March 2011 SCCA NEWS

Seward’s Business Community www.sewardbusiness.org

March Meeting 2011

Board of Directors
Programs for Small Businesses Chair:
with Kristen Guild of the City of Minneapolis Jim Welna
and Eddie Landenberger of Redesign Welna II Hardware

Vice Chair:
Join fellow SCCA members at Wells Fargo Bank for Pizza from Lucé and Rick Siewert
the chance to hear about the City’s of Minneapolis and Redesign’s small Siewert Cabinet
business loan programs. Topics include the 2% Loan Program, the Great Treasurer:
Streets program, the Facade Improvement Program, and information Max Duckler
CaptionMax
about the Hiawatha Revolving Loan Fund.
Suzanne Weinstein
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 / 11:45 am – 1:00pm Coastal Seafoods
Wells Fargo Bank / 2600 East Franklin Ave
Jennifer Larson
Communications Design
Pizza Luce will provide lunch for $10. *Lunch is optional*
Joe Buck
To RSVP, please contact Megan: 612.435.0279 / [email protected] Buck Bros. Construction

Russ Scott
February Meeting Notes A-Craft Windows
Property Assessment, Wednesday, February 16th, 2325 East Franklin Ave.
by Dave Madsen Sean Doyle
Seward Co-op
On Wednesday, February 16, Seward residents and business owners went to Shabelle Gro-
cery and Deli (2325 East Franklin Ave.) for the monthly meeting of the Seward Civic and
Commerce Association (SCCA). The buffet-style menu offerings of Abdur Omer’s restau- Monthly Meetings are held
rant were equally unique as they were delectable. Omer and his staff were fantastic hosts on the 3rd Wednesday of
and ensured that those who attended the meeting were well fed and accommodated. each month from 11:45
- 1pm.
Aside from the updates concerning the neighborhood and the various events that have
been planned during the months of February and March, the focus of February’s meeting Upcoming Dates
was to inform SCCA members about the process of understanding and contesting real es-
tate valuation. The presentation was put on by David Peterson, Certified Student Attorney March 16
for the William Mitchell Community Development Clinic. He managed to boil down an
often confusing and daunting process into a well-organized 45 minute presentation. April 20

May 18
MEETING NOTES continued on page 4
SCCA Mission: to provide a forum for Seward area businesses to plan, discuss, advocate and network for mutual benefit.
Page 2 Member Updates
Pizza Lucé: Serving Up a Slice of Seward
Pizza Lucé, 2200 East Franklin Avenue
by Dave Madsen

Between the hours of 11:30am and 2:30am,

an overwhelmingly tempting aroma of gar-
lic floods the intersection of 22nd Ave. and
Franklin Ave. The smell, unmistakable by
neighborhood residents, serves to invite all
who pass by a to stop in. Since 2003, Pizza
Lucé has stood as a landmark of delicious
taste on Franklin Ave.; General Manager Jen-
nifer Linnett credits the restaurant’s success
to continued community engagement and a
dedication to quality food and ingredients.

According to Linnett, a 2002 email from the

building’s owner, Seward resident Carol Car-
rier, expressed that she and her husband, Greg
Sales, recently purchased a building on Frank-
A sampling of some of the fun employees of Lucé
lin Avenue and that the two intended to redevelop the
space for more tenants. After a strong response from As Seward is host to a broad spectrum of individuals and families
neighbors who begged for a Pizza Lucé in Seward, from many different cultures, Linnett said that it has always been
CEO J.J. Haywood, former resident of South East important for the restaurant to be reflective of the neighborhood’s
Minneapolis and the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, range of people. “At one table you could have a vegan, a meat eater
decided to bring the distinct flavors of Pizza Lucé to and a person with gluten intolerance and everyone eats together. I
Franklin Avenue. think that concept is exactly what Seward is about: a place where
people can come together,” she said.
At the time of the Seward location’s development, Lin-
nett had been an employee of the Pizza Lucé in Up- Linnett said that her role as a manager ensures that each day is
town for about three years. Previously, Linnett worked unique with “challenges and new experiences.” Regardless of how
her way up to a management position at a pizza place different each day can turn out to be, Linnett reported that the cen-
in Washington State; her decision to move north was tral goals for those who work at the Lucé in Seward are a constant
encouraged by her best friend and her eventual em- dedication to customer satisfaction and the effort to maintain an
ployment at the Uptown location near Linnett’s first environment of fun in the restaurant. “I can’t tell you how lucky
apartment. When the Seward location opened, Lin- I feel to be part of Pizza Lucé and get to work with so many great
nett transferred to a management position and fell in people,” she said.
love with the neighborhood. In fact, Linnett specifi-
cally bought a home near Seward due to her attach- For those who haven’t dined at Pizza Lucé on Franklin Avenue, the
ment to the area. restaurant stands apart from other pizza restaurant in the area for its
unique ingredient combinations, an intimate seating arrangement,
“I ended up buying a home in Longfellow, just a few a rotating art gallery, and its offerings from the restaurant’s full bar.
blocks away from the Riverview Theater. So, I’m not Each day, the staff of Lucé picks a new blend of ingredients and
quite a Seward resident, but with as much time as I assembles two slices of the day, one with meat and one vegetarian
spend in Seward, I think I’ve earned an honorary resi- option.
dency,” Linnett joked.

PIZZA LUCE continued on page 4

 SCCA NEWS Page 3

Growing Lots Grows in Seward

Growing Lots Urban Farm, E. 22nd St. & Snelling Ave. Dive into
by Dave Madsen
Social Networking!
ventures. After pursuing and acquiring two Even if you missed the
grants (from the Seward Coop and Pata- workshop, all SCCA mem-
gonia), Redesign transformed a vacant lot bers are still eligible for
at the Seward Commons development site Peter Felck’s social me-
at the corner of 22nd St and Snelling Ave, dia/web consulting servic-
along the western border of the Seward
es. Topics include Google
Neighborhood. According to Meyer, Re-
Places, Yelp, Twitter, Face-
design “envision[s] urban agriculture be-
ing designed into the overall site plan, with book and anything else
the current site as the first step of work- you need to jumpstart your
ing through the permitting process with business’ online identity.
the city of Minneapolis and examining the
economic reality of urban farming.” The fee is $30, thanks
to a grant from the City
Meyer said that much of Growing of Minneapolis’ Great
Lots’scurrent success is due to the fact that Streets Business District
“more and more people want to support Support Program. For
local green business ventures.” As many more information and to
communities become interested in where schedule your session,
their food comes from and how the food
A view of the city from last season’s farm
contact Megan Sheri-
was treated beforehand, many environ-
dan: (612) 435-0279
After an extended winter of shivering and mentally-conscious businesses are being
supported. Meyer added that Seward as [email protected]
dreading the outdoors, the smell and taste
of fresh, local produce may just be an effec- been an ideal environment for Growing
tive cure-all for Seasonal Affective Disor- Lots as the neighborhood “has long been
der. But where can one go to find a reliable at the vanguard of this shift in perspec-
tive.” Much of the support for Growing
farm for his/her Community Supported
Lots, Meyer said, has come directly from
Write an SCCA
Agriculture (CSA) share while remain- Newsletter Article!
ing loyal to the Seward neighborhood? It organizations like the Seward Neighbor-
may come as a surprise to some residents hood Group, the Seward Civic and Com-
merce Association, and other community Is there a business in
and workers in Seward, but the neighbor-
members. Seward that has always in-
hood actually has a fully-functioning farm
trigued you? Interested in
that distributes 20 weeks-worth of fresh
According to Meyer, it is important to sup- getting to know what goes
produce to its 40 CSA members. Grow-
port local farmers and produce suppliers as on inside other neighbor-
ing Lots, now in its second year of opera- a vibrant community’s economy is reliant hood businesses?
tion, is headed by Stefan Meyer and is “a on the investments provided by residents
reflection of a changing mentality of many and business owners. “Let’s think about If so, you would make a
Twin Cities neighborhoods.” this in terms of the garden soil,” Meyer ex- perfect author for an SCCA
plained. “The soil is a rich living structure,
After Seward Redesign, a local nonprofit newsletter article!
filled with minerals and nutrients vital to
community development corporation, the healthy growth of plants. To keep the
visited Growing Power, national non- soil healthy and filled with nutrients, a No writing skills necessary,
profit organization dedicated to the de- gardener or farmer must pay special atten- just an interest in your fel-
velopment of community food systems in tion to the nutrient cycle and manage their low business owners
Milwaukee, WI, the Seward-based CDC growing practices in a way that the needed
decided to dedicate a great deal of their nutrients are cycling through the system.” contact Dave: 435-0277
efforts to supporting urban agricultural [email protected]
GROWING LOTS continued on page 4
Page 4 SCCA NEWS
GROWING LOTS continued from page 3 PIZZA LUCE continued from page 2

“Our local economy works in much the same way,” he elaborated.

“A healthy local economy seeks to keep local resources (people,
jobs, money, physical resources, etc.) actively cycling through the
local system. In doing so, many local people and businesses find
gainful employment, and money is earned, spent and invested in
further development of our region.”

As the spring comes slowly, Meyer said that most of the time spent
working at Growing Lots is consumed by planning and waiting
for the snow to melt. Most of January and February, Meyer said, is
devoted to paging through “catalog after catalog, reading mouth-
watering descriptions of new varieties of plants, and just staring at
the pictures and dreaming of warmer days.” As March shows signs
of spring, Growing Lots is reportedly ready to hit the soil running,
so to speak, as the indoor seeding operations have begun for toma-
toes, eggplants, peppers, broccoli, cabbage, collards, and various
herbs. Later in the summer, the farm devotes work to “general
maintenance and harvest preparations for CSA members.” Come
fall of 2011, Meyer said that Growing Lots will move into a wrap-
up phase with an annul evaluation.
Lucé Employee Peter paints faces for the 2010 Franklin Frolic
For residents and business owners who have an interest in urban
agriculture, Meyer encouraged people to join a local farm’s CSA The regular menu staples of Pizza Lucé include the Clas-
program—Growing Lots, in particular. “Your investment in this sic (an Italian sausage, pepperoni pizza complete with
urban farm will only make it more fruitful and fulfilling for all mushrooms, green peppers, onions, black olives and
involved,” Meyer said. “Spread the word, because word-of-mouth mozzarella cheese on red sauce), the Baked Potato (a
is a great way to let your neighbors know of this community re- pizza with a crust covered in mashed baby red potatoes
source.” and topped with broccoli, fresh diced tomatoes, ched-
dar cheese and a sprinkling of smoked apple hickory
For those who are interested in purchasing a CSA share and want bacon), the Athena (a pie assembled with spinach, to-
access to a variety of farms to choose from, Seward Co-op (2823 E. matoes, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts,
Franklin Ave.) will be hosting its tenth annual CSA fair on Satur- red onions, Greek oregano and toasted garlic with moz-
day, Apr. 16 from 11:00am to 3:00pm in the Co-op’s parking lot. zarella cheese on a delicious Bianca sauce), and one of
According to Seward Co-op’s website, the event will serve as a way Linnett’s all-time personal favorites: the Rustler (an
for residents and customers to meet their farmers, learn about the assembly of marinated mock duck, pineapple, banana
growing process, and build relationships with fellow CSA mem- peppers, red onions, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses on
bers. In addition to networking with other CSA members, those
their signature BBQ/red sauce).
who attended this event will learn the value of a focused, local food
system.
For Seward residents, this locally owned and operated
In addition to direct support of the farm, folks who live and/or restaurant should be a staple in one’s weekly dining de-
work in Seward are encouraged to watch the Growing Lots web- cisions. With its participation in the annual Franklin
page (growinglots.blogspot.com) for updates on 2011 Community Frolic and the Dining Out For Life fundraising events,
Days, starting in April. This event, according to Meyer, will be it’s clear that this restaurant’s interests move beyond
hosted by Growing Lots as an opportunity for “community mem- food and toward a sense of community engagement.
bers are invited to come get their hands dirty!” Keep an eye on With great customer service, reasonable prices, an in-
Growing Lots’s blog for updates about work descriptions and vol- timate dining space, and a staff of over 50 diverse and
unteer commitments associated with this exciting event. equally-fun personalities, it’s a safe bet to assume that
the Lucé on Franklin won’t be moving anywhere soon.
 SCCA NEWS Page 5

MEETING NOTES continued Seminar to “cut energy costs” for Job Openings
food service business owners for SCCA
from page 1
by Dave Madsen Position Titles:
The initial step in the appeal process, According to Daniel Huff, Interim Division Project Assistant Intern
according to Peterson, is to discuss Manager and Environmental Management and
Applications Due:
one’s concerns with a staff member Safety Manager for Green Building Policy at March 15, 2011
of the City Assessor. After one as- the City of Minneapolis’s Department of Regu-
sembles his/her facts (e.g. market latory Services, food service businesses use two Primary Functions:
analyses of comparable sales, a bro- and a half times more energy than the average The Project Assistant and
ker’s price opinion, any changes made commercial business. Marketing Interns work
to the property over the past year) a with a team consisting of
the Redesign Associate Di-
call can be made to (612) 673-3000 to In order to cut these utility bills, owners of rector, SCCA Program Man-
set up an appointment. If this does food service-related businesses can get help ager, and other interns to
not result in an acceptable valuation, with rebates to upgrade equipment, as well as assist with the implemen-
a property owner can then appeal to the chance to show customers how green their tation of special events for
the Minneapolis Board of Appeal businesses are during a free seminar, titled “Cut SCCA.
by filling out an application on the energy costs and save big in the foodservice
Hours and Compensation:
Board’s website. After that process, industry” that is being put on by the City on Hours: 15-20 hours/wk
one may appeal to the Minnesota Monday, March 21 from 8:30am to 11:30am June through December
Tax Court or the Hennepin County to help with these improvements. 31st, 2011.
Board of Appeal and Equalization Compensation: Project sti-
for further consideration. During this seminar, business owners will hear pend.
from national foodservice efficiency expert Rich-
For more information, con-
Both of these appeals include setting ard Young about valuable, energy-saving chang- tact Megan Sheridan, As-
up an appointment via phone with es that can be made in one’s business. Those in sistnat Project Manager of
the respective organizations’ offices. attendance will also have the chance to learn Redesign, at megan@rede-
The Hennepin County Board of Ap- from other local food service businesses about signinc.org.
peal (612-348-3046) does not require how saving energy is saving them money.
a fee or application form; however,
one must be prepared for either an In addition to fellow business owners, attend-
in-person appeal, a well-written ap- ees can meet with Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Include your
peal letter, or to designate a respon- Energy representatives to learn about rebates business in the
sible representative to facilitate this and technical resources that will help save en- Member Update
process. The Minnesota Tax Court’s ergy and money. Section!
process of appeals includes one’s
decision to appeal to a specific divi- The aim of this seminar, Huff said, is also to If your business has news
sion of the court. These divisions in- provide businesses with the opportunity to find to share, we want to hear
clude the Regular Division and Small out how to apply for City of Minneapolis low- about it. Let us know if
Claims Division. More information interest loans as well as the chance to consult you’ve won an award, are
about the Minnesota Tax Court can with City of Minneapolis environmental health offering a new product or
be found at http://www.taxcourt. inspectors. service, moved your space,
state.mn.us. etc. and we’ll share it here.
If you own a business in the food service indus-
try, visit contact Megan: 435-0279
http://foodserviceenergy.eventbrite.com/ [email protected]
to register for the event.
Page 6 SCCA NEWS

Thank you to SCCA members who have contributed in 2011!

A Craft Windows * At Last Gourmet Foods, Inc * Beaupre Aerial Equipment

Buck Brothers Construction * CaptionMax * Charles Levin Architects
DeVries Bar Grinding * DigiGraphic Photos Inc * Field Outdoor Spaces
Garlock French Roofing * Hi Line Unique Flooring * Hiawatha Metalcraft Inc * History Crafters
Imagin Studios * Infinite Real Estate Group * Jim’s Barber Shop * Koyi Too Sushi
Madden Accounting & Tax Service * Mill City Builders * Pizza Lucé * Posl Photography * River Realty
Sheldon Mains * Sierra Club North Star Chapter * SwirlyGig Industries * Three Smooth Stones
United Noodle * Welna II Hardware * Whiskey Junction
Woodland Stove and Fireplace * Worry Free Lawn Care

Don’t see your business on this list?

Contact Megan Sheridan to find out how you can join SCCA for 2011!
[email protected] or (612) 435-0279

Minneapolis, MN 55406
2619 E Franklin Avenue
Seward Civic & Commerce Association