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Friends,


Last week I mentioned that downtown's own Ecolab was celebrating its 100th birthday and over the weekend we had a chance to celebrate with their team and other community leaders right in Rice Park. The falling snow created the perfect setting for the festivities. As their CEO Christophe Beck shared with everyone in attendance, you can experience beautiful weather in the summer, but winter in Saint Paul is unlike anywhere else on earth. We agree! Congrats to everyone involved in making such an great event come to life and cheers to the next 100 years!


In case you hadn't heard St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, and it's a kind of a big deal here in downtown! For the second year in a row the parade will start in Rice Park, head down 5th Street and end in Mears Park. Also back for its second year is the Ballpark Hooley at CHS Field. This year's Hooley will include live music by The Serfs and Northerly Gales, Irish dancers, and food and beverage specials. There's still time to get a $5 ticket in advance, they'll be $10 at the door. And yes, the forecast looks...cold and snowy, but let's all channel Christophe and embrace it! That being said, there are plenty of indoor spots to grab a pint. Our friends at Visit Saint Paul have all kinds of great info on where to celebrate.


This was a great week of news — we love seeing the positive press about Grow Downtown, the success and collaboration of small businesses in the Pioneer Endicott, and Downtown Alliance board member Abdi Kahin getting some well deserved recognition. Keep reading for all this and lots more below.


See you at the parade!


-Joe 


P.s. Momento is up for several Minnesota's Best awards this year — be sure to vote!

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Grow Downtown seeds Saint Paul with 10 new retailers through free six-month leases

In downtown Saint Paul, Alexandra "AJ" Johnson wants her ground-level Wabasha Street storefront, Jack and the Pack, to become a go-to resource for all things joring. For the uninitiated, she explains that joring - the Norwegian word for "pulling" - describes ropes and harnesses for biking dogs, sled dogs, ski dogs, scooter dogs, running dogs or virtually "anything with a dog, and they are pulling you."

Read more from the Pioneer Press

Pioneer Endicott: Saint Paul small businesses find success downtown, under one roof

In Lowertown Saint Paul, a diverse group of small businesses are doing well for themselves - and sharing an address. The Pioneer Endicott building, located at 141 E. Fourth St., is a staple of Saint Paul and current home to an ecosystem of small businesses that are supporting each other in more ways than one.

Read more from the Pioneer Press

Afro Deli owner awarded for small business success

Abdirahman Kahin, the owner of the local Afro Deli & Grill restaurants, won Minnesota's 2023 Small Business Person of the Year on Tuesday. Afro Deli & Grill is an African, Mediterranean and American fusion restaurant with four locations in the Twin Cities.

Watch the story from KSTP

St. Paul Saints are sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings

The St. Paul Saints, the minor-league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins and a longtime favorite of minor-league baseball fans, has been sold to a new ownership group. The Saint Paul team, founded three decades ago by Marv Goldklang, Mike Veeck, and actor Bill Murray, announced on Wednesday its sale to Diamond Baseball Holdings.

Read more from the Business Journal

Upcoming events around downtown

March 17

St. Patrick's Day Parade | Rice Park to Mears Park

Ballpark Hooley | CHS Field

St. Patrick’s Day Irish Celebration | Landmark Center

NCHC Frozen Faceoff | Xcel Energy Center

NCHC Frozen Faceoff Fan Fest | Apostle Supper Club

Diesel Heart | History Theatre

NexStar National Talent Competition | RiverCentre


March 18

NCHC Frozen Faceoff | Xcel Energy Center

NCHC Frozen Faceoff Fan Fest | Apostle Supper Club

NexStar National Talent Competition | RiverCentre

The Good, The Bad & The Irish Walking Tour | Rice Park

Diesel Heart | History Theatre

Julia Garcia solo exhibition at Night Club | Night Club Gallery


March 19

NexStar National Talent Competition | RiverCentre

The Good, The Bad & The Irish Walking Tour | Rice Park

Sundays at Landmark: An Irish Day of Dance | Landmark Center

Diesel Heart | History Theatre


March 22

Lowertown Trivia Night @ Station 81 | Union Depot

Level Up at the Library! | George Latimer Central Library

Music Mayhem Trivia | Camp Bar


March 23

Trivia Mafia | Camp Bar

Diesel Heart | History Theatre


March 24

Diesel Heart | History Theatre

A Pair of Wings-Casual Reading Event With Carole Hopson | DGPilot  


A full look at what's coming in the week ahead can be found on our event calendar. Check it out!

Are you following the Alliance on Facebook? What about Instagram?


Event season is in full swing! Make sure you're following the Downtown Alliance on social media to stay up to date on all the latest downtown events and news. Plus, we do love giveaways, so you never know when you could end up with tickets, swag or other great downtown prizes. 


@StPLdowntown

stpdowntownalliance.org

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