Hello, St. Paul!

👋 Hello Hello — Chuck here!

I’m excited to share the very first edition of Ambit’s St. Paul newsletter. Each week, we’ll send a quick recap of what’s been happening around town — from small business updates and local journalism to community events and civic voices. It’s all about helping you stay connected to the local leaders and places that make St. Paul feel like home.

This summer, Ambit has been lucky to work with a few fantastic interns. This week’s newsletter was prepared by Tasahra, who’s been helping us share what’s happening around St. Paul.

In between newsletters you can use Ambit’s platform to stay up-to-date and see what small businesses, local journalists, and civic leaders are doing to build a stronger, more connected future for our city.

Glad you’re here!

St. Paul Summary

It’s an exciting time across the city — Dark Horse Eatery has made its long-awaited return to Lowertown, a French-inspired restaurant called Aubergine is on its way to Selby, and new local favorites like Phe Coffee and Emery’s Playhouse just celebrated grand openings. Meanwhile, a downtown dog park is drawing (fluffy) crowds with “Yappy Hour,” and the Xcel Energy Center is getting a new name for the first time in 25 years. At the same time, community members are rallying to support families impacted by recent ICE raids with GoFundMe campaigns and safety resources shared by Councilmember Privratsky. Here’s what’s new and notable this week.

✨ Let’s dive in!

Trending

What’s New & Notable

Two exciting openings were announced in St. Paul: Dark Horse Bar & Eatery makes its long-awaited return to Lowertown, while Aubergine brings French-inspired cuisine to Cathedral Hill!

Local Businesses

St. Paul Business Highlights

Check out what’s new with local businesses across the city.

On Saturday, Phe Coffee (follow) celebrated an electric grand opening of their new coffee shop in Lowertown! Phe Coffee offers a stunning variety of Vietnamese coffees with beautifully crafted presentations and a seating area designed to make you feel connected to the community. View photos from the grand opening here.

1. Big Island Poké: Community Reporter shares an inside look at Big Island Poké on Snelling Avenue. (Community Reporter)

2. Minnesota Yacht Club Festival: The Minnesota Yacht Club Festival returns to Harriet Island July 18–20 featuring headliners like Hozier, Sheryl Crow, Fall Out Boy, Weezer, and Green Day with one-day tickets starting at $150. (St. Paul Voice)

3. Six Mears: Six Mears is now officially open in the former Barrio space on Mears Park, joining the Sixth Street restaurants in downtown. (Pioneer Press)

4. Emery’s Playhouse: Emery's Playhouse celebrated a grand opening on Grand Ave, offering a vibrant and memorable experience donning a full balloon bar, free playspace, and extensive amounts of gift ideas for the little ones in your life. (Ambit Media)

5. Lowertown Social Hour: The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance’s Lowertown Social Hour took take place on Wednesday, July 16th from 4-6 PM at Barrel Theory, providing an opportunity to connect with fellow Lowertown residents.

6. Pino's Pizzeria: A former skyway staple, Pino's Pizzeria will soon be moving into the former Afro Deli space on West 7th Place in Downtown. View the Grand Opening page here.

7. Buffalo Exchange: Buffalo Exchange, a vintage and used clothing store opened on Snelling Ave, relocating from Uptown, offering a sustainable alternative for unwanted clothes. (Ambit Media)

8. Razava Bread Co: Items from Razava Bread Co. can now be delivered through Door Dash! (Razava Bread)

9. Xcel Energy Center will be renamed Grand Casino Arena on Sep. 3rd, putting an end to a 25-year contract. (MPR News)

10. St. Paul provides $250K in grants to support 50 small Arcade Street businesses impacted by roadwork (Pioneer Press)

Local News

Reporting from Your Backyard

Catch up on the latest posts from St. Paul journalists and newspapers covering the people, issues, and moments shaping our city. 💡 Remember, you can impact how local journalists are compensated by clicking the lightbulb “useful” button on their Ambit posts! (Learn more here)

Local Government

Updates from City Hall

Here’s what’s happening at City Hall — from policy changes to upcoming elections, stay informed on the decisions shaping life in St. Paul.

Four candidates—Chauntyll Allen, Molly Coleman, Cole Hanson, and Carolyn Will (Follow on Ambit) — are now vying in the August 12 special election to fill the Ward 4 seat vacated by Mitra Jalali.

1. In response to the devastating events of June 14th and the dangers of division turning into violence, nonprofit Majority in the Middle is launching “What Can We Do Weeks” to encourage peaceful political dialogue and reject political violence. (Majority in the Middle)

2. The Twin Cities housing market remains competitive in 2025, with low inventory, high prices, and elevated mortgage rates favoring sellers, though new listings and assistance programs—like St. Paul's expanded down payment aid—are offering some hope for determined buyers. Check out the St. Paul Voice’s buying tips (St. Paul Voice)

3. Mayoral candidate Yan Chen shares her perspective on rent control in a new video. Check it out on Ambit. (Ambit Media)

4. League of Women Voters will host a Ward 4 Special Election Candidate Forum on July 22 in St. Paul from 7-8:30PM. (League of Women Voters)

5. In the wake of recent ICE raids, Councilmember Privratsky shares a heartfelt newsletter filled with safety guidance, community resources, and links to two GoFundMe campaigns (Link 1 and Link 2) to support the families of detained community members. (Ward 4 Newsletter)

6. St. Paul’s redevelopment of the former Ford plant site at Highland Park is beginning to come alive with new community spaces like a dog park, pickle ball court, and skate park, showing signs of a vibrant future for the neighborhood (Star Tribune)

7. Metro Transit will shut down St. Paul’s Green Line for maintenance July 11-21. As the Minnesota Yacht Club music festival approaches this weekend, Twin Cities residents are wondering why St. Paul’s Green Line is going offline at such an inopportune time. (Pioneer Press)

8. St. Paul Parks and Rec is hosting a free “Yappy Hour” at its new downtown dog park Wednesday, featuring dog nail trimming, music, food trucks, and games as part of its summer event series. (Pioneer Press)

9. Minnwest Bank: Former Madison Equities apartment building in downtown St. Paul sold by Minnwest Bank. (Business Journal)

📆 Mark your calendars: The next city-wide election in St. Paul is on November 4th, 2025.

Know Your Neighborhood

Neighborhood Roundup

Check out what is currently happening in these neighborhood District Councils!

Get Involved

Get involved, Say Connected!

Use Ambit to support local businesses, follow neighborhood updates, and be part of what’s happening in your community.

⭐️ Recommend a local business: Recommend businesses on Ambit and help neighbors discover something great.

📰 Share a Story Idea: Submit story ideas to local journalists—share business news or kindness.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Tell a neighbor: Share posts and events with your neighbors, then make plans to get out in the community!

That’s a wrap for this week!
Thanks for staying connected to what’s happening around St. Paul. Keep showing up for your neighborhood, one post, pop-up, or recommendation at a time.

💜 See you out in the neighborhood!

Support Local. Read Local. Be Local.