Richard akins /employee

dollar store

I have some of my fondest memories of the North End neighborhood. It's a hard-working part of St. Paul and everybody there is gritty. People work hard and the neighborhood is filled with working class families. There is a lot of history and culture there too. I frequent that area and I love the people there. There is a history in the neighborhood that includes different cultures and that is actually our strength. We need the city to invest more in the North End because our community deserves a fair shake.

Kevin Barrett /owner

dar’s Double Scoop

“Dar's Double Scoop has been located in Saint Paul on the corner of Rice and Cook across from Lawson park since it opened in July of 2005.

Kevin Barrett is an extraordinarily generous and kind person, donating ice cream and food to community events throughout the neighborhood. If you ever stop by Dar’s Double Scoop you will also just how at home our local residents feel there. It is a “spot” where you will no doubt run into neighbors and friends, and perhaps represents the best representation of residents of any business in the neighborhood.

reza ghassem / Owner

angel shoe repair & tailoring

I’ve been running this shop for 28 years and people are very nice. Businesses are very friendly. The North End is revitalizing. They are making it like it used to be. In the 70’s the neighborhood went down a little bit. Now they are putting up new signs and new restaurants are opening. I like my work. The people that come here are very friendly. No complaints.

PAUL KAMP / Owner

kamp’s Food Market

The North End is an incredible neighborhood. When we bring people in from the outside, they are always so amazed by the access to parks and the richness in history, culture and community. I’m really feeling a sense of family and community regrowing. We suffered some challenges with job loss and with the housing crisis but we are rebounding. You can definitely feel that.

D’Velle Montgomery / owner

Soul Food Kitchen

D'velle Montgomery is the owner of Soul Food Kitchen and Quik Copy - two small business located on Rice Street in the North End Neighborhood. D'velle grew up in the North End. He is a musician, life-long In Progress artist (started at the age of 13) and now a prospering businessman and community leader. He teaches sound engineering to youth at In Progress and is also well known as a local Hip Hop producer.

Anirut & Jamie Ratanapampnsook / owners

THAI STREET MARKET

I really like the strong culture in this neighborhood. Our customers are from really different, races. So many races come here. Most of them are from the North End. They are very kind people. They are very positive thinking people. When they come, they always bring encouragement to our business. They care about how we are doing. So I feel really welcomed in the neighborhood.

Joe, Mary & Tom THOEMKE

JMT Subs

We chose Rice Street for JMT Subs because we are longtime residents of the neighborhood and we felt we wanted to help Rice Street and we knew it needed some loving attention and so we chose this spot.

That we have been here and been so involved in so many causes and have just meant so many people over the years.  There has always been such a great sense of community.  This is probably not the most affluent neighborhood but it is loyal.  I guess I could say that the North End is a part of me.