St. Paul Summary

Hey St. Paul! It’s Natasha - your guide for summarizing this week’s St. Paul’s news! 👋 

• Vietnamese specialty coffee is coming to Grand Avenue with Phê Coffee, bringing bold flavors and a modern café vibe;

• The St. Paul Chamber PAC shakes up the mayoral race by endorsing… no one;

• West Side native Donovan Smith’s basketball journey takes center stage in a gripping new documentary;

• Explore Como Park’s trees on a guided Tree Trek, discovering fascinating facts about the park’s leafy residents.

Let’s dive in! 👇️ 

What’s New & Notable

New documentary dives into the roller-coaster journey of West Side’s Donovan Smith

From local courts to state championships, Donovan Smith’s journey has been full of triumphs, setbacks, and lessons learned. WEST$IDE: The Donovan Smith Story captures how family, friends, and the West Side community shaped the undersized point guard into the player and person he is today. The film shows how his childhood dreams, high school teammates—including NBA stars—and his tight-knit neighborhood influenced his path. Fans of basketball and inspiring stories alike will find plenty to admire in Donovan’s perseverance and heart.

Read St. Paul Voice’s full story here

Minnesota Wild Owner Confirms Team Will Stay in St. Paul

Rumors about the Wild moving to Minneapolis? Owner Craig Leipold shut them down: “We are gonna stay in St. Paul, and they’re gonna stay in Minneapolis.” With more than 10 years left on their lease at Grand Casino Arena, the franchise is committed to the city that welcomed Minnesota hockey back. Leipold also dismissed any discussion of sharing a facility with the Timberwolves, keeping St. Paul the Wild’s home base for the foreseeable future.

See the full story here

Local Businesses

St. Paul Business Highlights

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

Phê Coffee Coming to Grand Avenue

A new neighborhood coffee spot is bringing Vietnamese flavors and specialty brews to Grand Avenue. Phê Coffee, already open earlier this year in Lowertown, will offer a modern café experience blending rich heritage with contemporary touches. Hours at the original location run daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Grand Avenue details coming soon.

Fun Fact: Phê (pronounced “fay”) is a Vietnamese word that captures the blissful, euphoric feeling of being “in the zone.”

Read more about the Grand Avenue opening here.

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

1. Don Carlo’s Taqueria Opening Soon
   Longtime South St. Paul residents Carlos and Mayela Cortes are bringing a high-end Mexican dining experience to Concord Exchange. Don Carlo’s Taqueria at 514 Concord Exch. S. will serve authentic tacos, burritos, tortas, and specialty slow-cooked birria dishes, including a ramen birria twist. The menu also features desserts, kid-friendly slushies, and a margarita bar. Expect live music on Saturdays and DJ-led ladies’ nights on Fridays. Hours are 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 7 a.m.–2 a.m. Friday–Saturday, and 7 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday. Full opening details here from St. Paul Voice.

2. New St. Paul Bookstore Preserves ‘Book Bag Lady’ Collection
   Rhonda Paoli and Joe Whebbe are opening a new St. Paul bookstore to maintain and share the massive 300,000-book collection once owned by Jeanette Kamman, famously known as the “Book Bag Lady.” The couple started a GoFundMe to cover operating costs and plans to open a second location in the future. Check them out at 637 Smith Avenue North. Read full details here.

3. Jenny in the City Wraps Up 2025 Market Season
   The final Jenny in the City market of 2025 will be held on October 4, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., featuring an amazing lineup of local women-owned businesses. Check them out and shop local! Read full details here.

4. TPT Documentary Spotlights St. Paul’s West Side
   Twin Cities PBS released a new short documentary exploring the history of Mexican Americans in St. Paul’s West Side. The film highlights resilience through displacement, the Chicano Movement, and the role of community institutions like Our Lady of Guadalupe church. Check it out here.

5. Landmark Jewelers Hosts Watches & Whiskey
   Landmark Jewelers recently held its Watches, Whiskey, and Wine event, drawing a strong crowd and plenty of enthusiasm. The successful evening blended fine timepieces, tastings, and community connection, with plans to bring it back next year. Keep up with Landmark Jewelers here.

6. Career Connect Day Coming to St. Paul
   The St. Paul Chamber is hosting Career Connect Day on Tuesday, Oct. 14, bringing high school students together with local organizations and businesses to explore future career paths. Students will rotate through interactive sessions, while employers get a chance to inspire and connect with the next generation of leaders. Find more details here.

7. Innovation at the Park

   Innovation @ The Park comes to Rice Park in downtown Saint Paul as part of Twin Cities Startup Week. Full Stack Saint Paul and Saint Paul Parks & Recreation are hosting the free, family-friendly event with tech demos, interactive activities, food and drinks for purchase, and kid-friendly fun. Partners include Saint Paul Public Libraries and Minnedemo at the Ordway.

   Happening Thursday, Oct. 9, 3:30–6:30 p.m. — read more here.

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 Chamber Withholds Mayoral Endorsement

The St. Paul Area Chamber PAC announced it will not endorse any candidate in the Nov. 4 mayoral race, citing a lack of a standout leader to tackle the city’s pressing challenges, including a struggling downtown, high taxes, stalled housing development, and ongoing public safety concerns. Mayor Melvin Carter, Kaohly Her, Mike Hilborn, and Yan Chen were all considered, but the PAC said none “rose above the others as the transformative leader Saint Paul urgently needs.” Read more here.

1. Lowertown Investigation – One year after artist Carrie Shobe Kwok, 66, was fatally shot near Union Depot, questions remain about motive and how the suspect obtained a gun. Police identified 29-year-old Seantrell Murdock, who died after being shot by officers in Belle Plaine. Prosecutors ruled the officers’ use of force justified. The case, described as “extremely random,” shocked the artist community and revived downtown safety debates. Read more

2. City Question 1: Administrative Citations – St. Paul voters will decide this November on a charter amendment allowing civil fines for violations of city ordinances. Supporters, including Mayor Melvin Carter and Council President Rebecca Noecker, say it offers quicker enforcement against negligent landlords, wage theft, and code violations. Opponents caution it could create extra bureaucracy and burden low-income residents. A simple majority is needed for approval. Read more

3. New Water Treatment Plant – St. Paul Regional Water Services has launched the overhauled $250 million McCarrons Water Treatment Plant, its largest investment to date. Upgrades include new equipment and ozone treatment to remove contaminants, serving 450,000 residents with 40 million gallons daily. Construction began in 2022, with final testing and landscaping continuing into 2026. Read more

4. St. Paul Rewrites Housing Rules

   St. Paul officials are proposing significant changes to its regulations for sober and supportive housing, including lowering minimum distances between facilities, to ease pressure on operators seeking to convert homes as funding rules change. Some sober-home providers warn these shifts are urgently needed to prevent closures and protect recovery housing options. Read More

5. St. Paul Plans Osborn Plaza Renovation

   St. Paul is preparing a major overhaul of Osborn Plaza, seeking public input on a potential new name while planning upgrades that include improved seating, added landscaping, public art, better circulation, and more activation of the space downtown. Read more

6. Gold Line Ridership Slumps 

   Six months after launching the Gold Line, Metro Transit reports weekday boardings averaging just 1,400—a fraction of the 5,900 originally projected. Investigative rides in August revealed stretches with only one or two passengers—or none—raising questions about the line’s early performance. Read More

📆 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!

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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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