Arbeiter Brewing's grand opening at the end December 2020 likely wasn't what co-owner Juno Choi envisioned in the years leading up to the big day.
Arbeiter Brewing, located just south of East Lake Street along Minnehaha Avenue, celebrated the only way they could at that time during the COVID-19 pandemic with a limited crowd and to-go beer only.
"It was a little lackluster of a grand opening but we were still very excited to be open at that point," Choi said.
Arbeiter comes from the German word for ‘worker’. Work is exactly what it took for Choi and the rest of the crew to find success in an area devastated not just by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also by the riots following the murder of George Floyd at 38th and Chicago.
"We wanted to have our business here mainly because of the community. We also saw that we have a very unique and eclectic business corridor over here," added Choi. "We're a small business and wanted to be around other small businesses."
The 2020 riots in the Twin Cities damaged more than 1,500 businesses, causing an estimated $500 million worth of damage. According to the Lake Street Council, the cost to rebuild and restore Lake Street is $250 million.
Businesses left picking up the pieces in the weeks and months after the unrest also had to deal with public perception about safety along the Lake Street corridor.
"I think we are still facing a lot of misconceptions about the neighborhood and about the area," Choi said. "I always encourage people that have those misconceptions to come check it out for themselves. I think they will find it quite different from what they've been told. We're a vibrant community, we're a diverse community, and we have lots of families here."
The trials and tribulations along Lake Street didn't stop Breanna Evans and Jeff Rogers from opening Wrecktangle Pizza at Lyn-Lake in April 2022.
"We live in the Whittier neighborhood on Eat Street and I worked up the street, so this has been our home base where we have worked, hung out, and where our friends meet up," Evans said. "This spot has always been what we've considered to be the best corner in the city."
Mark Freie/Audacy
In fact, the Lyn-Lake building Wrecktangle Pizza calls home is one Rogers knows quite well himself.
"We're very honored to be here," Rogers said. "I grew up in this building and used to go to Falafel King two times a day."
Despite outside concerns, Choi says there's been obvious growth along Lake Street since 2020 whether it's through new businesses, or businesses celebrating anniversaries.
"I really don't see much of the crime at all and can't tell of an instance that's occurred to us or our neighbors," Choi said. "There's just a lot of misconception about the area which is prevailing about what people think about here."
For Evans, Lake Street remains a place to call home.
"Life on Lake Street is just as it was before the social unrest, so it's community, it's people that live here that care about it, and that includes us," Evans said. "We're honored to be here."
Rogers shares the same sentiment.
"I love Lake Street. It's the best and there's never a dull moment," Rogers said. "People weren't coming over here before the unrest. People are going to be themselves and let them do whatever they're going to do. We're over here, so come and check it out."
