2024 Retail & Restaurant Challenge Winners
Press Release
2024 Retail and Restaurant Challenge Winners Announced
Red Wing, MN– June 19, 2024 – Red Wing Downtown Main Street is thrilled to announce the 2024 Retail and Restaurant Challenge winners, an entrepreneurial start-up competition designed to spur economic growth and fill vacancies in our historic downtown and West End Districts. This year’s challenge, sponsored by Musty Barnhart Insurance, Merchant's Bank, and the Red Wing Credit Union, received fourteen initial applications in phase one and nine business plans in phase two. In phase three, three participants were invited to pitch their ideas to the judging panel. Two were awarded grants.
Karna Pettit will be taking over the Hallstrom's Florist location with her new venture, Riverbend Floral Studio, bringing a fresh and innovative approach to the local floral industry. Michelle Tracy from The Creative Hand received a grant to expand her business to include a unique Trucker Hat Bar, adding an experiential retail component that promises to attract both locals and visitors.
The 2024 Retail and Restaurant Challenge aimed to fill vacancies and help existing businesses expand in our historic river town. This initiative benefits everyone, from those looking to fill their shopping bags and stomachs to those dreaming of opening a retail, restaurant, or experiential business in our unique downtown.
Building on Past Success
The Retail and Restaurant Challenge builds on the success of previous challenges hosted by Red Wing Downtown Main Street. In 2014, the Restaurant Challenge helped fill several vacant restaurant spaces, leading to the success of Staghead Restaurant. In 2016, the Retail Challenge brought four new businesses downtown, two of which, Red Wing Bicycle Company and Rivertown Comics and Games, continue to thrive today.
Overview of the 2024 Challenge
Red Wing Downtown Main Street, in partnership with The Jones Family Foundation, Wings Foundation, the Albercht-Poss Family Foundation, and the Red Wing Area Fund, offered an incentive package for winning businesses opening or expanding in Red Wing’s historic downtown or West End District by September 2024. With over $20,000 in cash prizes, the challenge supported a new retail business and the expansion of a current downtown business.
Judging and Goals
A diverse panel of judges, including business owners, community residents, local bankers, and Red Wing Downtown Main Street Board Directors, selected the winners based on their potential to enhance the business mix in downtown Red Wing. The challenge aims to provide businesses a head start during their most challenging first year of operation, strengthen the local economy, transform empty business spaces, and promote Red Wing as a prime location for new ventures.
About Red Wing Downtown Main Street
Red Wing Downtown Main Street is dedicated to creating a vibrant and economically strong downtown area. Through initiatives like the Retail and Restaurant Challenge, we display our commitment to supporting local businesses and fostering a thriving community.
For more information about the 2024 Retail and Restaurant Challenge and other initiatives, please visit https://www.downtownredwing.org/2024-retail-and-restaurant-challenge or contact Megan Tsui at director@downtownredwing.org