St. Paul Summary

Hey St. Paul! It’s Natasha — election week has wrapped up, and there’s plenty to talk about. From a historic mayoral win to major local updates, our city’s energy is as strong as ever. Catch up on what’s new in business, community, and civic life this week 👋

• Kaohly Her makes history as St. Paul’s first woman and Hmong mayor;

• St. Paul Farmers Market opens new year-round indoor space in Lowertown;

• Dependable Home Healthcare to close, laying off 406 employees across the Twin Cities;

• Community members deliver petition urging MnDOT to study Twin Cities Boulevard transit options.

Let’s dive in! 👇️ 

What’s New & Notable

Kaohly Her Makes History as St. Paul’s First Woman and Hmong Mayor

In a landmark victory, State Representative Kaohly Her has been elected Mayor of St. Paul, becoming the city’s first woman and first Hmong leader. Her, who entered the race in August, unseated two-term incumbent Melvin Carter, her former boss, after emphasizing what she called a lack of responsiveness in city leadership. Her’s support grew through ranked-choice voting, propelled by strong turnout in key wards. Her’s win comes as the Hmong community marks 50 years in Minnesota, a milestone celebrated by community leaders.

Born in Laos and arriving in the U.S. as a child refugee, the 52-year-old lawmaker has represented St. Paul in the Legislature for seven years and previously worked as Carter’s policy director. On election night, Her told cheering supporters, “I’m proud to stand before you as the first Asian and the first woman mayor-elect of St. Paul… I will always show up.” As mayor-elect, Her faces pressing challenges: downtown vacancies, rising rents, and property tax pressures. Her’s three-year term begins as St. Paul transitions to even-year elections to boost voter participation.

Read the full story here.

St. Paul Farmers’ Market Opens New Year-Round Indoor Location

The St. Paul Farmers’ Market launched a new indoor space at 308 Prince St. in Lowertown on November 1, giving vendors a climate-controlled environment to sell year-round. Galvan Foods will be a mainstay, serving food whenever the market is open, and organizers are seeking a coffee vendor to complement daily sales. The space also offers a shared kitchen, room for meetings, and potential pop-up events, all designed to support growers, attract customers, and help revitalize Lowertown, a neighborhood that has struggled with declining foot traffic and restaurant closures in recent years. Market leaders say food will remain central to the mission, while the expansion aims to create a vibrant hub for the community and downtown St. Paul.

Find more details about the indoor market here.

Local Businesses

St. Paul Business Highlights

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

American Rug Laundry Moves to St. Paul

American Rug Laundry, a historic rug cleaner and retailer founded in 1885, is relocating from Minneapolis to a new 4,500-square-foot storefront in Macalester-Groveland. The move brings the business closer to its St. Paul customer base, allows for more inventory, and creates a combined space for sales, storage, and office operations. Owners Sam and Far Navab hope the new location will improve efficiency while continuing their century-long tradition of rug cleaning and conservancy.

Find more details about the move here.

Here’s what else is making headlines in St. Paul:

1. St. Paul Home Health Company to Close, 406 Jobs Lost — Dependable Home Healthcare will end operations in early 2026, affecting 406 employees, including care providers and administrators. The closure comes amid business challenges and upcoming regulatory changes in Minnesota’s home care industry. Services affected include personalized home support, 24-hour emergency assistance, and night supervision for residents (BMTN).

2. St. Paul Chamber Connect Celebrates Local Businesses — This month’s Chamber Connect brought professionals together at St. Paul Brewing Company in the historic Hamm’s Brewery complex. Attendees enjoyed craft brews, networking, and floral displays from local partner Martha’s Gardens, highlighting the city’s vibrant business community. The event encourages collaborations and strengthens connections among local entrepreneurs. Explore more here.

3. Twin Cities Book Festival Returns to Union Depot — The Twin Cities Book Festival celebrates authors, readers, and the social value of literature. The event featured dozens of authors, children’s programs, and interactive sessions, all free to the public. This year’s festival occurred on Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Explore more here.

4. St. Paul Launches Food Drive for SNAP Families — The City of Saint Paul has kicked off a food-drive to support residents impacted by cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Donations of new, shelf-stable food and hygiene items can be dropped off at select libraries and recreation centers during regular hours (Pioneer Press)

5. West End Residents Voice Their Vision for West 7th - In a gathering of the West End neighborhood of Saint Paul, citizens and stakeholders came together to discuss the future of West 7th Street. The forum focused on redevelopment priorities, transit-and-traffic concerns, and balancing community character with growth. Many emphasized preserving local business vitality and neighborhood identity as planning progresses (MyVillager).

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.

St. Paul Voters Approve School Referendum, Civil Fines Measure

St. Paul residents approved two key ballot questions. One authorized the city to issue civil fines for administrative violations instead of criminal citations. The other approved a school district operating levy expected to raise about $37.2 million annually (Fox 9)

1. Carter Concedes St. Paul Mayor’s Race — After a hard-fought campaign, Mayor Melvin Carter conceded to Kaohly Her, urging supporters to “set her up for success.” Reflecting on eight years leading through crises like COVID-19 and the city’s cyberattack, Carter said the race was always about St. Paul’s future, not his legacy (Star Tribune).

2. Port Authority Closes Long-Running East Side TIF District — The St. Paul Port Authority officially ended its decades-long tax district, which helped bring more than $120 million in investment and created nearly 1,000 jobs. What was once an underused rail yard is now a thriving business hub, signaling a new era for East Side redevelopment (Pioneer Press).

3. Group Sues City Over Summit Avenue Bike Trail Process — The advocacy group Save Our Street has filed a lawsuit accusing city officials of altering project scoring to advance the Summit Avenue Regional Trail. The case renews tensions between cycling advocates and residents over transparency and neighborhood impact (MyVillager).

4. SPPS Literacy Program Celebrated on Film Festival Stage — The Twin Cities Film Fest premiered a documentary on St. Paul Public Schools’ WINN program, which provides daily reading support for struggling students. The film highlights how small-group instruction is helping boost literacy growth across the district (MyVillager)

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.

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🧑‍🤝‍🧑 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!

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