Lake Street in Minneapolis

A dynamic mix of cultures, commerce, and community life along Minneapolis' Lake Street

Photography from Lake Street in Minneapolis captures the vibrant commercial and cultural corridor in South Minneapolis, reflecting the neighborhood’s diverse communities and ongoing urban changes. The images document bustling markets, community celebrations like Mexican Independence Day, evolving infrastructure including new bike lanes, and the mix of longstanding businesses and new developments. These photographs also highlight the street’s role as a social and transportation artery framed by landmarks like the Karmel Mall and views toward Bde Maka Ska and the Minneapolis skyline.
Man cleans bus stop in Uptown Minneapolis
September 8, 2025 — A man cleans up a bus stop on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis in September 2025.
Posters on a shipping container near the Midtown Exchange
June 22, 2025 — An art installation at Chicago Avenue and Lake Street with posters that read: Immigrant Power By Culture Immigrant Power By Vision Immigrant Power By Hope Immigrant Power By Resiliance Immigrant Power By Family Immigrant Power By Dreams
Uptown Farmers Market sign beside handprints on a sidewalk in Uptown Minneapolis.
June 12, 2025 — An Uptown Farmers Market sign is attached to a chain-link fence in Uptown Minneapolis. The market site includes planter boxes and a fenced lot, with a brightly painted parking structure visible in the background. The pavement markings are remnants of protest activity in the area in 2021, when demonstrations followed the killings of Winston Smith and Deona Marie.
Rainbow Building in Uptown Minneapolis with birds flying overhead
March 9, 2025 — The Rainbow Building in Uptown Minneapolis with a flock of birds.
DJ Emberz performs at the Moxy Hotel in Uptown Minneapolis as the crowd cheers.
February 22, 2025 — DJ Emberz performs a daytime set at the Moxy Hotel in Uptown Minneapolis. This event, held in February, takes place within the Moxy Hotel, a boutique hotel brand known for its vibrant social spaces and entertainment offerings.
Jesus Christ Will you vote for him
January 14, 2025 — A car on Lake Street in Minneapolis displays a sign in its rear window, reading 'Jesus Christ. Will you vote for him? He died for you. He loves you.'
Jade Dynasty on Lake Street in Minneapolis
January 14, 2025 — Jade Dynasty Restaurant & Bar on Lake Street in Minneapolis during a winter night. The business occupies a storefront near Lyndale Avenue that remained vacant and boarded up after the closure of Fuji Ya in 2020, reflecting changes along this commercial corridor as new tenants began to replace long-standing establishments in the years that followed.
Cybertruck with Cortez Landscaping branding parked outside Rumba on Lake Street in Minneapolis at night
January 5, 2025 — A landscaping company advertising on a cybertruck.
Travel Wisconsin billboard above Lake Street storefronts in Uptown Minneapolis at dusk.
September 21, 2024 — A "Travel Wisconsin" billboard promoting autumn tourism is displayed on Lake Street in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. The advertisement features the slogan "Here's to putting the awe in autumn" and imagery of people enjoying fall foliage.
Biker performs a wheelie on Lake Street in Minneapolis at sunset
September 21, 2024 — A cyclist performs a wheelie on Lake Street in Minneapolis, a major commercial corridor in the city's south side. The street has historically been a vital artery for transportation and commerce, with a diverse mix of businesses and residential areas.
Cyclists and pedestrians at Bde Maka Ska Dr and Lake Street in Minneapolis at sunset.
September 21, 2024 — Cyclists navigate the intersection of Lake Street and Bde Maka Ska Drive in Minneapolis on the final day of summer 2024. This junction is a key artery connecting the city's southwest neighborhoods, with Bde Maka Ska Drive providing access to the popular urban lake of the same name. The area has seen significant development in recent years, including new residential buildings visible in the background, reflecting ongoing changes in the urban landscape.
Cyclist rides in a protected bike lane on Lake Street in Minneapolis at dusk.
September 15, 2024 — A cyclist rides on a newly constructed bike lane along Lake Street in Minneapolis. The new bike lane is part of a larger effort to create a more connected and sustainable transportation network within the city.
Mexican Independence Day on Lake Street in Minneapolis 2024
September 15, 2024 — On Lake Street in Minneapolis, vendors prepare food for a Mexican Independence Day celebration.
Mexican Independence Day Lake Street in Minneapolis 2024
September 15, 2024 — Mexican Independence Day celebrations fill Lake Street in Minneapolis, a vibrant commercial corridor. The event features numerous vendors and a stage set up for performances.
September sun on Lake Street in Minneapolis
September 12, 2024 — A September sunset casts a warm glow on Lake Street in Minneapolis, illuminating the I-35W overpass. This stretch of Lake Street is a vital commercial corridor in South Minneapolis, known for its diverse businesses and community gathering spaces.
Psychic Reader storefront at 1700 Lake Street in Minneapolis lit by neon signs at dusk
June 16, 2024 — Psychic Reader, a business offering palm and tarot card readings, is located at 1700 Lake Street in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. The establishment is illuminated by neon signs advertising its services, including "Palm Tarot" and "Psychic Reading," with an "Open" sign visible.
Lakehaus Apartments in Minneapolis
June 13, 2024 — The Lakehaus Apartments, located in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood.
Night photo of the outside of the Karmel Mall.
April 4, 2024 — The Karmel Mall, located on Lake Street in Minneapolis, stands as the first and largest Somali shopping center in the United States. Established to serve the growing Somali community, the mall provides a vital commercial and cultural hub for the community.
AT&T and Ragstock storefronts on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis, with a Metro Transit bus and cars.
March 3, 2024 — The Ragstock and ATT store on Lake Street near Hennepin Ave in Uptown Minneapolis.
Off-duty police and pedestrians outside a nightclub on Lake Street in Minneapolis at night.
October 22, 2023 — An off-duty Minneapolis Police officer stands outside Rumba Nightclub on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis in October 2023.
Rumba nightclub at Lake Street and Girard Avenue in Minneapolis at night with detour signs nearby
October 6, 2023 — Rumba, a nightclub located at the corner of Lake Street and Girard Avenue in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood, is seen here at night in October 2023.
The Original Uptown Pizza menu in Minneapolis, established in 1980, lists specialty pizzas and build-your-own options, with sizes from personal to Magnum.
September 1, 2023 — The Original Uptown Pizza menu in Minneapolis, established in 1980, offers a variety of specialty pizzas and build-your-own options.
A lone figure stands at the snow-covered intersection of Lake Street and Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis during a snowstorm. Traffic lights glow red through falling snow.
April 1, 2023 — A lone figure stands at the intersection of Lake Street and Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis during a heavy snowstorm. Traffic lights cast red glows through the falling snow, illuminating tire tracks in the snow-covered roadway.
Stella's Fish Cafe on Lake Street in Minneapolis at night.
November 26, 2022 — Stella's Fish Cafe, a restaurant located on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis, is pictured at night. The establishment, known for its seafood offerings, has been a fixture in the community for years.
Uptown Minneapolis storefronts and apartments at dusk on Lake Street from Arts + Rec rooftop
September 10, 2022 — The rooftop of the Arts + Rec building in Uptown Minneapolis offers a vantage point over Lake Street, a significant commercial corridor.
Chicagos Very Own on corner of Lyndale and Lake
August 16, 2022 — Chicago's Very Own, a restaurant specializing in Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, is pictured at night on the corner of Lake Street and Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis.
Chicagos Very Own on corner of Lyndale and Lake
August 16, 2022 — Chicago's Very Own, a restaurant specializing in Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, is pictured at night on the corner of Lake Street and Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis.
LA Fitness and Arts + Rec on W Lake St in Minneapolis
July 26, 2022 — The Arts + Rec facility and LA Fitness occupy the Seven Points complex on W Lake Street in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood.
People on the patio at Bryant Lake Bowl on Lake Street
June 13, 2022 — The Lynlake neighborhood of Uptown Minneapolis is a vibrant commercial and residential district. The "Welcome to Lynlake" sign marks the area, which is known for its mix of businesses, including the Bryant Lake Bowl, a popular entertainment venue located on Lake Street.
Bike racks on a wet Uptown Minneapolis sidewalk near Hennepin Avenue.
April 29, 2022 — Bike racks in Uptown Minneapolis.
Stella’s Fish Cafe on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis at night.
March 22, 2022 — The intersection of Lake Street and Girard Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis is shown at night in March 2022. The buildings visible include Stella's Fish Cafe, a long-standing establishment in the neighborhood and the Seven Points Mall,
Violence interrupters walking through empty snowy Uptown Minneapolis
December 4, 2021 — Members of the nonprofit organization We Push For Peace walk through Uptown Minneapolis on a snowy December evening.
Stella's Fish Cafe neon sign glows in snowfall in Uptown Minneapolis.
December 4, 2021 — Stella's Fish Cafe, a long-standing restaurant in Uptown Minneapolis, is illuminated by its neon signage during a December snowfall. Located on Lake Street, the establishment has been a fixture in the neighborhood for decades, known for its seafood offerings.
Benches at Bryant Lake Bowl on Lake Street
November 30, 2021 — Benches line the sidewalk outside Bryant Lake Bowl on Lake Street in Minneapolis. This establishment, a long-standing fixture in the Uptown neighborhood, has served as a community gathering space since its opening.
Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis at night with neon-lit storefronts and an empty wet roadway.
November 8, 2021 — Lake Street at night in Uptown Minneapolis, looking west towards Girard Avenue.
Wince Marie Peace Garden in Uptown Minneapolis at dusk, with Lake Street buildings behind it.
July 2, 2021 — The Wince Marie Peace Garden, located at Lake Street and Girard Avenue in Minneapolis, was established following the deaths of Winston Smith and Deona Marie in the summer of 2021. Smith was killed by law enforcement on June 3, 2021, and Marie died ten days later when a vehicle drove through a protest organized in response to Smith's death. The garden, created on an occupied lot, serves as a memorial and a space for community gathering. It has been maintained by activists and residents since its inception.
Bryant-Lake Bowl boarded on Lake Street in Minneapolis with protest messages during 2020 unrest.
May 31, 2020 — Bryant-Lake Bowl on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis is shown boarded up on May 31, 2020, with plywood covering the ground-floor facade. Spray-painted messages on the boards include “PEOPLE LIVE HERE” and “DO NOT BURN,” while masked pedestrians pass in front of the building. The bowling alley, theater, and restaurant was among many Lake Street businesses that boarded windows during the unrest following the killing of George Floyd.
Neon signs for Stella's Oyster Bar and Stella's Fish Cafe on Lake Street in Minneapolis at night.
May 22, 2020 — The neon sign at Stella's Oyster Bar on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis.
A snowstorm blankets a bus stop on Lake Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in November 2019. The shelter provides cover for commuters during the inclement weather.
November 27, 2019 — A snowstorm blankets Lake Street in Minneapolis in late November 2019. The bus stop, a common piece of urban infrastructure, provides shelter for commuters during inclement weather. Lake Street is a major commercial and cultural corridor in Minneapolis, serving as a vital artery for transportation and community life.
Aerial view of the Minneapolis skyline beyond Bde Maka Ska Lake and Lake of the Isles, part of the city's Chain of Lakes park system.
July 16, 2019 — An aerial view shows the Minneapolis skyline in the distance, with Bde Maka Ska Lake and Lake of the Isles in the foreground. These lakes are part of the Chain of Lakes, a system of interconnected lakes and parks in the city. Bde Maka Ska, the largest of the lakes, was formerly known as Lake Calhoun.
Minneapolis skyline and Bde Maka Ska under a full moon, viewed from the West Calhoun neighborhood.
October 24, 2018 — The Minneapolis skyline is visible in the distance as a full moon rises over Bde Maka Ska. The photograph was taken from the West Calhoun neighborhood, looking east towards the downtown core. Bde Maka Ska is one of the largest lakes in Minneapolis and is part of the Chain of Lakes, a popular urban park system.

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