What is the Midway

 

People often ask, what is the Midway? The Chamber hears from many people who wonder what our boundaries are. We tell people we look at our territory as “Capitol to Campus” but the reality is anyone wishing to take part in the Chamber and get to know our members is welcome to join. While primarily found between Lexington Avenue and Highway 280, and Interstate 94 and Larpenteur Avenue, the Midway Chamber has members throughout Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Roseville and beyond. Why do people want to know the Midway area? Here are some of the highlights or our region.

 

Located in middle of the Twin Cities, we are midway between the two downtowns and near several colleges, including a short light rail ride away from the University of Minnesota Main Campus.

With several breweries, the Midway neighborhood has become a brewery district for Saint Paul. Many of the breweries have taken space in former warehouse sites, including Lake Monster Brewing in the King Koil factory and The Lab in the Case Building; the Midway neighborhood is also home to the first woman-owned brewery in Minnesota, Urban Growler, as well as the first gluten-free brewery in the Midwest, Burning Brothers Brewing. Dual Citizen Brewing can be found in the same building as the newly developed C & E Lofts, one of many mixed-used buildings in the Midway featuring both housing and commercial space.

The cuisine in and around the Midway is one of the finest and diverse in Minnesota, with many different ethnicities represented including more and more African and Asian. The Midway Chamber visits restaurants regularly through its Lunch on the Line program, and is always finding ways to show support to the hospitality community. With so many different ethnicities represented on University Avenue and surrounding streets, we are a dream for foodies everywhere.

The diverse cuisine is a testament to the diversity in and around the Midway. According to a report in 2017, at least 300 businesses in the extended Midway area are owned by a member of the ALANA (African Latino Asian Native American) communities. Immigrant communities are shown in regional marketing like Little Africa and Little Mekong, both along University Avenue in Saint Paul.

In June 2016, the bus rapid transit A-Line drove down Snelling Avenue for the first time. Run by Metro Transit, the A-Line goes from Rosedale Mall, south on Snelling Avenue to Ford Parkway, where it heads west to the 46^th St. Station stop of the Blue Line along Hiawatha Avenue. At Snelling and University, the bus stops making the line connect the Green and Blue lines. The A-Line takes full busloads of fans to each Minnesota United FC home game. Their home stadium, Allianz Field, is an award-winning icon which seats 19,400 fans and is seen from Interstate 94 near the Snelling Avenue intersection.

The Midway has a longstanding history, with many old industrial buildings. Some of these buildings have been renovated and the uses have changed. One building, the old Silgan Container and American Can factory building, is now home to Can Can Wonderland. The entertainment venue, which includes an 18-hole mini golf course with each hole designed by a local artist, is located at 755 Prior Avenue N.

Artists are thriving in the Midway beyond the mini-golf course. The Midway Murals project showcases pieces of art on buildings along Snelling Avenue in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood, and the Chromazone event by the Creative Enterprise Zone has helped created many more murals throughout the neighborhood.

So, what is the Midway? The Midway is a thriving community with a long, proud history and is one of the hottest spots in the Twin Cities. It is a diverse community home to one of the best restaurant scenes in the Upper Midwest, as well as a brewery district. It is easily accessible by transit and in the middle of the metro area. It trains and educates the next generation of leaders, and is home to several nonprofits. Whether you’ve never been to the Midway or have lived here your whole life, the Midway is always changing and finding more to offer its residents, employees and visitors.