What’s it Like to Work Downtown?

There has been a lot of “news” about Minneapolis. For over a decade, we have been here through the good times and the bad. As an essential business, we remained open during the pandemic and endured protests, riots, fear and resilience. If you want to know what it’s like to work in downtown Minneapolis today, here is our first-hand experience (don’t believe everything you read on Twitter!).

Let’s start with where things are at:

• 38.7% hotel occupancy (as of November 4, 2021)
• 39.% building occupancy (sample from downtown’s largest occupants)
• 54.9% seated diners (number of restaurants compared to pre-pandemic era)
• 44.8% light rail ridership (percentage of current total ridership compared to pre-pandemic, same time period system-wide)

What’s it like to work downtown? 

It’s increasingly vibrant. Things are not where they were two years ago, but they are a far cry from last year. There are now hundreds of open businesses and retail locations. Click here to learn more (Credit: Minneapolis Downtown Council).

Although there is less traffic and lots of available parking, lines are getting longer at your favorite skyway restaurants and food trucks. Farmer’s Market returned to Nicollet Mall this summer and new additions like Dayton’s Project and Holidazzle all promise to keep this positive momentum going. On top of all of this, dozens of new hotels, condo, and apartment developments are opening soon.

What about safety? We asked a Coco member company leader to weigh in.

“Our team wanted to experience a greater sense of normal. Once we felt like things were heading in that direction, we brought them back downtown where they are now part of a safe and growing community of urban professionals and companies,” said Gregg Mast, Executive Director for Clean Energy Economy MN.

Experience downtown yourself with a free day pass to, or meeting at, Coco. To learn more, schedule a tour or contact colleen@workatcoco.com.