Savor the Success of a Smart Real Estate Decision

Join the Hillcrest Development team as they take you on a Northeast Minneapolis Tenant Tasting Tour

Hillcrest Development LLLP is a third-generation company specializing in the redevelopment and management of commercial properties. For over 75 years, Hillcrest has been revitalizing distinctive, creative spaces for a diverse range of local businesses. As experienced landlords, they understand that building amenities — and nearby conveniences like restaurants and coffee shops — can play a vital role in a company’s decision to choose a location. A nearby café for a morning coffee, a go-to spot for a quick lunch, or a team favorite for happy hour can significantly impact employee satisfaction. With many of its properties located in vibrant Northeast Minneapolis, the Hillcrest team invites you on a tasting tour of their favorite neighborhood spots for food, drinks, and treats — all proudly part of the Hillcrest tenant community.

We start at Honour Coffee & Raw Juice. Kristina Smitten, Director of Sustainability and Development at Hillcrest chooses this as her favorite spot because she loves the quality of their coffee. “When you can drink a coffee black, you can tell its quality. I like a light roast and theirs is so good.” While Kristina usually likes a coffee and homemade granola power bar to go, this morning she allows herself a treat. The co-owner Sam overhears our conversation about honeybees (Kristina is a conservationist and winner of Washington County’s Conservation District Community Conservationist of the Year award!) and brings Kristina a beautifully delicious Miel with a warmed salted chocolate chip cookie that is soft, gooey scrumptious. The espresso is their own blend, and the cookie is baked right here. Owners Sam and Luke bought Honour Coffee so they could take advantage of the existing infrastructure to ensure quality and elevate Honour’s brand.

Joe Klein, one of Hillcrest’s leasing and development managers, is a clean eater. He eats nothing processed and no sugar or carbs. Having grown up on a southern Minnesota farm, everything he and his family ate, they grew or raised themselves. So, when Zakia Deli expressed interest in the building next door to Hillcrest’s corporate office, “Of course I’m going to pick a Lebanese deli! I’ve always loved this type of food!” Typically, Joe buys large containers of the chickpeas and eggplant salads to eat throughout his work week. On this day, he sits down with his two favorite salads and Zakia’s delicious gyro and hummus. Joe loves that Zakia makes everything fresh, with natural flavors taking center stage and each item made with care from recipes handed down from the owner’s mother, Zakia. The location is the piece de resistance for Zakia’s owners with its strong residential and commercial traffic and free parking.

Charlie may have a similar job title as Joe, but Charlie has a different appreciation for food, and sometimes, he enjoys a good quality hot dog! When Charlie enters Uncle Franky’s he’s met by owner Jay, who greets him and Charlie immediately asks after his oldest child who is leaving for college in the fall. Charlie got to know Jay when Hillcrest decided to purchase the building where Uncle Franky’s has been serving up Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef in Minneapolis for the past 20 years. Charlie comes in a few times a year to check in with his tenant, but he also finds it a perfect excuse to enjoy a delicious kosher hot dog or hamburger. When he needs a treat, Charlie recommends the shakes, “they are to die for.” On this Friday at lunchtime, Charlie sits at the counter because the place is packed!

If sweet is your beat and you want something that looks as good as it tastes, Arthur Gardner will introduce you to Minnesota Nice Cream, the soft serve of your youth but with a twist (seriously check out their social media for the prettiest ice cream you’ve ever seen)! With many options from traditional to lactose-free and vegan, MN Nice Cream has something to tempt everyone. Arthur, who is Hillcrest’s construction manager, thinks MN Nice Cream’s sundaes are perfectly constructed and the BCB (which stands for Bourbon Caramel Brownie) he ordered today is no exception. It is the perfect balance of salty caramel to vanilla ice cream to soft gooey brownie. Arthur also likes MN Nice Cream’s hot food options including the Pesto Chicken Sandwich. The dynamic tastes of MN Nice Cream is right at home at Highlight Center and the NE Minneapolis neighborhood. Not only are there plenty of customers, there’s also a place for its food truck to support area events like Art-A-Whirl.

We end our Hillcrest tasting tour with Danny Gollin at the Minneapolis Cider Company and this place totally fits his vibe. Relaxed, yet sporty with full-sized pickleball courts, Danny orders the refreshingly crisp Blueberry Borealis Hard Cider and a Bacon and Brie Crepe which fits the warm spring day. “The blueberry perfectly complements the crepe. I’ve never actually had a crepe before. It’s really good!” Danny thinks the cider beverages, mix of food options, the cool comfy atmosphere and pickleball all make Minneapolis Cider a fun place to let off some steam, both physically and mentally. With great visibility near the University of Minnesota, people seem to agree. The cider company has almost doubled in size since coming to 9th Street Center more than five years ago to accommodate its growth and to add an event center. The facility offers ideal clear height and column free space for everything from production to pickleball.

With more than 75 years of expertise in redeveloping and managing commercial properties, Hillcrest has built a reputation for bringing a fresh perspective to commercial real estate. With tenants like these, our properties have never looked — or tasted — so good.

We know that taking on a space as a small business can feel like a big leap — kind of like opening night at a new restaurant. That’s why we focus on being the kind of landlord who’s in the kitchen with you, helping you prep for growth, navigate the unexpected, and serve up success. Our tenants are the best example of what’s possible when you have the right ingredients and the right support. Check out hillcrestdevelopment.com to see our spaces and meet the businesses that bring them to life.