Market Update in Seward Neighborhood

Seward Neighborhood

The Seward neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, is geographically southeast of downtown, consisting of the land bordered by the Hiawatha Avenue industrial district to the west, Minneapolis Midtown Greenway (between E. 27th St. and E. 28th St.) to the south, the Mississippi River to the east, and Interstate 94 to the north. Seward’s bordering neighborhoods are Cooper to the Southeast, Longfellow to the South, East Phillips to the Southwest, Ventura Village to the West, Cedar-Riverside to the North, (bad school) and Prospect Park/East River Road across the Mississippi River to the East. It is one of the neighborhoods that is part of the larger Longfellow community. Seward was named after former New York senator, governor, and US Secretary of State William H. Seward.

The neighborhood includes a number of local businesses along Franklin Avenue including two cooperatives, Seward Co-op (a grocery store) and Seward Community Cafe. The neighborhood is also home to the Milwaukee Avenue Historic District, Northern Clay Center, ArtiCulture and The Playwrights’ Center.

One of Minneapolis’ oldest neighborhoods, Seward has a small town feel, surrounded by the big city. It is simultaneously hip and laid back, boasting vibrant arts, great restaurants, and plenty of fun. Bordered by the natural beauty of the Mississippi River with miles of scenic bike trails, Seward is a well-known destination for those who choose to bike, scooter, or even walk from Downtown.

World-class, first-run plays can be seen at the internationally acclaimed Playwrights’ Center where visitors are welcome year round to a series of free readings and workshops through the their PlayLabs festival, one of the nation’s most comprehensive play development programs.

Ready for retro fun? Memory Lanes offers a state-of-the-art facility with 30 bowling lanes, a full-service bar and restaurant featuring pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and other favorites along with a full bar, live music, 29 LCD screens, two outdoor sand volleyball courts, darts, and arcade games. For live music, head to Cabooze, featuring music artists ranging from up-and-coming, buzz-worthy acts to groups on nostalgia tours.

Looking to get active? Visitors can enjoy cycling, running, or walking along the Mississippi River’s scenic East River Road that forms Seward’s eastern border. To work up a sweat with community, Solcana Fitness offers queer-friendly, social-justice minded, feminist workouts designed for folks of all fitness levels and backgrounds. Visitors to the area can check online for a drop in schedule.

For a peaceful cool down, Common Ground Meditation Center offers a number of mindfulness classes, retreats, courses, workshops and lectures, all open to the public with drop-in options, as does Big River Yoga, a locally owned studio offering studio classes, outdoor classes, online sessions, and massages.

About SNG
Established in 1960, the Seward Neighborhood Group (SNG) is recognized by the City of Minneapolis as the official community engagement organization for the Seward neighborhood, which is bounded by I-94 on the north, the Midtown Greenway on the south, the Mississippi river on the east, and Hiawatha Avenue on the west.

SNG is an aspirational organization. We are committed to making our neighborhood more vital, equitable, livable, and sustainable – by building relationships, by engaging all community members, by promoting equitable and accessible development of the built environment, and by acting as stewards of our natural environment.

SNG organizes community events, projects, and programs; connects residents to important resources; and advocates for policies that improve the lives of Seward residents. Our work is rooted in social justice, community connectedness, environmental consciousness, and the diversity of cultures and worldviews that makes us who we are.

SNG has long been an organization of ideas and activism, and after the troubles of 2020 and 2021, SNG is looking forward to 2022 and beyond with:

A new organizational structure, including new bylaws and new committees.
A new staff team, including Michael Jon Olson, Interim Executive Director and Jasmine Epps-Flowers, Community Organizer.
A new partnership with the Longfellow Community Council.
A focus on empowering residents to contribute their ideas and energy to make Seward a better place to live.