Hennepin and Lake

Storefronts, construction barriers, protests, transit, and daily street life along Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN

The intersection of Hennepin Avenue and West Lake Street is the commercial heart of Uptown Minneapolis, a neighborhood that has spent the past decade absorbing one disruption after another. The Rainbow Building on the corner dates to 1910, built by lumber baron T.B. Walker, whose art collection eventually became the Walker Art Center.

The years since 2020 have compressed an unusual amount of change into a few blocks. The killing of George Floyd in May 2020 brought unrest that left storefronts along Hennepin boarded for months, and the following summer the fatal police shooting of Winston Smith on a nearby parking ramp set off weeks of street occupations and protests. On June 13, 2021, Deona Marie Knajdek was killed when a driver accelerated into a crowd of demonstrators at Lake Street and Girard Avenue; the man responsible was later sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. Calhoun Square, the mall anchoring the intersection, was rebranded Seven Points and has struggled to recover commercially. A multi-year road reconstruction project added dedicated bike lanes to Hennepin Avenue, and the former Juut SalonSpa at 2947 Hennepin, vacant for years after the salon closed, is now becoming a Cali Cannabis dispensary. The Walker Library branch on Hennepin, which has served the neighborhood since the early 1900s, continues to operate through all of it.

Cali Cannabis Dispensary on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis — *June 11, 2026* — Cali Cannabis dispensary located at Lake Street and Hennepin Ave in Uptown Minneapolis.

Uptown Transit Station sign beside Cali Cannabis in Minneapolis at night. — *March 30, 2026* — A sign for the Uptown Transit Station is visible next to a neon sign for Cali Cannabis in Minneapolis. The presence of both a transit station and a cannabis dispensary highlights the mixed-use nature of the Uptown neighborhood in Minneapolis.

Patrons read at Walker Library in Uptown Minneapolis. — *September 22, 2025* — A man reads inside the Walker Library, located on Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis. The Walker Library is a branch of the Hennepin County Library system, serving the Uptown neighborhood. This intersection has had a library since the early 1900s with the library being rebuilt multiple times.

Cannabis dispensary coming soon at Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis — *September 11, 2025* — A banner announces a forthcoming cannabis dispensary at the prominent corner of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis. This commercial building, characterized by its green trim and white facade, previously housed a Juut hair salon and has been vacant for several years. The establishment of a cannabis dispensary here marks a significant commercial transition for the property.

Metro Transit B Line bus at Hennepin and Lagoon in Uptown Minneapolis near the Uptown Theater — *August 22, 2025* — A Metro Transit B Line bus travels along Hennepin Avenue at its intersection with Lagoon Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis. The B Line, launched in March 2022, is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route designed to provide faster and more reliable public transportation through key corridors of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Night traffic on Hennepin Avenue at Lagoon and Lake streets in Minneapolis. — *July 10, 2025* — Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis is shown at night, following a multi-year road construction project. This infrastructure upgrade aimed to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity, notably introducing dedicated bike lanes along the thoroughfare.

Former Juut Salon at Hennepin and Lake Street in Minneapolis painted green for a planned dispensary. — *July 10, 2025* — New green painting on what is to become a dispensary in the former Juut Salon space at Hennepin and Lake street in Uptown Minneapolis.

Juut Salonspa sign on a building in Uptown Minneapolis. — *April 30, 2025* — Juut Salonspa sign in Uptown Minneapolis. The salon closed years ago.

Rainbow Building at Lake and Hennepin in Minneapolis, lit with rainbow lights during snowfall. — *February 3, 2025* — The Rainbow Building stands at the corner of Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis. Originally constructed in 1910 by T.B. Walker's Red River Lumber Company, the building reaches its 115th year in 2025. Walker, a notable lumber baron, was also an avid art collector whose gallery eventually led to the establishment of the Walker Art Center. Today, the building houses various office and retail businesses, its facade illuminated with distinctive rainbow lighting during a February snowfall.

Graffiti-marked construction barriers at Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. — *March 6, 2024* — Construction barriers line the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis.

Graffiti on former Juut salon windows in Uptown Minneapolis reads “LONG LIVE PALESTINE” and “LONG LIVE WINCE ME BOI.” — *October 18, 2023* — Graffiti reading "LONG LIVE PALESTINE" and "LONG LIVE WINCE ME BOI" is spray-painted on the windows of the former Juut hair salon at 2945 Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis. The building's signage for "AVEDA ESTHETIQUE" is visible above the graffiti. The graffiti appeared in October 2023, coinciding with ongoing international discussions and protests related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Chino Latino sign on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, lit in gold and purple on a brick facade. — *October 6, 2023* — The "Chino Latino" sign, composed of shimmering gold and purple sequins, is visible on the exterior of a building on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. glow on the brick facade.

Uptown Theater sign in Minneapolis at night, above Hennepin Avenue. — *August 21, 2023* — Uptown Theater at Hennepin and Lagoon in Uptown Minneapolis. As seen in August 2023.

Hennepin Ave and W Lake St intersection in Uptown Minneapolis with cars, storefronts, and pedestrians under cloudy skies — *August 13, 2023* — The intersection of Hennepin Avenue and W Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis is shown on August 13, 2023.

Cyclist at Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis at dusk. — *August 1, 2022* — A cyclist navigates the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood at dusk.

Vacant former JUUT SalonSpa storefront at Hennepin and Lake in Uptown Minneapolis — *April 29, 2022* — This storefront at Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis was formerly occupied by JUUT SalonSpa, an Aveda retailer. The building, located at 2947 Hennepin Avenue, features a distinctive curved facade that once displayed the salon's branding.

Uptown bike racks on a wet sidewalk in Minneapolis. — *April 29, 2022* — Uptown bike racks in Minneapolis provide short-term bicycle parking along a commercial sidewalk in the Uptown neighborhood.

Seven Points Mall at Hennepin Ave and W Lake St in Minneapolis, lit at night. — *November 10, 2021* — Seven Points Mall, located at Hennepin Avenue and West Lake Street in Minneapolis, is seen here with its protective boards removed. The mall had been covered since May 2020, following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent civil unrest.

Deona Marie Boards at Seven Points — *November 1, 2021* — The boarded-up Seven Points Mall at the corner of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood. The plywood covering features graffiti, including the name "Deona Marie," a tribute to a protester killed on June 13th. She died when a vehicle drove through barricades erected by demonstrators protesting the law enforcement shooting death of Winston Smith ten days earlier. This incident occurred amidst widespread unrest following Smith's death.

Outreach workers in orange shirts walk past boarded storefronts on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis at night — *October 12, 2021* — Outreach workers, identified by their orange shirts, walk along Hennepin Avenue in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Burning barricade blocks Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis near Lake Street during unrest — *July 3, 2021* — Protesters close down the streets near the Winston Smith and Deona Marie memorials in Uptown Minneapolis. Winston Smith was killed by Hennepin and Ramsey County Sheriffs officers who were part of a Federal Task Force on June 3rd.   On June 10th, Deona Marie was killed when a protester drove his vehicle through barricades setup to protect those protesting the death of Winston Smith.

Fire burns behind barricades on East Lake Street in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood at night. — *July 3, 2021* — A fire burns in the street in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood, blocking vehicle traffic. The fire is contained by wooden barricades and a traffic cone, with a sign reading "OUR STREETS" visible. This event occurred near the memorials for Winston Smith and Deona Marie. Winston Smith was killed by US marshalls during the serving of a warrant and Deona Marie, a protester, was later killed by a drunk driver while protesting.

Police clear barricades on Lake Street in Minneapolis beside a boarded-up storefront and protest signs. — *June 15, 2021* — Minneapolis Police officers clear barricades on Lake Street on June 15, 2021 in the Uptown neighborhood. The barricades were erected in the aftermath of protests and unrest following the deaths of Winston Smith and Deona Marie. On June 3, 2021, members of a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force fatally shot 32-year-old Winston “Boogie” Smith Jr. on the top level of a parking ramp in Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood while attempting to arrest him on a felony warrant. Authorities said Smith fired a handgun from inside his vehicle during the encounter, while family members and activists questioned the official account and demanded the release of additional evidence. The killing led to weeks of protests, street occupations, and confrontations with police in Uptown, becoming another major flashpoint in Minneapolis during the period following the murder of George Floyd. Earlier in the day Minneapolis city officials along with The Agape Movement coordinated to open the streets that had been closed at George Floyd Square since his murder. On June 13, 2021, 31-year-old Deona Marie Knajdek was killed when a driver accelerated into a group of demonstrators gathered in Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood during ongoing protests over the killing of Winston “Boogie” Smith Jr. Protesters had blocked the intersection of West Lake Street and Girard Avenue with vehicles and barricades when Nicholas Kraus drove a Jeep Cherokee into the crowd at high speed, killing Knajdek and injuring several others. Kraus was later charged with second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and criminal vehicular operation. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to murder and assault charges and was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for the attack.

Calhoun Square at Hennepin Ave and Lake Street in Minneapolis at night, with illuminated signs and boarded murals. — *June 7, 2020* — Calhoun Square at Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis is shown at night with its rooftop sign illuminated and its ground-floor storefronts boarded and painted with murals. The mall was later renamed Seven Points Mall. Shown here boarded up with murals after the killing of George Floyd.

Empty Hennepin Avenue at West Lake Street in Minneapolis at night during the early COVID-19 shutdown — *March 27, 2020* — Hennepin Avenue at West Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis is shown empty at night during the early COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020.

Calhoun Square at Hennepin Ave and Lake St in Minneapolis lit by neon at night — *September 17, 2017* — Calhoun Square mall located at the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood. The building, a hub for retail and dining, features prominent neon signage for businesses such as Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues and Sushi Tango.

Aerial of Uptown Minneapolis at dusk with the Uptown Theater and Hennepin Avenue traffic. — *November 14, 2015* — An aerial photo of the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis as seen in 2015. The area has gone through substantial change over the years before this and after this.

Hennepin and Lake

Minneapolis Photographer