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The East Side of Saint Paul has always had to fight a little harder.

This neighborhood was built by workers. By brewery laborers at Hamm’s. By railroad families. By immigrants who opened small businesses and restaurants along Payne, Arcade, East Seventh, and Minnehaha when other parts of the city saw more attention and investment.

Wave after wave of families came here with very little and built lives anyway, and the data still reflects that history. Median household incomes on the East Side are lower than the Saint Paul average. Poverty rates are higher in East Side neighborhoods than in many other parts of the city. A greater percentage of residents rent rather than own. Historically, both public and private investment has been slower here than in areas like Downtown, Highland, or West Seventh.

The financial cushion is thinner, which means when disruption hits the East Side, it hits harder. And still, this is one of the most creative and culturally layered parts of Saint Paul, filled with artists, entrepreneurs, first generation families, and long time residents. The East Side does not just survive, it produces.

When disruption hits this side of the river, there is less room to absorb it, and right now we are feeling that. Sales are down, foot traffic is lighter, hours are being cut, and many of the places we love are barely holding on.

Even with the announcement that Operation Metro Surge is pulling out of Minnesota, the impact does not simply disappear. When headlines move on, small businesses and families are still left trying to recover. The strain is still here and the recovery will take time. We may be new here, but we have been showing up since the day we opened, and what we have learned quickly is this: on the East Side, people step in when they see their neighbors hurting.

February 18–21 is about stepping up together. Come be part of it. Sit at the bar. Meet your neighbors. Order the specialty beverages. Bring a pantry item. Stay awhile. We hope to see you here because we all need you.