MINNEAPOLIS — For nearly half a century, Jakeeno’s Pizza and Pasta has been a south Minneapolis mainstay.
“I think the longevity in the community is definitely something that sets us apart,” said Amy Keegan, co-owner of Jakeeno’s.
But that staying power has been tested in recent years. Part of their recent struggles is due to their location, just two blocks north of George Floyd Square .
“Right now, we’re really struggling with getting people to come into the door,” said Amy Keegan.
It’s something Amy Keegan even brought up at a recent Minneapolis City Council meeting.
“As you can imagine, it’s definitely been a struggle over the last few years,” said Amy Keegan, during the council meeting.
“I think the perception of what people see when they come into this area is the challenge that we’re definitely facing,” said Amy Keegan.
The re-routing of people is also part of the problem, with both bus routes and traffic routing away from the area, ever since George Floyd’s murder and the unrest that followed.