The 1029 Bar sp; owners of the Smack Shack, whose kitchen has been in the bar since 2010, have taken over the space. (The 1029 Bar)
New bar owners buy a piece of their history
The 1029 Bar, 1029 Marshall St. NE, has new leadership.
On April 29, Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald, owners of Smack Shack, announced they purchased the location. Thoma and Fitzgerald moved their food truck’s kitchen into the bar in December 2010.
Thoma said the bar will stay largely the same. A press release says that “Bingo, karaoke, and meat raffles” will hold steady at the location, and the menu will feature some Smack Shack items — just like it did prior to the sale.
“This is a very special moment for us,” Fitzgerald said. “We aren’t just buying a bar; we’re preserving a piece of our own history, and we look forward to carrying on the amazing legacy that Troy and Scott have created.”
Shopping center sold
Nuveen, an investment manager based in Chicago, has a new property in its portfolio.
In March, the company purchased Silver Lake Village Shopping Center, 2600-2800 39th Ave. NE, for $44.4 million. That figure represents a 29% price increase since its previous sale in 2020.
Nuveen purchased the property as part of a $298 million sale that involved seven different retail properties.
MICHELIN coming to Mpls
In April, Meet Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District announced that Minneapolis, as well as several other cities, will be part of an upcoming “American Great Lakes” MICHELIN Guide.
The MICHELIN Guide is a curated list of restaurants that, according to Michelin, focuses on “exceptional cuisine that’s rich in flavor, remarkably executed and infused with the personality of a talented chef.”
Inspectors for the Guide have begun their work and will name their selections next year.
Businesses earn readers’ awards
In April, MSP Mag unveiled its 2026 Readers’ Poll, with a strong showing from Northeast Minneapolis businesses across food, drink and retail categories, particularly independent restaurants and long-standing neighborhood staples.
Earl Giles, 1325 Quincy St. NE, took first place in the “Distillery” category, while Surdyk’s, 303 Hennepin Ave. E, was named both best liquor store and best cheese shop. Holy Land, 2513 Central Ave. NE, was named the best Middle Eastern spot, and Saturday Dumpling Co., 519 Central Ave. NE, was named the best Chinese food location.
Diane’s Place, 117 14th Ave. NE, earned multiple honors, including best bakery and best breakfast/brunch location, along with a second-place finish for Southeast Asian cuisine. Chowgirls, 336 Hoover St. NE, took first place for catering.
Several other Northeast establishments placed across categories. Pryes Brewing, 1401 West River Rd. N., earned second place for its brewery/taproom, and The 1029 Bar, 1029 Marshall St. NE, placed second in the “Dive Bar” category. Hai Hai, 2121 University Ave. NE, and Earl Giles were also recognized in the “Zero-Proof-Friendly Bar” category.
Additional second-place finishes included The Anchor Fish and Chips, 302 13th Ave. NE, for Irish pub, Que Viet, 2211 Johnson St. NE, for Vietnamese cuisine, Marty’s Deli, 400 Lowry Ave. NE, for sandwiches, and Aster Café, 125 Main St. SE, for patio.
A few results reflected broader trends or notable circumstances. Minari, 323 13th Ave. NE, was named the best Korean food location in the Twin Cities and also placed among the top new restaurants of 2025, while Momo Sushi, 1839 Central Ave. NE — which closed after a fire in August — earned third place for sushi.
Beyond individual businesses, Northeast Minneapolis ranked second in the “Neighborhood/City to Explore” category, and the Stone Arch Bridge was named among the top places to take out-of-town visitors.
Dozens of other Northeast businesses were recognized across categories.
Credit union location closes
TruStone Financial Credit Union, 527 Central Ave. NE., permanently closed on April 30. The business was part of the Ukrainian Credit Union of Minneapolis prior to its sale in 2011.
Small Business Week celebrates local economy
National Small Business Week (NSBW), an annual celebration of small businesses across the country, takes place from May 3-9. In it, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), according to their website, formally recognizes “entrepreneurs and small business owners” for their “hard work, ingenuity, dedication, and their contributions to the economy.”
A 2018 study commissioned by American Express found that, on average, 67 cents out of every dollar “spent at small businesses in the U.S. stays in the local community.”
On Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6, the SBA is hosting a virtual summit, which is open to “established and aspiring business owners.” The summit includes “educational presentations by industry experts, exhibit booths, free business resources, and business advice.” Topics covered include artificial intelligence, staffing tips, business continuity and more.
To register for the summit, interested parties can go to https://www.cntvhybrid.com/nsbw2026/welcome. More information at sba.gov/nsbw.