Small businesses are born of passion and persistence and are key to the creativity, innovation, and vitality of a community. When the small businesses of our own community were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and then further devastated by the civil unrest taking place throughout the Twin Cities in 2020, there was no question they could persevere as long as they were given the opportunity. Community Commons was created to give our neighbors a fighting chance.
Community Commons was a market-style retail space designed to give local, minority entrepreneurs affected by the global and local challenges of recent years an opportunity to rebuild and realize their dreams in a cooperative retail space within Mall of America®. Participating businesses benefitted from marketing, design, and business support, along with the opportunity to test their brand with a vast new audience. The space was granted free of charge for the initial three months and then at a reduced rate through the duration of the program.
Each 6-month partnership allowed participating businesses to regain their footing while continuing to grow—and thrive. In fact, in the first 18 months of the new program, multiple participants found a permanent home at Mall of America, going on to open their own independent spaces.
Every small business is built from a dream. We hope to see each of these dreams realized, even in the face of unknown challenges. We’re excited to watch our neighbors’ businesses grow and prosper given the opportunity to focus on what’s most important: the idea and passion driving them.