The City of Bloomington is humming with recent spikes in commercial growth as a number of new businesses have either expanded or relocated within the area. Among them, Luro Boots, a locally cherished footwear retailer, slashed the ribbon on a new, spacious 4,000-square-foot location at 7831 Portland Ave. S, upscaling from its original 900-square-foot shop. Owned by Bloomington native and Kennedy High School alum Gilberto Diaz, the business has flourished since its establishment in 2009, amassing customers that reach as far as Canada. "Gilberto honestly could have gone anywhere," the mayor acknowledged in a statement obtained by the City of Bloomington. "I’m very happy and proud he decided to stay here in Bloomington and move just a couple of blocks."
The city's burgeoning food scene also welcomed the Waffle Bar, another venture that's transitioned from wheels to walls with its founders Julie and David Chen at the helm. The eatery, known for its winning combination of egg-custard bubble waffles topped with ice cream, has set up shop at 3810 W. Old Shakopee Road, branching out from its successful food truck operation and two other Twin Cities locations. The inspiration behind these tantalizing treats traces back to Julie's childhood visits to the street vendors in Boston's Chinatown.
Adding to the mix, Backstory Coffee Roasters is brewing up to take over the former Fiddlehead Coffee spot at 8061 33rd Ave. S at the end of August. Moreover, nonprofit Wilderness Inquiry, which organizes inclusive outdoor adventures, and multidisciplinary firm TKDA, chose Bloomington to plant their flags. TKDA, with a 300-plus employee count, has selected the old Ceridian Building at 3311 E. Old Shakopee Road for its headquarters.
The city's proactive stance on nurturing local businesses and entrepreneurs seems to be bearing fruit. Highlighting the strategic support provided by the city, the mayor indicated that the municipality's role, though not solely responsible, has been a catalyst in these developments. "Cultivating an enduring and remarkable community includes developing our commercial base, diversifying industry and growing jobs," he said in a recent update. "It all leads to a place where people and businesses, want to be."
