Robert Skafte Memorial Letter, Loring Park

Robert Skafte worked at Oak Grove Grocery on Oak Grove Street in Minneapolis's Loring Park neighborhood. A former professional ballet dancer with the Kansas City Ballet from 1984 to 1994, he moved to Minnesota in 1997 and helped found the La Salle Community Gardens and the Stevens Square Farmers Market in 2008. On December 8, 2023, Skafte was killed inside the store after confronting a man he recognized from a previous theft; the suspect was arrested following a six-hour standoff on the street outside. Neighbors left letters and flowers at the store's gate, describing Skafte as a steady presence in the community who offered them advice, encouragement, and small kindnesses over the years.