It’s been a difficult June for Uptown Minneapolis businesses along Hennepin and Lake Street hoping to return to normalcy, especially if they’re feeling tied between supporting the community’s demonstrations while trying to maintain their business.
Amy Vang, owner of Little Luxuries Nail Lounge said she stands in solidarity with protesters calling for changes to policing but there’s no denying the events have impacted her business.
“It’s affected, of course, our clients,” Vang said. “Some of them have cancelled or rescheduled their appointments. A lot of clients have stopped coming in general because of the safety in Uptown.”
There’s vandalism along the windows to the salon and Vang said they’re considering boarding back up for safety. Multiple businesses along Lake Street have boarded up thick plastic panels to minimize the damage of graffiti. Juut Salon at the corner of Hennepin and Lake announced last week it’s closing that location, which has crossed Vang’s mind.
“We have been looking at other locations but because we love this space so much, we’re just kind of hoping things will get better as far as protesters,” Vang said. “There’s peaceful protesting. We just keep assuming maybe things will get better, but we’ll see. We love this area, but it’s been tough for our clients so if we could find a location that’d be great, if not we just have to stick it through.”
The clientele and staff is diverse at Little Luxuries Nail Lounge. It’s an example of the challenge for business owners who care about the cries of community members right outside their doors, but want their business to thrive.
"We’re here with everyone,” Vang said. “We support BLM. It’s just that as a business owner it’s hurting our business slightly. Let’s do everything as peacefully as we can together.”