Southwest Minneapolis. In fact, we’re home to more businesses than the Mall of America! With more than 600 storefronts across 10 neighborhoods, we have a diverse array of shopping, dining, services, and entertainment offerings.
More than 100 of these storefronts are dedicated to retail. There are a plethora of clothing, home goods, craft supplies, and gift stores, plus a number of specialized retailers. For example, we have three jewelers who create and sell handmade pieces and two toy stores with unique options for your kiddos including Kinoko Kids located at 38th and Grand in Kingfield. There are also six art galleries, many of which sell pieces made my local artists like Everett & Charlie at 43rd and Upton in Linden Hills, and 14 stores dedicated to second hand goods, which is a growing sector as more shoppers consider sustainability and environmental impact in their purchasing decisions.
If you’re looking to take care of your day-to-day needs, we have six grocery stores, five delis, seven dry cleaners, and five hardware stores including Guse Harware at 46th and Bryant in East Harriet and Bryant Hardware at 36th and Bryant in South Uptown, both of which have been at those locations for 100 years. You can choose from 11 dentists to get your teeth cleaned or work out at any of our 16 fitness options including gyms, personal training, yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, and group classes. Need a pick-me-up while you’re out and about? You can stop in to any one of our 13 dedicated coffee shops, six bakeries, or three ice cream parlors.
We also have more than 100 options for dining. And what sets Southwest Minneapolis apart is that the vast majority are locally owned, with only a few national chains offering takeout and delivery. We have cuisine from China, Thailand, Korea, Laos, Italy, India, France, Mexico, South America, and, of course, plenty of American and fusion options with new restaurants opening regularly. Plus, we have two breweries if you’re in the mood for a craft beer.
There are some incredible specialized services as well, which offer the opportunity to utilize the skills of an expert craftsperson. For example, you can have your clock and golf clubs repaired, your old tapes converted to digital, your furniture restored or reupholstered, your rugs cleaned, and your artwork or photographs custom framed. Our local locksmith Minneapolis Lock & Key, located at 45th and Nicollet in Kingfield, has been in operation since 1915, and is one of the few businesses left that specializes in repairing and restoring pre-1950s locks.
That comes in handy considering the landscape of 20th century homes across Southwest Minneapolis. In fact, we have 12 businesses dedicated to restoring and remodeling homes, many of which specialize in maintaining original character and features, promoting sustainability, or both like Quartersawn Design Build at 60th and Pillsbury in Windom. We also have four architecture firms, four interior design firms, and a number of contractors and suppliers to service any of your renovation or home repair projects.
Need your wheels serviced? We have two bike shops, a scooter repair shop, and 22 auto service and repair options including Quality Coaches at 38th and Nicollet in Kingfield which has been in business for over 40 years.
Perhaps you just want to wind down, in which case you don’t have to go far to indulge in some self-care. We have 33 businesses (and growing!) offering a range of services such as massage, acupuncture, facials, bodywork, sauna and salt therapy, and so much more. Plus almost 30 hair salons and nine nail salons. Southwest Minneapolis is also home to the Center for Performing Arts, located at 38th and Pleasant in Kingfield, where you can enjoy performances and shows, or take classes in music, dance, and a variety of continuing education options.
To access a list of all the wonderful options that our business community has to offer, check out www.experiencesouthwest.com. We’re continually updating and evolving our directory, so you can utilize this one-stop platform for making all of your local shopping, dining, and entertainment plans.
We’re also excited to announce a printed and digital Southwest Business Directory that we’re publishing in partnership with the Southwest Connector this July. We’ll list all the businesses in our district by category, in addition to interesting editorial content and ads for our local businesses and associations. It will be printed in magazine form and delivered to 23,000 homes and 1,500 high traffic points like coffee shops and cafes where it can be perused at leisure. There’s still time to purchase an ad for your association or business so if you’re interested, contact Suzie Marty at ads@southwestconnector.com or 612-255-1180.
The Southwest Business Association is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting our small businesses located in Southwest Minneapolis between 31st St and Highway 62, from France Ave. S to 35W. If you’d like to learn more about the association or become a member so you can access our growing catalogue of benefits for your small business, reach out to Karen Binkowski at info@experiencesouthwest.com or 646-306-0746.