Veteran brewers Kevin and Qiuxia Welch, the duo behind Boom Island Brewing, are lining up a new all-day neighborhood hangout for Longfellow. The pair plan to turn the former One on One Bike Shop at the corner of 45th Street and Minnehaha Avenue into Mixed Culture Brewing, a space that starts the day as a coffee shop and shifts into a taproom with a beer garden and live music later on.
According to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, the Welches have already purchased the building and begun renovations, with hopes of opening the new spot later in 2026. The Business Journal story was filed on March 18.
Neighborhood newsletter Longfellow Whatever first spotted the project earlier in March, noting the Mixed Culture Brewing name and describing it as "a combination brewery, coffee shop, and possible bike shop." The outlet reported that the owners want to keep the space flexible so it can handle morning coffee service, small bike repairs, and evening events under one roof.
What To Expect At Mixed Culture
Axios Twin Cities reports that Mixed Culture is set to run as a coffee counter and roastery in the morning, then convert to a taproom in the afternoon and evening. Plans include live music and a sizable outdoor beer garden. That morning-to-night model is increasingly common across the Twin Cities as operators work to balance steady daytime business with the usual evening pours.
From French Horns To Fermentation
The Welches are best known as the founders of Boom Island Brewing, a Twin Cities operation long associated with Belgian-style ales and hands-on brewing. Eater Twin Cities and other outlets have chronicled Boom Island's growth, and the Mixed Culture project appears to draw on that track record for both credibility and technique.
What This Means For Longfellow
Mixed Culture's arrival adds another neighborhood-focused option at a time when Minneapolis' small-brewery landscape is quietly but steadily shifting. A recent report on a nearby taproom closure underscored how quickly the taproom scene can change as new concepts step in to fill gaps.
For now, neighbors can keep an eye on the corner of 45th and Minnehaha as renovations continue and the Welches map out a schedule of coffee hours, taproom nights, and beer garden events. This story will be updated as the owners announce a firm opening date and more details on both the beer and coffee programs.
