By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist
Is it just us, or does our district seem to be extra alive with change, lately?
If you’ve noticed this too, you’re right! In just the first 5 months of 2026 so far, our district has said farewell to 8 businesses hello or congrats to 17, and a happy happy birthday to an astounding 157 businesses!
To offer context that connects, we’ll summarize just a bit: A healthy small business district should always be evolving, and that’s a good thing. While it can be tough to see familiar storefronts change, steady turnover is a natural part of a thriving ecosystem, where new ideas are constantly being tested and fresh energy keeps the district moving forward. In fact, about half of small businesses (nationally) turn over every five years, making room for new concepts, while long-standing favorites continue to anchor the community. The blend of stability and change helps to keep places like our district vibrant, resilient, and worth exploring again and again.
If perhaps you’re feeling it too, here is some interesting reading from both the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Commerce Institute.
It is on this reflection that we announce the following, with gratitude for all:
RECENT OR UPCOMING FOND FAREWELLS TO
Basic Bee Boutique (closure)
Modish Moth (relocation)
Lady Monarch (relocation)
Good Truckin’ Diner (closure)
Rainbow Resources (closure)
Mi Bella Guatemala (relocation)
WMEAC (relocation)
NU Grow (closure)
RECENT OR UPCOMING HELLO NEW NEIGHBORS! TO
Sara Sherman Samual Studio
Cocoon Art Space
Riverside Market
Our Brewery
Picnic on Wealthy
Kate Dupree Studio
Dreamers Tattoo Collective
Firme Estilo/Con Amor Studios
GR USA Apparel
Eastown Pottery
CouCou Bakery
Porchlight
Sugah Please
Ikigai Head Spa
RECENT CONGRATS ARE IN ORDER TO
Cherry Market (recent expansion of grocery goods to include produce and more!)
Speciation Ales (under new ownership!)
Smitty’s (under new ownership!)
And our top five anniversaries for January-May*:
Fulton Street Farmers’ Market (celebrating 104th!)
Cherie Inn (celebrating 102nd!)
Veenstra’s Garage (celebrating 101st!)
Van’s Pastry Shop (celebrating 96th!)
Valley City Linen (celebrating 91st!)
*Gathering this information is an ongoing crowd-sourcing effort and we do our best to be accurate. Did we miss something? Do you have some historical business insight to share with us? Let us know!