Latest News

Cornerstone Montessori Elementary School is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 school year. We are a K-6 charter school located on St. Paul’s East Side, supporting children through a rigorous high-impact Montessori program. Our open enrollment window extends until March 31st. See the attached flyer or visit our website at...Continue Reading

ESABA Annual Meeting on Thursday February 13th was an incredible success, with a sold-out, packed house of business leaders, community stakeholders, and advocates for the East Side business community. The energy in the room was inspiring as we engaged in impactful discussions on the future of our local economy and...Continue Reading

GrowthZone is the member platform that ESABA uses. These tools are NEW to us and FREE to members. We sent an invitation to members who are already in the system. Find that email from February 12,2025 - it came from paris@esaba.org and you can use that email as the one...Continue Reading

ESABA is proud to announce our 2024 Business Awards sponsored by University of St. Thomas Family Business Center. Jon Keimig from St. Thomas joined Paris Dunning to present Awards at our Annual meeting on February 13th. These outstanding plaques were donated by Laser Magic Inc - Accumark IncCommitment to Community...Continue Reading

Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs will see greater success when Technical Assistance & Investment partners on the East Side coordinate their efforts and collaborate.In October 2024, Rooted Philanthropic led a learning trip to Atlanta, GA, bringing together Technical Assistance (TA) providers from the East Side of St. Paul to explore entrepreneurial...Continue Reading

MnDOT has a project page with ongoing updates and information: MnDOT official Project - Arcade and E7th.Mitigation Money: ESABA, ESNDC, Payne Phalen Community Council, Indigenous roots, Storehouse Grocers and others are working to get a mitigation fund allocated by the legislature. Read all about that in the attached one-pager. If...Continue Reading

Ava DiazI am the communication and marketing manager for Visit Saint Paul, the city’s official convention & visitors bureau. My role focuses on sharing all the wonderful things to do and places to see from festive events, delectable eateries and notable sites to discover in this four-season destination.The skills and...Continue Reading

Yesterday AEDS held an open house to tour their new space which will include entrepreneurs and offices to support African Businesses. It was great to see our colleagues Gene Gelgelu, Idris Mohamed and Kedir Kurfessa who have worked with us on the East Side at the East Side Enterprise Center...Continue Reading

The East Side celebrates by walking the talk. Join in and Shop Black in February and meet some businesses to take you through the year.Find more information here: #ShopBBNContinue Reading

Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees, were required this year to file a Beneficial Ownership Information report (BOI). Though there have been recent developments, every small business needs to look into this if you haven't filed and watch the status. Learn more and use the FREE online tool here...Continue Reading

Buy Your Orbiter Now!Buy your Orbiter directly on the East Side starting Small Business Saturday - November 30th.  If you need multiple copies contact ESABA staff below. Stop by one of these great locations and start your Orbit today: Brunson's PubBymore SupermercadoCaydence Records & CoffeeEast Side PizzeriaKaribu Grocery & DeliKendall's Ace...Continue Reading

It’s time for the East Side Orbiter Coupon book for ESABA members. If your business is on Arcade, let us know! We want to include you in the Orbiter in order to encourage East Siders to visit Arcade during construction during Summer 2025. If you were part of this last year...Continue Reading

See photos at our Facebook Page!Thank you to our featured Food and Beverage Businesses! They are eager to see you at their place, many will cater your next party:Cups & Cheers - Hli Tsaab - 1626 White Bear Ave -  veggie fried riceSota Soul - Mimi Muhammad -  Soul Food...Continue Reading

Right, it's not about lava at all! Stable ground water temperature to help with heating and cooling is the key for a networked geothermal energy system like the one at The Heights. Groundbreaking was celebrated today but the real enduring legacy might be that this model can be replicated to...Continue Reading

The chances we have to shape a $400 investment on the East Side are few and far between. Nobody disputes that. We have waited for corridor improvements, been skipped for transit improvements, watched lots sit vacant. 36 people gathered at Cups and Cheers to talk about the Purple Line and...Continue Reading

Let's put the East Side on the map for this year's awards. To be eligible you can't have been an awardee in the past 5 years. The East Side Businesses that have won awards in the past five years are:SIR Boxing ClubKaribu Grocery & DeliGolden HarvestHoa Mei ABC RealtyHmong VillageSwede Hollow...Continue Reading

Celebrating ESABA Members with Olympic sized challenges and a full grill. It’s what we do. Here are some of the highlights from the fun!Question: “What is your favorite place to recommend on the East Side?" Answers: Brunson’s PubEast Side ThaiEast Side PizzeriaBreakfast at The Little OvenCutz Tongue in CheekLa MañanaQuestion: "What do you think is...Continue Reading

ESABA is organizing and joining forces with Rooted Philanthropic and members like East Side Neighborhood Development Company to get the word out and help recruit community reviewers. City of St. Paul PED is arranging dates where their staff will be in our area helping spread the word. NDC also has a...Continue Reading

We're partnering with Visit Saint Paul to bring you new customers! Festivals and other destination events are coming to the East Side this summer! On June 1st we have Waterfest at Lake Phalen and Art in the Hollow in Swede Hollow park. On July 13th Phalen Lake hosts the return of...Continue Reading

Official Press Release from the CityThe loan award is the first from the newly created Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority SAINT PAUL, MN – Today, March 27th, the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA) awarded a $4.7 million loan, the first for MnCIFA, to The Heights Community Energy, who plans to...Continue Reading