Greater Downtown Council Archives

Holiday Shoppers Browse Small Businesses at Zeitgeist Pop-Up Sale

The Shop Small Duluth Holiday Pop-Up will be back at Zeitgeist Sunday from 11 a.m.to 5 p.m.

December 4, 2021

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- More local small business options were set up at Zeitgeist Arts Café this weekend for holiday shoppers this weekend. Zeitgeist, the Greater Downtown Council, and Shop Small Duluth teamed up for the Shop Small Duluth Holiday Popup Sale. 8 different local vendors brought their handcrafted items. They say after the pandemic, they appreciate getting to share their passion…

19 Local Businesses Prepare for Holiday Season as Red Curtains Go Up

Window Displays will be Unveiled Friday, Nov. 19 at 4:30 p.m.

November 15, 2021

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – If you’re seeing more red throughout downtown Duluth and Canal Park this week, you’re not alone. It’s once again time for the annual red curtain window display contest. Ahead of the Christmas City of the North Parade this Friday, 19 local businesses are taking part in the challenge this year. The Greater Downtown Council has sponsored the…

New Duluth Boutique Hotel in Old City Hall Brings Hope for Struggling Downtown

The Inn is named after famous Duluth architect, Oliver Traphagen, responsible for many of Duluth’s buildings still used today.

November 9, 2021

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- As downtown businesses continue to pull themselves up through labor shortages and safety issues, officials say the arrival of a new boutique hotel, the Oliver Inn, is a light on the horizon. The Old City Hall building on East Superior Street is getting a new look and new life as the Oliver Inn. “I think each experience that…

Eat Downtown Week Returns Highlighting 19 Duluth Restaurants

From April 19th to the 30th, 19 participating restaurants will be featuring more flexible menus to include takeout specials along with dine-in.

April 9, 2021

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- Going into the summer months, eat downtown week is returning to highlight local Duluth establishments. From April 19th to the 30th, 19 participating restaurants will be featuring more flexible menus to include takeout specials along with dine-in. Greater Downtown Council officials say it’s more important than ever to show these businesses the community cares. “It’s just so important…

Bayfront Park to Host Summer Entertainment Again After Dark Pandemic Year

Fourth Fest, Reggae and World Music Festival and more are set to return this summer.

March 16, 2021

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- Entertainment is on its way back to Bayfront Festival Park this summer, a true sign the pandemic is being pushed farther behind us to allow the City of Duluth to showcase its water front view, full of concerts and even Fourth Fest. “It will be busy, we’ll see cars and we’ll see bodies down in Bayfront Park this…

‘Strong Northland’ Restaurant Voucher Campaign Nearing End

Participants Are Encouraged to Use Strong Northland Vouchers by Monday, August 31

August 24, 2020

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – In early spring, the Greater Downtown Council in Duluth, along with the support of multiple sponsors, kicked off the Strong Northland Campaign. The campaign is meant to help support area restaurants and boost the local economy during a time when business is down due to COVID-19. Council President Kristi Stokes is reminding those participating in the program to…

Spring Eat Downtown Week Serves Up Delicious Deals

15 Restaurants Are Offering $10 Lunch Specials and $25 Dinner Specials

March 9, 2020

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – March 9 – 14 is a special week for Northlanders looking to try out local restaurants in downtown Duluth. Spring Eat Downtown Week offers the opportunity to enjoy special multi–course meals from fifteen local restaurants. Lunch specials are all $10, and dinner specials are $25. Event organizers say it’s a special chance to taste some new menu…

Celebrating Flavors of Fall with Eat Downtown Duluth Restaurant Week

Event focused on getting more business to Downtown Restaurants and Waterfront Restaurants.

November 4, 2019

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- Restaurants throughout Downtown Duluth are celebrating the flavors of Fall for this season’s Eat Downtown Restaurant week. The event is focused on getting more business to downtown restaurants and introducing new patrons to the downtown waterfront restaurants. Restaurants are featuring deals, like 7 West Taphouse’s $10 Menu, featuring a starter, entrée and dessert for 10 bucks. “We definitely…

Music for the Heart in the HART

Music in the HART concert series held through the month of August.

August 8, 2019

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- Another concert sent music flowing through Duluth, originating somewhere you can only find on the Lakewalk. Throughout the month of August, the Gitchi-Ode Akiing, or Lake Place, Park along the Lakewalk will host the Music in the HART concert series. Five different bands will each play a day through August 29th and it is completely free to come…

Hanging Flower Baskets Go Up in Canal Park

Greater Downtown Council puts up baskets to beautify Canal Park before Summer and Grandmas's

June 18, 2019

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- It’s beginning to look like summer in Canal Park, as the hanging flower baskets have started going up, just in time for Grandma’s Marathon. More than 100 baskets were delivered and hung up Tuesday morning. Greater Downtown Council leaders said it’s important to liven up the scenery in Canal Park. “This is just important aesthetics for the Downtown…

Phase Two of Superior Street Reconstruction Begins

Kickoff event held with Mayor Larson and City Officials.

April 8, 2019

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- The barricades are up on Superior Street as construction season begins. While the ground was broken for the project on Monday, the real heavy work will start next week. Until then crews will be focused on staging and preparation for a project that will include improving utilities, adding a closed loop hot water heat system, and other streetscape amenities….

City Officials are Hopeful for Redevelopment Plans Now That Carter Hotel Gone

"There is a real broad vision that there's great opportunity in that area," said Kristi Stokes

February 28, 2019

Nachai Taylor,

DULUTH, Minn. – Now that the old Carter Hotel has been torn down city officials are looking forward to opportunities to breathe new life into downtown. The city says that the deteriorating hotel had attracted graffiti and vandalism for years. They believe it had become an eye–sore to nearby businesses and there were several vacancies nearby. Kristi Stokes from the…

Lunch, Dinner Deals Coming to Downtown Duluth

Eat Downtown Duluth Week Runs Monday, March 4 - Saturday, March 9

February 26, 2019

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – Multi-courses. One price. One Destination. The Duluth Greater Downtown Council is excited to announce another season of Eat Downtown Duluth Restaurant Week. The delicious deals are happening Monday, March 4 through Saturday, March 9 at 19 participating locations. The Greater Downtown Council sponsors the event twice a year with the hope of driving business into local restaurants and…

Taste the Flavors of Fall this Week in Downtown Duluth

Visitors and Northland Residents are Invited to Enjoy $10 Lunch Specials and $25 Dinner Specials Through Saturday, November 10

November 5, 2018

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – Are you looking for easy lunch and dinner options this week? If so, the Greater Downtown Council in Duluth has you covered! Eat Downtown – Flavors of Fall Duluth Restaurant Week kicks off Monday, November 5 and will run through Saturday, November 10. Darlene Marshall with the Greater Downtown Council says the goal of this week is to…

Postponed: Movies in the Park, Friday, August 31

Tonight's "Movies in the Park" featuring Despicable Me 3 will be Postponed to Friday, September 7

August 31, 2018

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Greater Downtown Council has decided to postpone tonight’s Movies in the Park series until Friday, September 7. The summer series will still show Despicable Me 3 next Friday. The call comes as severe weather is expected to push into the Northland throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Officials say the weather does, however, look just fine…

Greater Downtown Council Hosts Summer Edition of City’s Largest Coffee Break

Proceeds benefit the restoration of the Lakewalk.

July 12, 2018

Haydee Clotter,

DULUTH, Minn. – A fun morning for coffee lovers in Duluth. It was the summer edition of what’s called the city’s Largest Coffee Break. The last one happened over the winter. So now that the weather has warmed up it was time to have another one. Many people showed up for the free coffee and donuts. All this was to…

Get Downtown Duluth for Sidewalk Days 2018

Sidewalk Days Runs From Wednesday, July 11 Through Saturday, July 14

July 10, 2018

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Greater Downtown Council is once again proud to present the 2018 Sidewalk Days Festival from Wednesday, July 11 through Saturday, July 14. This year, the festivities will be more compacted due to Superior Street reconstruction. The festival will take place from Lake Avenue, down Superior Street to 3rd Avenue West. Every year thousands of people take…

Coffee Conversation: Movies in the Park

Movies in the Park will Begin on Friday, July 13 at 9:05 p.m.

July 9, 2018

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. It’s that time of year again, Northlanders will be digging out the blankets and dusting off the lawn chairs in preparation for the 2018 Movies in the Park presented by the Duluth Greater Downtown Council, North Shore Federal Credit Union and many other local sponsors. The movies will show every Friday evening, from July 13 through August 31…

16th Annual Dig in for the Downtown Waterfront

Gardeners and city workers are planting for a blooming city

June 6, 2018

Lauren Leigh,

DULUTH, Minn.- Volunteers are digging in to make sure Duluth is colorful regardless of the weather. Gardeners and city workers are planting for a blooming city during Dig in for the Downtown Waterfront. This is the 16th year the Greater Downtown Council and City of Duluth held the annual event putting together large planters. Two volunteers we spoke with have…

Incorrect Tax Property Assessments Raise Concern

The phones started ringing off the hook at the Greater Downtown Council and County Commissioner's office immediately after the evaluation notices were sent out.

May 10, 2018

Lauren Leigh,

DULUTH, Minn.- After property evaluations were recently sent out by St. Louis County many local downtown Duluth businesses were shocked to see huge increases in the value of their property. Now the county assessor’s office is taking a second look at how they evaluated those properties with the possibility of changes being made. The phones started ringing off the hook at the…

Good Meals for a Deal in Duluth this Week

Coffee Conversation: Eat Downtown

March 5, 2018

Natalie Froistad,

DULUTH, Minn. – This week more than a dozen restaurants in Duluth are cooking up meals for a deal. The restaurants have created multi-course lunch and dinner menus for folks to enjoy throughout the week. The lunches will be $10, with dinners costing $25. Eat Downtown runs Monday, March 5 through Saturday, March 10. For a full list of restaurants,…

Duluth Holds Inaugural Cold Front Celebration

The weekend celebration also includes more than 40 attractions, events and deals around town.

February 1, 2018

Haydee Clotter,

DULUTH, Minn. – What better way to embrace these chilly temperatures than with a celebration? Duluth’s largest coffee break took place at Lake Place Park as part of the first ever Cold Front Festival. It was hosted by the Greater Downtown Council and Duluth Coffee Company provided the hot coffee. Donations were also collected to help pay for restoring the…

Hucklebeary Pop-Up Offers Unique Goods, Services

Hucklebeary Founder Emily Ekstrom is Looking to Provide Northlanders with Unique Gifts and Services

December 7, 2017

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Greater Downtown Council in Duluth is once again sponsoring three local business owners this holiday season, giving them a free space to set up a storefront from November through January. One of the shops known as Hucklebeary is located along Superior Street across from the Duluth Coffee Company. The store’s founder is a UMD alumnus and…

Get Ready to Shop Small For Small Business Saturday

Art in the Alley, Duluth Pack, Electric Fetus Are a Few of the Businesses Participating In Small Business Saturday Open Houses.

November 23, 2017

Haydee Clotter,

DULUTH, Minn. – A handful of small businesses were at the newly opened American Indian Community Housing Organization Gift Shop to help the local economy and promote diversity by shopping small. It’s been a national trend for years, but it’s only been a tradition in Duluth for six years. Small Business Saturday is about investing in your own neighborhood and making…

Local Businesses Offer Deals for Small Business Saturday

Shopping Small to Support Northland Businesses

November 22, 2017

Natalie Froistad,

DULUTH, Minn. – Later this week many shoppers will be heading out in the early hours of Friday morning to find an unbelievable deal, but some Duluthians are asking you to wait until the weekend. That’s because Small Business Saturday is Saturday, November 25. Many local shops will be hosting open houses and offering special promotions, demonstrations, and workshops. For…

Movies in the Park to Start Friday

It's Going to be a Wild Summer at Movies in the Park, Hosted by the Greater Downtown Council

July 3, 2017

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. -The Greater Downtown Council along with other fine sponsors are excited to invite the community to Leif Erikson Park for the 2017 Movies in the Park series. Every Friday evening from July 7 to August 4, gather the family and head to the park for free featured films. Darlene Marshall with the Greater Downtown Council stopped by FOX 21 to chat with…

Promotion Aims to Support Downtown Local Businesses

Coffee Conversation: Get Downtown Week

May 15, 2017

Natalie Froistad,

DULUTH, Minn. – Spring tourism season is starting and more folks will be heading to downtown to get some shopping done. Get Downtown Week, put on by the Greater Downtown Council, is running through May 20. More than 30 businesses are teaming up to offer special BOGO deals this week. This is the second year for this promotion and it’s a…

Downtown Duluth Shines Bright Once Again

City Crews Along with Business and Property Owners Pitched in to Clean up Downtown Duluth

April 19, 2017

Brett Scott,

DULUTH, Minn. – Downtown Duluth is shining bright once again, after residents and city workers pitched in for a little spring cleaning. The Greater Downtown Council had to postpone the annual event due to Tuesday’s heavy rainfall. However, business and property owners, the Clean and Safe Team, along with City Street crews helped wash away the winter dirt from 10…

Greater Downtown Council

The Shop Small Duluth Holiday Pop-Up will be back at Zeitgeist Sunday from 11 a.m.to 5 p.m.

Window Displays will be Unveiled Friday, Nov. 19 at 4:30 p.m.

The Inn is named after famous Duluth architect, Oliver Traphagen, responsible for many of Duluth’s buildings still used today.

From April 19th to the 30th, 19 participating restaurants will be featuring more flexible menus to include takeout specials along with dine-in.

Fourth Fest, Reggae and World Music Festival and more are set to return this summer.

Participants Are Encouraged to Use Strong Northland Vouchers by Monday, August 31

15 Restaurants Are Offering $10 Lunch Specials and $25 Dinner Specials

Event focused on getting more business to Downtown Restaurants and Waterfront Restaurants.

Music in the HART concert series held through the month of August.

Greater Downtown Council puts up baskets to beautify Canal Park before Summer and Grandmas's

Kickoff event held with Mayor Larson and City Officials.

"There is a real broad vision that there's great opportunity in that area," said Kristi Stokes

Eat Downtown Duluth Week Runs Monday, March 4 - Saturday, March 9

Visitors and Northland Residents are Invited to Enjoy $10 Lunch Specials and $25 Dinner Specials Through Saturday, November 10

Tonight's "Movies in the Park" featuring Despicable Me 3 will be Postponed to Friday, September 7

Proceeds benefit the restoration of the Lakewalk.

Sidewalk Days Runs From Wednesday, July 11 Through Saturday, July 14

Movies in the Park will Begin on Friday, July 13 at 9:05 p.m.

Gardeners and city workers are planting for a blooming city

The phones started ringing off the hook at the Greater Downtown Council and County Commissioner's office immediately after the evaluation notices were sent out.

Coffee Conversation: Eat Downtown

The weekend celebration also includes more than 40 attractions, events and deals around town.

Hucklebeary Founder Emily Ekstrom is Looking to Provide Northlanders with Unique Gifts and Services

Art in the Alley, Duluth Pack, Electric Fetus Are a Few of the Businesses Participating In Small Business Saturday Open Houses.

Shopping Small to Support Northland Businesses

It's Going to be a Wild Summer at Movies in the Park, Hosted by the Greater Downtown Council

Coffee Conversation: Get Downtown Week

City Crews Along with Business and Property Owners Pitched in to Clean up Downtown Duluth

Latest News Update