UMN students partner with Dinkytown businesses to combat pandemic-related shortfalls

The Minnesota Daily

Samantha Woodward | September 7, 2020

As Dinkytown restaurants struggled during a desolate and pandemic-stricken summer, some University members hope their recent initiative will help guide businesses through the coming months.

This summer, nearly 300 University of Minnesota students remotely took part in the Office for Public Engagement’s (OPE) 2020 Summer of EngageMNt, a volunteer-driven initiative to help local businesses and nonprofits. Within the initiative, some students formed a partnership with Dinkytown stakeholders to help restaurants improve communication with the community and abide by new safety regulations.

The result of the summer’s partnership was an extensive research packet outlining suggestions that businesses can use to continue to weather the pandemic. The packet was distributed to Dinkytown businesses and includes step-by-step recommendations spanning topics like reopening, improving promotions, delivery and pickup, outdoor dining, and local health guidelines. 

The Dinkytown history you don't know: Three stories

MPR News

Tom Weber, Britt Aamodt and Emily Kaiser | July 9, 2015

Dinkytown, the commercial district bordering the University of Minnesota, is up for a historic designation vote Friday at the Minneapolis City Council.

The vote wouldn't include all of what many consider Dinkytown today. It would cover a smaller footprint limited to the older core buildings.

But the area has been the focus of a long debate over how much new development should be allowed in an area of Minneapolis known for its old and quirky buildings and history.

There are already several new buildings along the edges of Dinkytown, but there have also been fights over what advocates describe as the area's character, especially in those few blocks considered the district's heart.

The City Council last year blocked a proposed hotel that would have meant tearing down a building that includes two well-known food spots: Mesa Pizza and Camdi, a Vietnamese restaurant.

A view of Dinkytown from 14th Avenue SE looking south toward 4th Street, Wednesday, July 1, 2015, near the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. —- Jennifer Simonson | MPR News

Al's Breakfast make's Esquire magazine's "please save" list

Esquire Magazine Names The 1 Minnesota Restaurant That America ‘Can’t Afford To Lose’ Amid COVID

CBS News | Jan 6, 2021

Esquire recently put out a list of “100 Restaurants America Can’t Afford To Lose,” chosen by its writers. Of the 100 restaurants listed, only one from Minnesota made the list: Al's Breakfast in the Dinkytown neighborhood of Minneapolis. Katie Johnston reports.

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Meet Doug Grina

Doug Grina is been the co-owner and Chef of Al’s Breakfast, the legendary and indescribable Minneapolis breakfast diner for over 40 years.

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