Businesses hope return of Uptown Art Fair reinvigorates area

The Uptown area of Minneapolis is hoping the return of its largest event this weekend will help breathe new life into the area.

The Uptown Art Fair kicks off Friday and is expected to draw in more than 300,000 people.

“We have struggled in the last couple years, and it shows our resiliency as a community,” Uptown Art Fair Director Jill Osiecki said.

Uptown suffered civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and the police shooting of Winston Smith in June 2021.

Many businesses decided to close, some due to safety concerns and others because of financial losses during the pandemic.

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The Uptown Art Fair canceled its event in both 2020 and 2021.

“It’s been such a big part of Uptown for 58 years, so to not have it the last two years has been devastating to a lot of different people,” Osiecki said. “Now to return, it just means that the vitality of Uptown is still alive and kicking and that we’re unique, we’re special and we want to keep showing it off.”

This year’s event will feature a mile-long stretch of art from 300 artists, all selected by a jury.

Organizers said it is always one of the biggest weekends of the year for nearby businesses and will give them a much-needed boost.

They noted the event will have 24-hour security, along with extra patrols from the Minneapolis Police Department.

The Uptown Art Fair runs Friday from noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Hennepin Avenue South and The Mall.

“I feel like we’re going in a great direction,” Osiecki said. “There is also a lot of great new stuff happening in Uptown.”

The Uptown Association told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS at least half a dozen new businesses have opened up shop in the last few months, including Sooki and Mimi, the New Uptown Cafe, Wilderness, Primitiva Collective and Curioso Coffee Bar.

A new dining and entertainment venue called Arts + Rec Uptown opens Friday at 11 a.m.

“It’s a great next chapter in the story for Uptown,” said general manager Andrew Avila.

Avila said the new 20,000-square-foot space at the corner of Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue will open in phases.

The rooftop, which opens first, will feature a patio with whimsical cocktails and “gastrofair,” which Avila describes as “elevated fair food,” alongside colorful installations from local artists.

“I’m just really excited that we’re able to share this now with the community. It’s coming off of paper and coming alive,” Avila said.

The main level of the space is set to open this fall, with a full bar and restaurant, black box theater, speakeasy and artist-inspired nine-hole mini golf course.

Avila said once completed, it will be one of the largest tenants in Seven Points, located at the epicenter of the Uptown area.

He said he saw the empty storefronts of Uptown as an opportunity to bring the community back together.

“To go back to that old Paul Wellstone quote, ‘We all do better when we all do better,'” Avila said. “When I first moved here, Uptown was a vibrant going-out area. It was that desirable area everyone wanted to be. I think we can be on that path again.”