North Loop is a storyteller’s dream: a place where new happenings, new businesses, and emerging trends seem to pop up daily. And we decided the best way to tell this story was to turn it over to some of the true insiders—those who live in, work in, and are responsible for the care and creative flair of this vibrant area of the city. Here are just a few of the people in the neighborhood. —Jayne Haugen Olson.
Everything Old Is New Again
How Minneapolis’s all-but-abandoned center of trade and industry was reborn as its most fully realized urban neighborhood.
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Field Trip
An Outdoor Oasis
When we consider the aesthetic appeal of the North Loop, we think of the patina accrued over the course of history or the elegance of industrial function, not necessarily the lush greenery of parkland. But if you know where to look, there are all kinds of alluring, almost secret, public spaces.
For instance, one of the most beautiful patches of emerald-green grass in the entire country is hidden in plain sight, just below grade, in the middle of the hood. OK, you might have to be a major-league ballplayer to actually touch the landscaping at Target Field, but you can still look! (And you don’t even have to buy a ticket—the plaza and amphitheater are available to all.) And of course, so many restaurants have carved attractive patio spaces out of these old warehouses: There’s the twinkling cul-de-sac behind the Federal Reserve Bank that Sanjusan has commandeered; there’s Monte Carlo’s classic see-and-be-seen terrace; there’s the loading dock bar at Borough; and there’s The Nordic Plaza, which connects North Loop Galley food hall with neighboring Freehouse and offers outdoor games and programming.
And you can always look up (or down) from one of Nolo’s rooftops, like the second-level patio at Graze Provisions and Libations, the rooftop pool and bar at the Hewing Hotel, or the perch atop Nolo’s. And if you’re craving real, live nature, explore the Mississippi Walking Trail, which meanders over a pair of small trestle bridges that cross the mouth of Bassett Creek. —Steve Marsh
Caffeination Connection
There’s no question this is a neighborhood to find a solid cup of coffee or mug of matcha. Need a cozy café to meet a friend, crank through an overflowing inbox, or finally finish that book with a perfectly crafted brew in hand? North Loop has you covered, and each spot has its own personality.
Backstory Coffee Roasters, in the lobby of The Duffey Flats, is the semi-new cool girl in town, complete with sky-high ceilings, more plants than the Arboretum (practically), and locally roasted beans. With a more playful vibe, Fairgrounds eschews barstools for rope-and-wood-plank swings and serves up a handful of cold brews on tap, along with a long menu of “elixirs” and teas. The Instagrammers love the cutesy coffee flights and espresso martinis at The Last Drop, in the Graze food hall, and the giant windows and warm wood at the ever-classic Spyhouse. The fur-baby crowd favors In the Loop for its enthusiastically dog-friendly patio and menu of treats for pups and people. And the pastry-first crew knows they can always get a Dorothy’s Blend to go with their croissants at Cooks Bellecour, a Cardigan donut or Honey and Rye treat at Frgmnt, or an espresso shot to chase their sweet treats (including many gluten-free!) at Edwards Dessert Kitchen when the drink alone won’t quite hit the spot. —Madison Bloomquist
Shopping Small
While the growing list of national retailers (hello, Allbirds, Lululemon, Madewell, and West Elm) flocking to North Loop speaks to how hot the hood is, it’s the mix of locals that gives it the edge.
It’s fitting to start your excursion at D.Nolo, a co-op retail concept by Veronica Clark, an OG Nolo pioneer who set her sights on the neighborhood a decade ago. If you’re shopping for minis, hit Pacifier’s impressive flagship for the best clothing, toys, and gear in the game. Across the street is MartinPatrick3, which started as an annex of gifts and small décor accessories in an interior design studio and became a full-fledged boutique department store (men’s and womenswear, home furnishings, fine jewelry, apothecary, gifts—even a barbershop) that’s garnered acclaim from Vogue and GQ. D.Nolo is also where menswear concept Jaxen Grey incubated before grabbing its corner spot next to Monte Carlo. Don’t leave these bustling blocks without a stop at women’s fashion spots Statement, Requisite, Queen Anna, Parc; and vintage heirloom jewelry store Filigree; and newcomer Vivid Home, a showroom-meets-shop by a local design studio that is merchandised to mimic a full home, showcasing its designers’ go-to lines and brands in just about every category.
End your walk on North 5th Street, a budding shopping area just north of Target Field, where art, one-of-a-kind gifts, and homewares await at Veronique Wantz Gallery, J. Atelier, and ?mei. —Madeline Nachbar
Dining Destination
No one can deny that the North Loop has been built by restaurants. And while some of the top chefs in the city are either currently cooking or about to light their stoves in this neighborhood—looking at you, Spoon and Stable, Porzana, Snack Bar, Billy Sushi, and Smack Shack—you can’t dismiss the depth and breadth of menus available for eaters of all appetites.
Starting early, you can get in line for the new hot bite in the neighborhood: a stacked egg sandwich from Egg on a Roll, tucked into the back of Fifth Avenue Market. That is, of course, unless you have already been to Rise Bagel for its legendary organic bagels and schmears.
Travel the world in this neighborhood through the Panamanian dishes at Guacaya Bistreaux, the Szechuan dumplings and noodles at Jun, and the Italian classics at Bar La Grassa.
The most walkable neighborhood in the city allows for the best kind of bar crawl: Start with an innovative sip at Cobble Social House, the tiny cocktail bar hidden by D.Nolo, then wander into the iconic bar at Monte Carlo for an ice-cold martini and the best wings. Move over to the lobby bar at Hewing Hotel, where the beautiful people drink Old Fashioneds, and stroll down to Parlour Bar for “The Burger” for sustenance. Finish your night shouting to new friends at the area’s favorite dive bar, Cuzzy’s. Pin a dollar on the wall and become part of the neighborhood forever. —Stephanie March
Coordinates
Behind the Scenes with Mike Binkley
A retired newscaster’s unexpected second act: neighborhood historian. —Drew Wood
When Mike Binkley retired after 27 years at WCCO-TV in 2015, he and his wife, Mary Milla, could have gone anywhere. But instead of heading south, the Binkleys sold their condo in downtown’s Mill District, packed up, and headed north—about a mile up Washington Avenue to the North Loop. “We found ourselves over here so often for the restaurants and the bars and all that kind of stuff that we decided to move over here,” says Binkley. “We like walking to stuff.”
Little did Binkley know then, but that mile would spawn a retirement second act when the neighborhood association asked if he’d help tell the Loop’s story, which he’s most notably done through a series of plaques that describe what each building was a lifetime ago. “The North Loop benefited from the fact it was neglected and forgotten for so long,” he says. “It was dirty; it was rusty. These buildings were waiting to be rediscovered, and now they’re having their moment.” However, Binkley’s role doesn’t end at plaques and historical deep dives on the neighborhood association’s website. Nope, he is also the voice of something surprisingly more hip: the North Loop’s Instagram account.
“For a while, I didn’t want people to know I was doing the Instagram, but my wife gets such a kick out of the fact that that’s my new identity,” he says. “I walk around here, and nobody knows I used to be a news anchor, but when they find out I’m doing the North Loop Instagram, they have a meltdown.”
Looper since: 2018
Relation to the North Loop: I volunteer to run the North Loop’s social media accounts, along with producing news articles, videos and photos for our neighborhood website, plus researching and writing about North Loop history via building plaques and posts in the Historic North Loop section of our website.
What’s your best North Loop moment? I really like showing off our neighborhood to visitors who haven’t ventured into this area for 15-20 years, if ever. They may have this image of gritty, abandoned warehouses and have no idea how far the neighborhood has come or how much it has to offer.
Your worst? It was eerie to see the streets of this vibrant neighborhood deserted and dark during the early days of the pandemic. There was so much uncertainty about all the businesses we love and the people who work there.
Best time of day in the North Loop? I like the mornings, around 6-9 a.m., when neighbors are out walking their dogs, jogging and biking. The coffee shops are bustling. So are the fitness facilities.
Best time of year in the North Loop? All four seasons are great here. We have someone else plowing our snow in the winter and we have big beautiful trees that pop with color in the spring and fall. But I’ll give the edge to summer because of all the outdoor activities, plus in 10 minutes I can walk from my condo to our seats at Target Field where we have Twins season tickets.
What’s the best thing about the North Loop? The great variety of experiences within a very short walking distance. It’s not only the energy of the nightlife, dining and shopping but also the tranquility of walking through the woods along the river or hanging out on a rooftop deck.
What’s your go-to spot to celebrate in the North Loop? Monte Carlo or JD Hoyt’s.
How about to wallow in defeat? Cuzzy’s is good for that.
Where do you order take out? Your order? Egg On A Roll, the new sandwich shop in the 5th Avenue Market. I get the Classic with ham.
What’s your favorite North Loop building? It’s a close race between many historic/revitalized buildings but I give the edge to The Hewing. Here’s a place that used to be a farm implement warehouse with manure spreaders showcased in the giant front windows along Washington Avenue. But now it’s an upscale hotel with perfect mix of historic and modern features.
Who is your favorite North Loop person? Pat Montague, owner of JD Hoyt’s. He was here long before this neighborhood was cool and he’s still here busting his butt and working the room to make sure everyone feels welcome.
What’s your North Loop secret place? The two little bridges in the woods above Bassett Creek by the river.
Most curious North Loop fact that you know? This neighborhood did a lot for American breakfast tables in the 1920s. At the same time that the world’s first pop-up toasters were being produced on 2nd Street, the world’s largest instant coffee producer of its time was right across the street, churning out 100 tons of coffee a week. And then over on Washington Avenue, the Sunshine Bakery was producing “enough biscuits to supply every man, woman and child in Minneapolis with 35 a day” according to a newspaper article.
What’s the thing that people most often get wrong/misunderstand about the North Loop? That it’s just a bunch of young hipsters living here. There’s a sizable number of retirees here too who’ve chosen to downsize from suburban homes and live a more streamlined life with a one-level condo or apartment.
Do you have a favorite North Loop shop? Absolutely, MartinPatrick3, and not only because of the great clothes; they’re also a tremendous civic-minded neighbor, quietly contributing to the efforts of our volunteer neighborhood association.