Hello St. Paul!

St. Paul’s weekly summary is back!

This week marks my last week interning for Ambit, and before I head back to college, I’m excited to bring to you one final St. Paul Newsletter authored by me! Personally, I’m hoping to squeeze in a visit to the Summer Flower Show at Como Zoo and check out the vibrant Mexican folklore exhibit on Raspberry Island! Let’s dive into what happened over the last week and what’s coming up next!

Thanks for coming along for the ride,
Tasahra

St. Paul Summary

This week’s newsletter highlights big developments like the Saints’ $9 million Ferris wheel proposal at CHS Field, the vision for redeveloping the historic Hamm’s Brewery site, and the expansion of Pedro Park downtown! Catch up on neighborhood happenings from Lake Como cleanups to updates on performance lineups for the Mac-Grove Fest. Explore local business news from Sweet Martha’s rise to fame to local restaurant’s State Fair challenges, and stay informed on city updates like the November school levy vote and expanded pedicab hours.

Thank you for staying connected and engaged with the community!

✨ Let’s get started!

Trending

What’s New & Notable

St. Paul is brewing up a bold new idea—the Saints are pitching their very own Ferris wheel at CHS Field, envisioned as both a game-day attraction and a year-round downtown spectacle inspired by Ferris wheels in Las Vegas and St. Louis!

Saints Ferris Wheel

The St. Paul Saints are pitching a $9 million Ferris wheel at CHS Field, envisioning it as both a game-day party spot and a year-round downtown attraction. Inspired by Ferris wheels in Las Vegas and St. Louis, the project aims to spark vitality in Lowertown while extending their successful city partnership. Learn more here.

Decode Our Take ➡️ Big Ben:MPLS City Hall Tower::The London Eye:Saints Ferris Wheel

Local Businesses

St. Paul Business Highlights

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

New designs for the Hamm’s Brewery redevelopment have just been released—aiming to transform a 5-acre industrial site on Saint Paul's East Side into a lively, walkable neighborhood hub featuring 196 affordable housing units, 20,000–30,000 sq ft of commercial space, restored historic artist lofts, and vibrant community gathering areas.

Yes, but: St. Paul Brewing recently sued the city over the proposed development, arguing the loss of parking could severely impact the brewery’s business. Read more here.

1. State Fair Balancing Act - Several beloved St. Paul restaurants—Mancini’s al Fresco, French Meadow Bakery & Café, Que Viet, El Burrito Mercado, and more—are juggling their daily operations while serving thousands at the Minnesota State Fair. (MyVillager)

2. The History of Sweet Martha’s Fame - From a tiny homemade booth in 1979 to serving 44,000 cookies every 12 minutes, Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar has become the fair’s top-selling vendor and a beloved Minnesota tradition. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)

3. St. Paul Get Down Festival - On Friday, August 22, the Saint Paul Get Down festival brought music, culture, and community to Harriet Island Regional Park with a free, family-friendly festival. The event showcased local legends, rising youth talent, food vendors, community art, and summer energy along the Mississippi River. (View event)

4. Minnesota Minimum Wage set to increase - Minnesota’s statewide minimum wage will increase by 28 cents—rising 2.5% to $11.41 per hour—effective January 1, 2026, reflecting the inflation-based adjustment. (Minnesota Reformer)

5. Old Hamm’s Neighborhood Party - Ward 7 neighbors came together on Sunday, August 24, for the Old Hamm’s Neighborhood Party on Reaney Ave—a community barbecue with water slides and 3-legged races to trivia, contests, dancing, and summer celebration. (View event)

   Explore St. Paul Businesses On Ambit

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, Ambit compensates local journalists every time you click the lightbulb “useful” button on their Ambit posts! (Learn more here)

Local Government

Updates from City Hall

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

1. St. Paul Expands Pedicab Hours - The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance allowing pedicabs to operate during peak commuting hours, expanding zero-emission transit options and boosting downtown mobility and vibrancy. (Ambit)

2. Council President Rebecca Noecker praises the early success of the Commercial Corridor Organization Assistance Program (CCOAP), which is quickly delivering flexible funding to strengthen local businesses and neighborhood retail corridors across the city. (Read her full note here)

3. New Watchdog Report Criticizes St. Paul’s TIF Practices - A fiscal watchdog group recently released a report finding that St. Paul has “overused” tax-increment financing (TIF) and placed an “undue burden” on the city’s finances by relying too heavily on the mechanism. (Pioneer Press)

4. Downtown Action Series Meeting Kickoff - Council President Rebecca Noecker and neighbors gathered at Union Depot on August 21 for the launch of the Downtown Action Series—a new initiative to shape Saint Paul’s Downtown Investment Strategy and building a vibrant, inclusive future together. (See more meeting dates here)

5. St. Paul City Services Remain Offline - St. Paul is still restoring systems after the July 25 cyberattack, with some services offline and 43 gigabytes of reportedly non-critical city data leaked after the city refused to pay ransom. (My Villager)

6. Ramsey County awarded $15.9 million in grants to preserve and expand affordable housing, funding 17 projects (including 8 in St. Paul neighborhoods) that will stabilize hundreds of units, reduce rents, and ensure long-term affordability. (Ambit)

7. Celebrate Pedro Park’s Opening on September 4th - Downtown St. Paul’s expanded Pedro Park will transform a formerly vacant site into a nearly one-acre green space featuring a lawn, play area, pavilion, gardens, dog run, café seating, and more—bringing new vibrancy and recreation to the heart of the city. (View event here)

Good Vibes 🎵 If you’re looking for a song to listen to on your way to the Pedro Park ribbon cutting, this is our suggestion.

📆 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.