Siwek Lumber expands
Siwek Lumber, a lumber and millwork business founded in Minneapolis, have increased their offerings for customers. The storefront, located on Marhsall St. NE and Lowry Avenue, now boasts a significantly expanded inventory and redesigned parking. They showed things off with a “Remodel Celebration” on Saturday, June 21, enlisting all sorts of local names to help out. Aki’s BreadHaus, Fletcher’s Ice Cream, Tacos Los Primos and the City Knights Band all kicked in.
Cannabis tax rate increases
On July 1, the State of Minneapolis increased their Cannabis Tax rate to 15%. In addition to the new tax increase, cannabis products are also subject to a 6.875% state general rate sales tax and any applicable local sales taxes based on where the transaction takes place. Currently, the Northeast Minneapolis area has at least four cannabis stores which will be affected by this law.
California Street Farm vegetables and plants will be at the forefront of a renewed dinner series. (Provided)
Dinner series returns
Houndstooth Modern Tavern and California Street Farm, an urban farm and CSA (community-supported agriculture) program in Northeast Minneapolis have renewed their seasonal dinner series for 2025. This year’s edition has three parts — spring, summer and fall — which are all sold out — and will focus on seasonal produce.
Chef Kamal Mohamed’s full-service restaurant Stepchld is closing on August 24 after almost five years operating at 24 University Avenue NE. (Vince Brown)
Stepchld closing after five years
Stepchld, a Northeast Minneapolis restaurant located near Nicollet Island, will be closing its doors on August 24. “I’m grateful for the fact that I got to do it,” said Kamal Mohamed, the restaurant’s owner and chef. He cited increasing costs for rent, labor and food as some of the reasons for its pending closure.
“Running a small, full-service restaurant has always been a labor of love,” Mohamed shared in a statement. “Unfortunately, a number of evolving factors have impacted our ability to operate our current 38-seat, full-service model sustainably for the long term.”
That said, this is hardly the end of Mohamed’s culinary career. His other establishments, such as WildChld and Percelle, are expected to remain open. In an interview with the Star Tribune, he mulled over his future: “I’m trying to wrap my head around: how can I keep this team together? And you know, is there a world where I can find another spot for Stepchld sooner rather than later to sort of put the team back together. And if not, then the next-best-case scenario is: Is there anything else that sounds good to you? Do you want to do something on your own?”