Midtown, Minneapolis facts for kids

Midtown is a lively area in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It doesn't have exact borders, but it's usually thought of as the area around Lake Street. This main street runs between Interstate 35W and Hiawatha Avenue. Lake Street also acts as a border between the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods. You can find the Lake Street/Midtown LRT Station here. It's part of the METRO Blue Line train system.

A Fresh Start for Midtown

For a long time, Midtown was not a very popular place. But in the last 10 to 20 years, things have really changed! There has been a big effort to make Lake Street better. Many new businesses have opened, especially from Latino and Northeast African communities. This has brought new life and energy to the area.

The Midtown Exchange Building

One important building is the Midtown Exchange. It's located near Chicago Avenue and Lake Street. This huge building used to be a Sears department store. Sears closed it in 1994. For ten years, the building was empty. Then, it was completely rebuilt into a new space. Now, it has homes and businesses. It's also home to the Midtown Global Market. This is a large indoor market with many shops and restaurants.

Other Cool Markets

Midtown has other indoor markets too!

• The Mercado Central is at Bloomington Avenue and Lake Street. It's full of different Latino businesses.
• The Lake Plaza is at 3rd Avenue and Lake Street. Here you can find businesses run by Somali and Latino people.
• A newer market opened in 2009. It's in the old True Value Hardware store at the Hi-Lake Shopping Center. This market has many Somali businesses.

Places Using the "Midtown" Name

Many places and groups in the area use "Midtown" in their names. This shows how important the area is!

• The Midtown Greenway is a popular trail. It's great for biking and walking. It runs right next to Lake Street.
• The Midtown Exchange and the Midtown Global Market are big landmarks.
• The Midtown Freewheel Bike Center is a bike shop. It's located right on the Midtown Greenway.
• The Midtown YWCA is a community center. It's at Lake Street and 22nd Avenue.
• The Lake Street/Midtown light rail station is a train stop. It's on the METRO Blue Line.
• The Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel is a place to stay.
• The Midtown Church Project is a church group. They work to help the community.
• The Midtown Farmers' Market is a fun outdoor market. It's open on Tuesdays and Saturdays. You can find it at 22nd Avenue and Lake Street. It's in the parking lot of Anishinabe Academy School.