An Untapped Market for West Bank Businesses

Transcription

M
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In p a r tia l fu lfillme n t o f th e M a s te r o f Pub lic Po licy De gre e R e q uire me nts
The Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
The University of Minnesota
STUDENTS AND THE WEST BANK:
UNDERSTANDING AN UNTAPPED MARKET
Photo by Mike Hicks/Creative Commons
GABRIELE ANDERSON
TERESA M. OBRERO
JULIE PRICE
May 20, 2010
P r o f e s s o r G r e g L i n d s e y, P a p e r S u p e r v i s o r • M e r r i e B e n a s u t t i , C H A N C E C o o r d i n a t o r
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary!
5
West Bank Business Association and CHANCE Engage in Partnership!
7
Background Information!
7
Partnerships!
7
The Problem!
8
WBBA Branding Campaign!
9
Student Research on Behalf of the WBBA!
9
Literature Review!
10
University of Pennsylvania’s Specific Actions!
10
University of Louisville’s University-Community Partnerships!
11
Overcoming Perceptions of Crime!
11
Research Plan: Key Informant Interviews, Focus Groups, and Student Survey!
12
Key Informant Interviews!
12
Student Focus Groups!
13
Student Survey!
14
Key Informant Interviews Form the Foundation!
16
Key Themes!
16
Which Businesses Bring In Students?!
16
West Bank Strengths!
17
West Bank Challenges!
18
U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a – Tw i n C i t i e s!
S t u d e n t s a n d t h e We s t B a n k : U n d e r s t a n d i n g a n U n t a p p e d M a r k e t
1
Importance of Students and Staff Patronizing West Bank Businesses!
Focus Groups Define Students’ Issues!
20
22
What Drives Where Students Go?!
22
“West Bank” Associations!
23
What Kind of Business Would Students Add?!
24
Community Strengths and Weaknesses!
24
How to Attract More Students!
26
Student Response to Branding Campaign!
28
Survey Responses Provide Answers!
30
Demographics of sample respondents!
30
Additional information about the student respondents!
Survey Sections!
32
33
General patterns!
33
Off-campus activities!
33
Impressions of campus neighborhoods!
35
Preferences for choosing off-campus venues for dining, shopping, or socializing!
36
Third-party effect barriers!
37
Branding campaign and online resources!
38
Other responses to elements of the branding campaign!
41
West Bank familiarity!
42
General survey findings!
45
Key Themes Emerge from Three Research Methods!
47
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Perceptions!
47
Hospitality!
48
Response to the branding campaign!
48
Familiarity and enthusiasm!
49
Suggested Actions!
50
Consider Niche Marketing!
50
Create Sense of Familiarity among Students!
51
Provide a Welcoming Atmosphere for New Customers!
51
Final Remarks!
52
Suggestions for Future Research!
52
References!
53
Appendices!
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A1—Map of Cedar-Riverside/West Bank Neighborhood, Minneapolis, Minn.!
55
A2—Locations of Campus Police Safety Alerts Incidents, May 2009–April 2010!
56
B1—Presentation Slides from May 20, 2010, WBBA Meeting!
56
B2—Short Report Distributed at May 20, 2010, WBBA Meeting!
60
C1—Key Informant Interview Guide!
62
D1—Focus Group Discussion Guide!
65
D2—Demographic Composition of Focus Groups!
70
D3—Graduate Student Focus Group Transcript!
71
D4—Undergraduate Student Focus Group Transcript!
96
D5—Ads Used in Focus Groups!
122
3
E1—Survey Instrument: Off-Campus Socializing, Shopping, and Dining!
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E2—Survey “Cover Letter”!
138
E3—Demographic comparison tables!
139
E4—Favorite establishments and what students like about them!
144
E5—Survey Responses Summary Report!
148
E6—Survey Response Data!
191
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Executive Summary
In the fall of 2009, the West Bank Business Association (WBBA) began work with the University
of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and the Cedar-Humphrey Action for
Neighborhood Collaborative Engagement (CHANCE) course to identify ways to achieve
greater patronage from local students. A research group of students pursuing master’s degrees
in public policy, social work, and strategic communication conducted key informant interviews,
moderated two student focus groups, and administered a survey to students to identify some of
the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood’s businesses’ strengths, weaknesses, and ways to connect
with University of Minnesota students. Research concentrated on understanding the University
of Minnesota students’ perceptions about the neighborhood and the WBBA branding campaign
using the slogan “West Bank. Real. Different.”
Photo by Firdhad Fog/Creative Commons
Photo by Bolobilly/Creative Commons
Photo by Bolobilly/Creative Commons
The findings from the research revealed several key themes.
1. Image trade-offs
Branding the neighborhood “West Bank” rather than “Cedar-Riverside” has mixed results
for the student market. The West Bank name carries for students a strong connotation of
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campus, thus bringing lower perceptions for fun and affordability. However, “West Bank”is
perceived as being generally more positive, safer, and more convenient for students.
2. Niches in student population
Because of the variety inherent in the student population, successful marketing to the campus community would probably be segmented. Recognizing various subsets of students
might be an effective way to target smaller, niche groups of students, i.e. younger/older
students, areas of study, and program cohorts.
3. Appearance of poverty and perceptions of crime are barriers
The two most prominent barriers to students feeling comfortable in the neighborhood are
the appearance of poverty and perceptions of crime in the area. Other potential barriers,
such as the colorful and diverse cultural mix, are not as much of a liability for students and
can be leveraged as an attribute in attracting students to the neighborhood.
4. Many neighborhood strengths
There are many strengths of the neighborhood and many reasons for students to discover the
West Bank. Students are attracted to the neighborhood’s diversity, cultural offerings, authenticity, and unique character.
The research team proposes the following as possible ways to assist the WBBA in their continued efforts to increase the customer base for West Bank businesses.
1. Consider niche marketing among student populations: target by age and make use of social
media.
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2. Create a sense of familiarity among students: explore the possibility of participating in the
University’s FlexDine program, engage students during new-student orientation, and provide a welcoming atmosphere for students.
3. Pursue additional research into students’ perceptions of and response to the “West Bank.
Real. Different.” branding campaign.
West Bank Business Association and CHANCE
Engage in Partnership
Background Information
During the fall of 2009, the Cedar-Humphrey Action for Neighborhood Collaborative Engagement (CHANCE) research team participated in a classroom experience to understand
community-based research and learn about the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood (also known as
West Bank; see map in Appendix A1). This class culminated in a community forum and the
identification of research projects, teams, and neighborhood partners.
Partnerships
This research project was conducted in partnership with the West Bank Business Association
(WBBA) and the public relations committee of the West Bank Community Coalition (WBCC),
the City of Minneapolis’s recognized neighborhood group for the West Bank/Cedar-Riverside
neighborhood.
The CHANCE team created a memorandum of agreement focused on understanding possible
reasons behind low rates of student patronage of West Bank businesses. The research team began working with their partners in early 2010. Lack of interest from one partner prompted a
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change one month later, and the primary partner became Lisa Hammer, community organizer
with the WBBA.
The team consulted with Hammer to share with her some of the results of the focus groups and
receive her input on the survey. She also provided information about the background of the
business association and the branding campaign.
The mission of the WBBA is “to promote the responsible economic development of the business
district while preserving the unique character and heritage of the Cedar Riverside area. We
value the diversity that is integral to our neighborhood’s history. We value a clean, safe and inviting neighborhood, and strive to work cooperatively for the common benefit of all. The main
commercial corridors in the neighborhood include Seven Corners, Cedar Avenue, and Riverside
Avenue” (West Bank Business Association, 2010).
The CHANCE team also worked with Ben Marcy, chair of the newly formed WBCC public relations committee, and served as members of the committee. The mission of the WBCC is “to
strengthen and celebrate the neighborhood by promoting connections between its residents,
businesses, institutions, and organizations. The WBCC is dedicated to preserving its neighborhood’s strengths, identifying and helping to address the neighborhood’s changing needs, and
bringing positive improvements to all” (West Bank Community Coalition, 2008).
The Problem
Due to the close proximity of West Bank businesses to the University of Minnesota, there would
seem to be a natural connection between students and West Bank businesses. The prevailing
impression among area business leaders is that students are less likely to frequent West Bank
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businesses than other local business communities like Dinkytown or Stadium Village, both located near the East Bank area of the Twin Cities campus.
The reasons for the lack of patronage are not well defined or understood, and many factors have
been considered possible barriers to increasing student patronage: public safety concerns, product mix, students’ ages, location, parking and transportation, and general lack of knowledge of
the West Bank and its offerings.
WBBA Branding Campaign
In 2009, the West Bank Business Association launched a branding campaign targeting Twin Cities suburban residents with the slogan “West Bank. Real. Different.” The implementation of this
campaign has created a unique and timely opportunity to connect with students and identify
factors that would result in greater patronage from students for West Bank businesses. This project aimed to determine students’ perceptions of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and businesses, understand their consumer behavior, measure the impact of the WBBA branding campaign on students’ awareness and attitudes, and generate strategies for increased student patronage of West Bank businesses.
Student Research on Behalf of the WBBA
The West Bank Business Association wanted to know how students perceived the neighborhood
and how they could help students become aware of the offerings in the neighborhood and help
them feel a greater connection to the area. A research team of three master’s degree students,
one studying public policy, one studying public policy and social work, and one studying strategic communication, all in the final phase of their programs, enlisted to examine the situation
under the auspices of the CHANCE program, which provides an avenue for student and instiU n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a – Tw i n C i t i e s!
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tutional involvement with the Cedar-Riverside (West Bank) neighborhood adjacent to campus.
Because the student population had not been researched specifically with these aims in mind,
the research centered on understanding students’ habits, attitudes, and opinions.
The research team divided the project into two phases, beginning with a series of interviews.
The team interviewed business owners in the area, students, and institutional staff members.
These interviews provided the team with some background and useful perspective in order to
prepare the primary data-gathering instruments—two focus groups, held in mid-April, and an
online survey, which was completed by a convenience sample of 188 graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota between April 21 and May 1. Both qualitative and
quantitative evaluation of the data were done.
The student research team presented their findings at the WBBA meeting on May 20. The presentation materials and short report distributed at that meeting are included in Appendices B1
and B2.
Literature Review
To better understand similar situations in other areas, the research team searched for relevant
articles using Google scholar and article databases at the U of M library. Applicable research
was found using the search terms “campus,” “urban,” and “community,” and specific information about the University of Pennsylvania.
University of Pennsylvania’s Specific Actions
The University of Pennsylvania’s West Philadelphia Initiatives project seeks to revitalize their
community, University City. Although the accounts of University City portray a more dismal
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situation than that of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, some of the specific actions taken in
their case are relevant to the Minneapolis situation and are worth a look. Their initial short-term
strategy for neighborhood enhancement involved improving sanitation and safety to have an
immediate effect on the neighborhood’s appearance (Rodin, 2005).
University of Louisville’s University-Community Partnerships
Research conducted at the University of Louisville shows that the most important reasons for
university involvement in community partnerships are civic responsibility, academic inquiry,
and institutional survival. The research also shows that key opinion leaders think it is the university’s responsibility to take the lead in getting involved. In other words, the universities
should not wait to be approached by the urban community or any of the other potential partners. This report also emphasized the patience required in any such partnership, citing a 20-year
timeline as the agreed-upon minimum for significant changes in urban development patterns
(Mullins & Gilderbloom, 2002).
Overcoming Perceptions of Crime
A review of studies seeking causes for the fear of crime, particularly in the context of city centers after dark, was done by Thomas and Bromley (2000). They found that the fear of crime is
generally socially constructed. Other factors contributing to fear of crime include physical and
social cues such as vandalism, graffiti, litter, and vacancies, as well as the presence of social
“undesirables,” such as prostitutes, beggars, drunks, and loiterers. The clustering of crimes in
certain urban paths as well as “hot spots” of fear on university campuses suggest that physical
location is another link to crime perceptions. Some solutions they propose include expanding
early-evening and late-night offerings beyond the standard “pub and club” activities typical of
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city centers with these perceptions; encouraging a mix of residential and business to increase
pedestrian traffic; improving access via and security of public transportation and parking; and
managing risk perception through higher levels of surveillance, banning on-street drinking, and
staggering pub and club closing times. They found that the least positive impressions of city
centers were held by those who least frequently visited the locations, and recommended promotional initiatives to help communicate the low levels of crime that actually exist in these places
with high perceptions of threats. They also cautioned that short-term changes are unlikely, and
that slow incremental moves toward the desired neighborhood environment were more advisable.
Research Plan: Key Informant Interviews, Focus Groups,
and Student Survey
The research conducted by the student research team included three data collection methods to
provide the WBBA with a comprehensive look at several cross sections of student attitudes, perceptions, and opinions.
Key Informant Interviews
Key informant interviews were conducted to begin the research process and obtain an array of
perspectives on how students interact with West Bank businesses. The goal of the qualitative indepth interviews was to obtain background information about various community members’
perspectives on West Bank businesses and to clarify ideas and strategies for generating the focus
group and survey methodology.
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The key informants were chosen based on recommendations from community partners and
academic advisors, with an emphasis on the purpose of the interviews: to better understand the
West Bank business community and the people who work or study near the West Bank.
A total of eight key informants participated in an interview, including:
•
Three local business owners
•
Three university students
•
Two institutional staff members on the West Bank
The interviews were fairly informal, were conducted face-to-face at the interviewee’s place of
work or at the Humphrey Center on campus, and took between 30 and 90 minutes.
Key informants were asked a series of ten questions with unique follow-up questions based on
that person’s individual experiences and role within the community. A copy of the interview
guide appears in Appendix C1. The identities of the key informants have been excluded from
this report to ensure confidentiality and candid responses during the interview process.
Student Focus Groups
Two focus groups were conducted to understand students’ perspectives on off-campus socializing and their experiences in the West Bank more specifically. Both focus groups were held at the
Humphrey Center over a pizza lunch and lasted about ninety minutes each. At each session,
participants were asked a similar series of questions regarding their off-campus socializing habits and preferences, their awareness of West Bank businesses, and their impressions of the “West
Bank. Real. Different.” campaign. See Appendix D1 for the focus group discussion guide used
for both groups.
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The first focus group consisted of nine graduate students from a variety of academic disciplines.
The second group was composed of eight undergraduate students at the university who primarily study on the West Bank campus. All participants completed a short demographic questionnaire, and the composition of each focus group can be found in Appendix D2.
Data from the discussion were recorded through field notes, audio recording, and by memory
from the research team moderator and assistant moderators. The research team undertook a
transcript-based analysis using complete transcripts of both focus groups (found in Appendices
D3 and D4) to identify themes and categorize responses. Results and comments were analyzed
looking for frequency, specificity, emotion, and extensiveness, and were then grouped by common themes and key insights (Krueger & Casey, 2008).
Student Survey
Additional information about University of Minnesota students’ experiences and opinions was
collected through a survey. One of the aims of the survey was to determine how and if students
perceived the names or areas of Cedar-Riverside and West Bank as different from each other.
Accordingly, the precise geographical area of the neighborhood was not indicated in the survey,
and both names were used as options for many of the questions.
The survey of students included 41 questions in ten categories: general personal patterns (eight
questions), current off-campus activities (four questions), impressions of campus-area communities and neighborhoods (five questions), preferences for choosing off-campus venues for socializing (one question), assessment of third-party attitudes (useful for avoiding the social desirability effects, common responses to sensitive questions; one question), familiarity with online resources and the new branding campaign (six questions), experience with West Bank area
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establishments (ten questions), knowledge of the geographic area of the West Bank neighborhood (two questions), and demographics (four questions). See Appendix E1 for the survey instrument.
The survey was administered online using SurveyGizmo (a commercially available survey
host), with an e-mail “cover letter” (see Appendix E2) composed and distributed as widely as
possible through the use of personal contacts, class lists, focus group participants, departmental
e-mail lists that the research team was able to access, and Facebook. At least three departmental
e-mail lists distributed the link. Additional strategies for survey distribution were considered
but unnecessary due to the robust response.
By surveying students within our personal academic and social networks, we constructed a
convenience sample. However, this sampling method has limitations, as the data are not representative of the entire student population. Therefore, we cannot generalize the results to include
all students. The results represent only the perceptions of those who were surveyed. While a
probability sample that could be generalized to the entire population would have been preferable, the non-probability sample was chosen based on feasibility.
Survey results were analyzed using reporting tools available with SurveyGizmo. For some cross
tabulations of specific questions, data were entered into Apple Numbers (similar to Microsoft
Excel) for analysis.
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Key Informant Interviews Form the Foundation
Key Themes
Upon completion of all eight interviews, student researchers conducted an analysis with the
primary intention of identifying key themes among the informants. Areas of agreement and
disagreement among interviewees were noted. While tailored questions were asked of each interviewee, the topics discussed can be categorized into the following themes:
•
Engagement between the community and its institutions
•
Limited neighborhood resources for youth
•
Perceptions of safety as a barrier
•
Lack of understanding of new American businesses
Which Businesses Bring In Students?
All key informants were asked the question about which local businesses do a good job of attracting students. Acadia Cafe and Mapps Coffee Shop were mentioned most frequently by the
informants, while the Cedar Cultural Center and the Nomad World Pub were also mentioned
several times.
As one student informant noted, “Mapps seems to do really well. I know I met there for group
projects. Or, Acadia. Kind of sad, but more traditional American food ones cater more to students.”
A local business owner also said, “Mapps Coffee Shop—amazing people. . . . They do a good
job. They have been successful at connecting with the U.”
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Overall, Mapps and Acadia stood out among the informants as businesses that have gained a
sizable student following.
West Bank Strengths
As expected, many of the key informants cited the community’s diversity as one of its primary
strengths. In addition to this, the key informants generated the following list as strengths of the
West Bank community:
•
Major institutions as part of the neighborhood (large potential markets to tap)
•
Vibrant social scene
•
Excellent examples of immigrant entrepreneurs
•
Politically conscious neighborhood
•
Strong presence of local nonprofit organizations
•
Repeat customers, word-of-mouth advertising
When asked to comment on the strengths of the neighborhood one informant stated, “The fact
that there are major institutions as part of the neighborhood, I consider that a strength. . . . A lot
of inner-city neighborhoods don’t have this proximity to major institutions that have potential
for a market, not to mention opportunities like CHANCE, and engagement in the neighborhood. Other strengths would be its proximity to downtown . . . especially when factoring in
light rail access.”
This illustrates the richness of the West Bank business district, and also the unique ways to view
the overall accessibility of the community.
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West Bank Challenges
Informants also contributed insight about the challenges faced by the West Bank businesses.
Most informants answered this question from their perspective; the most obvious challenges
were the ones they encountered in their role in the neighborhood.
The West Bank staff informants recognized
“Sometimes we’re jumping too
the major institutional presence in the com-
quickly into the community . . .
munity, and the resulting perceived and real
we're so results oriented.”
power imbalances it creates. They indicated
University of Minnesota staff member
concern about the lack of communication
and collaboration among local organizations. A variety of informants cited stereotypes and perceptions as challenges. They spoke of the “overblown” perceptions of crime in the area negatively affecting the community. Other challenges mentioned include situations with the community’s youth.
Students tended to mention that many students are intimidated to enter the neighborhood: “We
[students] like to believe we’re ‘worldly’ . . . but it still makes us uncomfortable to go places
with unknown foods, unknown cultures. The weakness is with people not going beyond their
comfort zone, not with the businesses,” one informant stated.
Another student informant mentioned that some businesses do not look welcoming to students:
“I don’t see anyone that looks like me, and from the outside, they don’t look like a business.”
Several informants spoke of lack of information about the neighborhood among students.
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Figure 1. Informant quotes about neighborhood strengths and challenges.
Overall, the key informants’ perspectives on the challenges facing the community reaffirmed
the research team’s initial background information gathered through interaction with the
neighborhood and its leaders.
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Figure 1 provides additional comments generated by key informants regarding CedarRiverside’s strengths and weaknesses as a community.
Importance of Students and Staff Patronizing West Bank Businesses
Despite the varying opinions about why the West Bank has little connection with university
students and staff, nearly all key informants agreed that it is important for the Cedar-Riverside
community to have additional patronage from institutional students, faculty, and staff. Informants agreed that from the point of view of the local economy, securing institutional patrons is
“hugely important” for local business and “that there’s a lot to offer in this part of town . . . but
there seems to be a drift toward East Bank more than West Bank.”
When answering questions related to this topic, most informants also offered ways to create
connections between the university and the West Bank, but were unsure of how to strategize.
One informant asked, “How do you walk the fine line between not imposing, and doing it in a
way that makes them [business owners] change to have to bring people in? Do they have to let
go of part of the culture? I’m struggling with how that will work.”
Clearly, the concept of increasing students as patrons on the West Bank is—at least conceptually—good for businesses and the local economy. However, the reality of bringing in more students while maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the local business community’s character is much more complex.
Overall, the key informant interviews allowed the student researchers to better understand the
strengths of the West Bank business community, as well as the challenges it faces. The focus
group and survey methodology were created based on the insightful and candid responses
gathered through the in-depth interviews.
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Table 2. Students’ most influential factors in choosing venues for dining and entertainment
FA C T O R
SAID
I L L U S T R AT I V E Q U O T E S
BY
Affordability
All
“I guess it starts with affordability because the $20 of excess money I
have every month is pretty hard to spend.” (Undergraduate student)
Culture
Most
“I really hate mainstream places . . . I want to find really, really great
ethnic foods.” (Undergraduate student)
Transportation
Many
“Because I don’t really care where I’m going as long as I know how to
get there and back.” (Undergraduate student)
“Public transportation is the first thing, because I don’t have a car,
and I always have to have bus schedules with me.” (Graduate student)
Proximity to
where I live
Some
“If I’m at home, I go to places near home.” (Graduate student)
Safety
Some
“I rarely think about safety when going out, but part of that is because I rarely go out alone.” (Graduate student)
Feeling welcome
Some
“I think in order for anything to happen you have to feel welcome.”
(Undergraduate student)
“Sometimes I enter someplace and really feel unwelcome and so then
my whole mood is not there.” (Undergraduate student)
New experience
Some
“I like to learn about new things.” (Undergraduate student)
Food and
drink specials
Some
“I love student specials. I just don’t know many of them here.”
(Graduate student)
Parking
A few
“I really am driven by food and drink specials, like I try really hard to
remember them, and I’m always looking them up online.” (Graduate
student)
“I can’t really enjoy myself if I have to keep thinking about meters.”
(Undergraduate student)
“I am very frugal, and so I will only go places if they have validated
parking, or free parking.” (Graduate student)
Food quality
A few
“When I choose to go out to eat it’s because I’m looking for something that I wouldn’t have at home, something I wouldn’t make myself.” (Undergraduate student)
“I don’t go out all that often, but I’m willing to pay more for a restaurant that I know is gonna be really good, rather than going out often
to a mediocre place.” (Graduate student)
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Focus Groups Define Students’ Issues
This qualitative method was used in order to obtain information and perspectives from University of Minnesota students. The students in the two focus groups (one for graduate students and
one for undergraduate students) were asked a similar series of questions about the following
topics:
•
Habits and preferences when leaving campus for dining and entertainment purposes
•
Knowledge of and experiences with West Bank businesses
•
Associations with and uses of the terms “West Bank” and “Cedar-Riverside”
•
Strengths and weaknesses of the Cedar-Riverside community
•
How West Bank businesses can attract more students
•
Impressions of “West Bank. Real. Different.” advertisements
What Drives Where Students Go?
One of the conversations conducted at both focus groups involved discussing what affected
students’ choices for off-campus dining and entertainment. A summary of the students’ top five
factors is found in Table 2. As shown in the table, the three factors mentioned most often by students included affordability, culture, and transportation.
Affordability was mentioned by every single student who participated in the focus groups. Culture was mentioned as a top-five choice for 10 of the 17 students, with slightly more graduate
students mentioning this as a top influence. Transportation rounded out the top three factors,
with nine of the 17 students saying that it was an important influence for them when choosing
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where to go for dining or entertainment off-campus. Students did mention a variety of factors
that affect their choices, but every student was concerned with affordability.
“West Bank” Associations
A topic addressed during the undergraduate focus group was students’ associations with the
West Bank: “What comes to mind when you think of the West Bank?” Figure 3 shows a visual
representation of the responses provided by the students. Many of these words are campusrelated, and show the undergraduate students’ association with the “West Bank” and campus.
Figure 3. Undergraduates’ responses to “What comes to mind when you think of the West
Bank?”
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What Kind of Business Would Students Add?
Both groups engaged in a conversation about what type of businesses they wish were on the
West Bank. The desire for a grocery store came up several times, and a few students also mentioned how they missed the co-op that was once located in the neighborhood. One student said
that “maybe a coffee shop or something that would have counter service, that’s not a chain,
where you could get food fast,” is something that would attract students like her. Other students mentioned that “something cheap and easy” for lunch would be a good option for students. Pizza by the slice and sub shops were mentioned as possible additions.
There were mixed opinions about whether a chain restaurant would add to the neighborhood or
detract from it. One student refuted the claim that chain restaurants would detract from the local business mix by saying: “I think that if there is a Noodles or a Chipotle it draws people in so
that maybe someone will go, ‘Oh there’s this and that here—I might as well try it.’ ‘Cause that
happens to me a lot when I’m on the East Bank. If there’s something sort of like where I would
go when I’m at home and then I see a little, other restaurant that I haven’t heard of, I just walk
in.” The participants did not reach consensus on this topic.
Community Strengths and Weaknesses
Student participants were asked what they consider to be the strengths of the Cedar-Riverside
community.
Many students commented on the diversity of the neighborhood, the rich culture, and the feeling of “authenticity.” A couple of students in the graduate group also noted the presence of active participants “affecting change” in the neighborhood as a strength, in addition to the feeling
that “people are connected and work with each other.” Undergraduate students echoed these
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Figure 4. Student perspectives on strengths and weaknesses of the West Bank neighborhood.
ideas of community strengths by commenting on the neighborhood’s diversity, proximity to
downtown, and strong community feel.
“There’s a community here,
I just don’t really feel a part of it.”
University of Minnesota undergraduate business student
Students also offered their perspective of
the weaknesses—or challenges—within
the Cedar-Riverside community. Several
students commented on how diversity
25
can be both a strength and a barrier for the community. Other students noted the condition of
the neighborhood’s road and sidewalks as a problem. Several illustrative quotations from this
conversion are included in Figure 4.
How to Attract More Students
Both focus groups provided useful feedback when asked how businesses could attract more
students. The conversation among graduate students addressed the demographic being targeted by West Bank businesses; some students wanted the “older” crowd to remain, without
more undergraduates. The undergraduate students spent a considerable amount of time talking
about advertising and cleaning up the neighborhood.
The following list is a compilation of ideas generated by both focus group sessions:
•
Recognize specific, older demographic
•
Free wireless internet; more study spaces
•
Public restrooms
•
Clean areas
•
Student deals/discounts
•
Word of mouth
•
Target one kind of students (i.e., business students, international students, etc.)
•
More advertising
•
Make coupon booklet (i.e., to be distributed with The Minnesota Daily)
26
•
Find ways for university to help promote Cedar-Riverside businesses
•
Create connections between students and local community
•
More university-supported development and maintenance
•
Put pressure on city to fix roads
Table 5 contains quotes from both focus groups that illustrate general ideas for attracting students to West Bank businesses.
Table 5. How to attract students.
CONNECT
“I think there needs to be a greater connection between the University and
the West Bank area.” (Undergraduate student)
A D V E RT I S E
“Advertise. . . . Thousands of students here have no idea—that’s just reality—what there is to offer.” (Undergraduate student)
BROCHURES
“It’d be nice if somehow there would be pamphlets given to Carlson students
at orientation. Like brochures: ‘here’s what we offer’ and maybe even student
specials. . . . I can’t name one student special that’s offered in this area.” (Undergraduate student)
STUDENT
“I think deals for students is always a way to show that you’re happy to have
them be generous with your business.” (Graduate student)
SPECIALS
EXPOSE
COUPONS
“Take the shadow off the Cedar-Riverside area.” (Undergraduate student)
“If I were a business owner, I would consider doing University of Minnesota
student deals and discounts, advertising heavily on the West Bank, but also
more importantly on the East Bank, because people on the West Bank have
more exposure naturally to it anyway, vs. on the East Bank, you are secluded
and all your classes are over there, you have no idea unless you get exposure—whether through coupons, fliers, something like that.” (Undergraduate
student)
27
Student Response to Branding Campaign
Students in both focus groups were asked to take a look at six of the West Bank’s new branding
campaign ads with the slogan “West Bank. Real. Different.” The purpose of the discussion was
to gain students’ impressions of the ads, and to find out if the ads appeal to them. Copies of the
ads used are in Appendix D5.
Of the 17 people who participated in the two sessions, two students had seen some version of
the new ads or slogan. The graduate students had varying opinions about the ads: some
thought the messaging was done very well, while others commented that the campaign’s message might detract from the neighborhood’s authenticity. The undergraduates, too, had mixed
impressions of the ads. One undergraduate thought the “West Bank” logo looked like a police
badge. Other students noted that the ads did not emphasize the neighborhood’s food offerings
enough: “There’s no restaurants. And this is such a big dining place. Where is the great food?”
Students spoke at length about what they thought of the ads’ messages and logo. One graduate
student said that “the messaging is done really well,” but went on to comment on the logo: “[it]
looks a little ‘Whiskey Junction/Cabooze’-heavy. It doesn’t seem like it really embraces everything that the West Bank is.” Another graduate student said, “The logo . . . it’s not unique. It
doesn’t resonate.”
There was much discussion among graduate students about whether or not “Real. Different.”
suited the West Bank. “There’s something about authenticity, that if you call attention to it, it
goes away,” said one student.
A final comment from the graduate students was, “It just makes me kind of annoyed. It’s like,
‘So nothing else is real or different?’ I don’t know. It’s just one of those kind of snotty remarks
28
that maybe doesn’t need to be made.” Many students freely shared their opinions on the logo
and slogan, and overall, the graduate students’ responses tended to be either neutral or negative.
Undergraduate participants were more responsive to the ads. One student said that he really
liked the tagline ‘think globally, shop locally.’ He went on to say, “A lot of people do think of the
diversity over here. And then, when you think of that, I mean it’s the perfect slogan. It’s great.”
Another student said that the ads “highlight a lot of what West Bank has to offer.”
Both groups were asked whether or not they thought the ads appealed to students. Most students agreed that other students would probably respond positively to the ads. The graduate
students thought that they might be aimed to the early-20s age group, “slightly younger” than
they were.
Students generally liked the pictures, but noted that there were not any women in these six ads,
and that it looked like the taglines were written in “Chipotle” font.
“I think the pictures, especially all together . . . together they show a lot of what Cedar-Riverside
is,” said one graduate student.
Most of the graduate students and undergraduates agreed that labels and locations of the shops
pictured in the ads would be helpful.
Undergraduates were more enthusiastic in believing that their classmates would like the ads.
They thought that the ads could expose their peers to places to go, offer the West Bank muchneeded exposure among students, and show how a university student could interact in the
community.
29
Several undergraduates noted that while they thought their peers might like the ads, that they
did not particularly like them. “I mean, this isn’t the kind of stuff that appeals to me,” said one
undergraduate.
Students did offer many ideas for how to tweak the ads a little bit to get students to be receptive
to them. Adding labels was one suggestion. Other students thought that adding pictures of students participating in the community would be good and that advertising upcoming shows via
the ads would be effective.
In sum, the focus group participants offered mixed reviews of the “West Bank. Real. Different.”
slogan and ads. They agreed that they would help create exposure for the West Bank and would
intrigue some students, but also noted some of the aspects that do not appeal to them.
Survey Responses Provide Answers
When we launched the survey, we hoped to get 100 students to respond. Our expectations were
exceeded as we received completed surveys from 188 students during the 10-day period it was
open. The apparent popularity of the survey was undoubtedly aided by the generous incentives
offered. Most of the students who completed the survey entered a drawing to win one of six
prizes (free beverages or entertainment) provided by four of the neighborhood businesses.
Demographics of sample respondents
The demographic section captured some key descriptors of students to assess the degree to
which the survey was representative of the campus’s overall population. These demographic
characteristics also were useful in determining patterns among certain groups of students of
preferences and priorities.
30
The following demographics make up the survey respondents:
•
Undergraduate students: 42%
Graduate students: 58%
•
Male: 23%
Female: 77%
•
Age group 21 to 24 (largest): 38%
Age group 25 to 29 (second largest): 30%
•
White students (largest race category): 89%
We opted to not ask about income, as student populations tend to have non-representative statistics in financial areas.
Demographic descriptors of the survey respondents were also compared to 2009–2010 University of Minnesota registration statistics to determine the extent to which the survey results are
representative of the overall student population. The tables in Appendix E3 display these comparisons. These data reveal that our survey sample is not representative of the student population as a whole. As a result, our findings cannot be said to reflect the opinions and perceptions
of all students, but only the students who completed the survey. Compared to the overall student population, our sample is weighted toward older students and graduate students, disproportionately female, and slightly disproportionately white, as shown in Table 6.
31
Table 6. Survey sample compared to student population for several key demographic
indicators
S U RV E Y S A M P L E
S T U D E N T T O TA L
AGE 25-34
38%
29%
FEMALE
77%
52%
G R A D U AT E O R P R O F E S S I O N A L L E V E L
58%
37%
W H I T E , N O N - H I S PA N I C
87%
70%
Additional information about the student respondents
Chart 7 shows the distribution of areas of study represented by the survey respondents. The pie
chart shows percentages of the total, and numbers for each category are in parentheses in the
color key list.
Chart 7. Survey Respondents by Field of Study
Social Work (35)
Public Policy (29)
Economics (13)
Strategic Communication (8)
Urban and Regional Planning (7)
Finance (6)
Kinesiology (6)
Other (includes 68 fields)
16%
14%
51%
6%
4%
3%
3%
3%
32
Survey Sections
General patterns
The questions on general personal patterns and off-campus activities were designed to understand where students lived, studied, worked, shopped, dined, and socialized and learn about
their modes of transportation.
•
87 percent of the students surveyed live off campus, with 13 percent living on campus.
•
Of the students living off campus, 26 percent live in the Dinkytown area. Only three percent live in Cedar-Riverside.
•
Nearly half of the students surveyed had at least one class on the West Bank during the
spring semester.
•
Only two of the student respondents worked in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, although two-thirds of the respondents were employed in addition to their schooling.
•
When traveling off campus, most students drive as a means of transportation (64%),
with walking (59%), bicycling (58%), and public transportation (56%) close behind. Most
respondents selected more than one mode of transportation.
Off-campus activities
Students were also asked what activities they had engaged in during the previous week, and
why they had chosen the venues they did.
Following are the top five off-campus activities by category with the percentage of respondents
selecting them:
33
•
Dining: 82%
•
Grocery shopping: 67%
•
Drinking: 47%
•
Spending time at a coffee shop: 45%
•
Using a computer or studying at public wi-fi location or coffee shop: 36%
The results from a question asking which neighborhoods students had entered within the past
week may indicate how students tend to think about West Bank and Cedar-Riverside differently. The disparity between the numbers could show that students associate West Bank with
campus:
•
Dinkytown: 60%
•
West Bank: 53%
•
Downtown Minneapolis: 47%
•
Como: 46%
•
Cedar-Riverside: 35%
When asked why they chose a particular venue for shopping, dining, or going out, students’
responses reveal a variety of reasons:
•
Proximity to work or home: 77%
•
Good food: 59%
34
•
Good prices: 45%
•
Favorite hangout: 41%
•
Friends’ decisions: 38%
Impressions of campus neighborhoods
Questions about attitudes and perceptions asked for information about both Cedar-Riverside
and West Bank as well as other areas surrounding campus. Using a five-point Likert scale, students were asked to indicate their agreement or disagreement with statements that indicated
particular impressions or opinions about these neighborhoods. The five statements were “I have
a positive impression of . . .,” “I feel that . . . is safe,” “When I want to have fun, I go to . . .,” “I
feel that . . . is within my budget,” and “It is convenient for me to go to. . . .”
The seven areas named for each question were Cedar-Riverside, Dinkytown, Downtown Minneapolis, Seven Corners, Seward, Stadium Village, and West Bank. Dinkytown and Stadium Village are located on the East Bank of campus, and are generally considered student-oriented
neighborhoods, where many students live and play. Seward is adjacent to the Cedar-Riverside
neighborhood, bordering it on the south, and was included for comparison with a less studentdominated neighborhood. Cedar-Riverside and West Bank were both included to determine if
and how students differentiated these areas, although they are technically the same area. Seven
Corners, a distinct subset of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, was included to further ascertain how students viewed this area of the neighborhood.
Chart 8 shows the percentage of students with positive impressions (those who selected “agree”
or “strongly agree” in each category) for Cedar-Riverside and West Bank.
35
Chart 8. Positive Impressions of Cedar-Riverside and West Bank
80%
75% 74%
60%
40%
63%
62%
52%
48%
42%
27%
26%
20%
17%
0%
general
safe
fun
Cedar-Riverside
affordable
convenient
West Bank
Preferences for choosing off-campus venues for dining, shopping, or socializing
Using data from the focus groups, we compiled the eight most popular reasons people gave for
choosing a venue for shopping, dining, or going out: accessibility (transportation, parking, etc.),
affordability, good food/drinks, location (proximity to work, home, school), new experience/
cultural experience, safety, specials/student specials, and welcoming atmosphere. See Chart 9
for the survey results and ranking of these factors.
36
Chart 9. How important are each of these factors in choosing a venue for shopping, dining,
or socializing? (Percentage of respondents selecting “important” or “very important”)
100%
97%
92%
75%
91%
88%
83%
72%
66%
50%
43%
25%
als
t sp
eri
en
exp
/s
als
eci
Sp
Ne
w/
cu
ltu
tud
ral
atm
ing
om
We
lc
eci
en
ce
y
fet
Sa
osp
he
re
ion
cat
Lo
y
sib
ilit
ces
Ac
dr
d/
foo
od
Go
Af
for
da
bil
ink
ity
s
0%
Third-party effect barriers
The third-party attitude questions addressed seven factors (again, using a five-point Likert
scale) that could be potential barriers in exploring the West Bank neighborhood.
Students were asked how comfortable their friends or others they knew would feel in neighborhoods with each of seven factors: high Muslim population; high percentage of the population
that are people of color; high poverty rates; many establishments that market to immigrant
populations; many immigrant residents, business owners, or workers; many residents, workers,
or business owners that are not native English speakers; and reputation of high crime rates. Due
to the presence of all of these factors in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, we felt it was impor-
37
tant to address each of them in order to determine which, if any, were significant barriers for the
student population.
Chart 10 shows the average scores from all respondents for each category in this question. The
most significant barriers found were appearance of poverty and crime. The other factors, dealing with the racial, ethnic, and religious makeup of the neighborhood, all had average scores
above the neutral line.
Chart 10. My friends or others I know would be comfortable in neighborhoods with . . .
Strongly Disagree - Disagree - Neutral - Agree - Strongly Agree
(category averages for all 188 respondents)
5
4
3
3.5
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.4
2.7
2
1.8
1
lim
r
olo
s
Mu
le
p
eo
c
of
P
ets
y
ert
v
Po
t
an
igr
m
Im
ple
rk
ma
nt
Im
m
a
igr
h
lis
o
pe
e
tiv
a
n-n
g
En
e
im
Cr
No
Branding campaign and online resources
The next section directly addressed the branding campaign and related online resources. Students were asked whether they had used any of several neighborhood web sites, to indicate
38
how appealing the West Bank slogan was, whether they were familiar with any campaigns using the slogan, and what it was for if so, and which Minneapolis neighborhood best fit the description in the slogan.
Although the stated target of the WBBA branding campaign is suburban Twin Cities residents,
we wanted to discover whether the campaign’s elements were also affecting the student population, which can happen when a non-targeted population also receives and responds to massmedia messages.
One question asked was “What do you think of when you read the slogan ‘Real. Different.’?”
Eighty-four percent of the students completing the survey provided an answer to this question,
for a total of 157 answers. These comments generally fell into one of seven categories, and may
shed light on the campaign’s potential for effectiveness among the student population. The
qualitative analysis of these answers are displayed in Chart 11.
The largest category was analytical, with 36 percent of the total answers falling in this category.
These generally consist of answers that reveal little emotional response to the slogan. “It could
possibly be a restaurant ad for maybe a different culture’s foods that are real, but different than
the food we would ‘normally’ eat in America,” and “A place that wants to be thought of as accessible and unique,” are two of the typical answers from this category.
The next most common category was responses that showed negative emotion. Twenty-five
percent of the responses fell in this category. “I feel like it sends the impression that it is strange
and awkward,” “Sounds like some place is trying way too hard. Also with a tinge of someone
trying to escape suburban myopia,” and “Isn’t everywhere ‘real’? And then there’s the negative
Minnesota version of ‘different’ meaning not appealing. I think it is a little odd to define one
39
Chart 11. What do you think of when you read the slogan “Real. Different.”? (short answers
grouped qualitatively)
Analytical
36%
Association
4%
Neutral
5%
Negative
25%
Confusion
7% Flippant
8%
Positive
15%
kind of ‘difference’ as the ‘real’ difference. I guess I’m not a big fan of the slogan,” are three examples from this category.
Positive emotional responses were found in 15 percent of the comments. “It piques my interest.
It’s intriguing,” “A place or experience that is genuine and unique - something that is wholesome and has a history attached to it. Yet, it also has a modern flare,” and “Love it!!!!” are representative comments from this category.
Eight percent of the responses were somewhat flippant, sarcastic, or irrelevant. Seven percent of
the comments indicated confusion about the meaning of the slogan. Neutral emotional responses made up about five percent of the comments, and four percent of those responding said
that the slogan reminded them of something else.
40
Students were also asked to indicate how strongly they agree with the statement that they
would be interested in checking out a venue advertising itself as “Real. Different.” Chart 12
shows the responses to that question.
Chart 12. I would be interested in checking out a venue advertising itself as “Real. Different.”
Agree
36%
Strongly Agree
5%
Strongly Disagree
3%
Neutral
37%
Disagree
19%
Other responses to elements of the branding campaign
Only 50 students taking the survey had accessed any of the neighborhood business associations’
web sites, with www.dinkytownminneapolis.com being the most popular response (34 students
selected it) and www.marcyholmes.org coming in second with 13 students choosing it. WBBA’s
site, www.thewestbank.org, came in third, having been accessed by eight of the survey’s respondents.
41
Just seven percent of the respondents had heard of the slogan “Real. Different.” Most of those
respondents could correctly identify the campaign. Because students who participated in the
focus groups took the survey, it is likely that many of them made up that total.
Students surveyed were more likely to associate the “Real. Different.” descriptor with CedarRiverside (25 percent) vs. three percent, who thought West Bank best fit that descriptor. However, the largest response group, 46 percent, was from those who were unable to either choose
from the list presented or suggest a neighborhood themselves, possibly indicating that the slogan doesn’t particularly resonate with them.
West Bank familiarity
Because one of the assumptions of the WBBA, borne out by the focus group responses, was that
students are not familiar with the offerings in the West Bank neighborhood, we compiled as
complete a list as we could of neighborhood establishments that would possibly be patronized
by students (leaving out business-to-business establishments and some that cater specifically to
recent immigrant residents). We also asked students if they had a favorite establishment in the
neighborhood. If they answered in the affirmative, we asked what it was and what they liked
about it. The final question in this section related to what students would like to see in the
neighborhood that was currently missing or underrepresented in the business mix.
Restaurants and coffee shops
These establishments were far more likely to have been visited by students surveyed than any
other category. Acadia Cafe was the most commonly-visited independent establishment, with
44 percent of the respondents having visited it.
42
Shops and malls
The same percentage of the respondents (44) had visited Midwest Mountaineering.
Theater and arts venues
University theater and arts venues were more commonly visited than neighborhood venues, but
both Mixed Blood Theatre and Cedar Cultural Center were popular sites, with 26 and 22 percent, respectively, of the respondents having visited them.
Bars
Neighborhood bars had a lower response than restaurants and coffee shops. The most popular
bar among survey respondents was Preston’s Urban Pub, with 36 percent of the students surveyed having visited it. Nomad World Pub was next, with 30 percent of the respondents having
visited it. By contrast, the most common choice in the bar category was “None of the above,”
with 38 percent of the respondents selecting that option.
Service providers
These establishments were visited by very few of the survey respondents, the most common
answers being the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, with 26 percent of the respondents selecting it, followed by the Holiday Inn Hotel Minneapolis-Metrodome, with 13
percent of the students surveyed having been there.
Grocery and markets
Neighborhood grocery stores and markets also experienced a low response rate, the most popular choice being Seven Corners’ Kuik-E Mart with 16 percent of the students selecting it.
43
Favorite establishments
Forty percent of the respondents have a favorite West Bank establishment. Acadia Cafe was the
most popular favorite, with 15 people claiming it as their favorite establishment in the area.
Mapps (nine), Midwest Mountaineering (eight), and Town Hall Brewery (five) were the next
most popular choices.
The list of reasons students gave when asked what they liked about their favorite establishment
reveal some of the strengths of the neighborhood from the perspective of the students surveyed.
That list is in Appendix E4, with a graphic representation of the words used in their answers
weighted according to repetition of a particular word.
Desired additions
Students surveyed would most like to see an ice cream store (one-third) in the West Bank neighborhood, followed by a grocery/market (one-quarter), a co-op (24 percent), and pizza by the
slice (21 percent). However, the most common answer was “Don’t know,” with 36 percent,
which could indicate that those students are less familiar with the area.
Geographic familiarity
Geographic familiarity was assessed by asking respondents to separately select on a map of the
campus area the number or numbers representing Cedar-Riverside and West Bank. The most
commonly-selected area for Cedar-Riverside was close to the intersection of Cedar and Riverside avenues (66 percent), with the Augsburg College area next most commonly selected at 44
percent, and Seven Corners area selected by 37 percent of the respondents. By contrast, when
asked to identify West Bank, 79 percent of the respondents selected the Seven Corners area, 49
percent selected the Cedar-Riverside intersection, and 28 percent the Augsburg area. Nearly
44
nineteen percent of the respondents included downtown Minneapolis as part of West Bank. This
supports the idea that the students surveyed view Cedar-Riverside and West Bank slightly differently in terms of geography.
General survey findings
Among other things, the survey results indicate that “West Bank” may have a more overall favorable connotation than “Cedar-Riverside,” but isn’t “Real. Different.” or necessarily fun in the
view of students surveyed. “Cedar-Riverside” is “Real. Different.” and slightly more fun than
“West Bank,” according to the survey results.
Analysis of the results through cross tabulation shows that older students were more likely to
have a favorite establishment in the neighborhood (see Graph 13).
Graph 13. Do you have a favorite establishment in Cedar-Riverside/West Bank? (yes)
70%
Percentage by Age Category
60%
63%
55%
50%
40%
37%
30%
20%
10%
13%
0%
18-20 (39)
21-24 (73)
25-29 (56)
30+ (19)
Age Range (Number of Respondents in that Range)
45
Other age-related factors include comfort with the barriers addressed in the third-party effect
questions (undergraduates were universally and consistently less comfortable with the factors
presented) and responses to the “Real. Different.” campaign slogan, which was generally preferred more by younger students (see Graph 14).
Graph 14. I would be interested in checking out a venue advertising itself as “Real. Different.”
Agree
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
18-20 (38)
21-24 (73)
25-29 (56)
30+ (20)
The data also indicate that Cedar-Riverside’s reputation seems to be more favorable among students who live farther away from campus. Again, not surprisingly, that group tends to be comprised of older/graduate students. Compared to the overall results for all survey respondents,
students living farther away from campus, older students, and students with a favorite West
Bank establishment also seem to be less discerning between the two names of the neighborU n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a – Tw i n C i t i e s!
46
hoods, in several categories (fun and affordability) preferring Cedar-Riverside by a more significant margin than the overall respondents. Residents of Dinkytown/Marcy-Holmes consistently prefer West Bank in all categories, and their scores are consistently lower than those of
students living farther from campus.
See Appendix E5 for a summary report and Appendix E6 for a complete tabulation of survey
results.
Key Themes Emerge from Three Research Methods
The survey findings generally confirmed and supplemented the focus group discussions and
interview data. The research team has synthesized these findings to illustrate the key themes
revealed through the multiple methods of data collection. With respect to issues of perception,
hospitality, response to the branding campaign, and familiarity and enthusiasm, survey results
reinforced focus group discussion and key informant interviews that suggested some priorities
for the WBBA in attracting greater student patronage.
Perceptions
Generally, safety concerns were strongest among those who are less familiar with the neighborhood. During focus group discussion, these concerns were attributed to University Police Safety
Alerts (e-mails to students and other interested parties concerning on- or near-campus violent
crimes involving students), rumors, warnings from friends, etc. Analysis of safety alerts from
May 2009 to May 2010 shows that only a small percentage (eight percent) of the total incidents
reported took place in or mentioned the West Bank, with the majority of the reports highlighting
incidents on the East Bank area of campus (see Appendix A2), which could indicate that fears
based on campus police alerts are disproportionately heightened for the West Bank area.
47
Other perceptions point to the mixed bag of repositioning the neighborhood brand as the West
Bank. A brand is what the public thinks about you. The "West Bank" brand, while it may be
safer and more convenient in the minds of most students than "Cedar-Riverside," carries the
connotation of school for University of Minnesota students, positioning it in a less favorable
light for socializing, fun, and entertainment.
Hospitality
Having a welcoming atmosphere is an important component of creating a viable business that
will attract students. There are several neighborhood businesses that have done remarkably
well in this area, such as Acadia Cafe, Mapps Coffee & Tea, and Midwest Mountaineering. Being welcoming to students also includes such things as affordability and accessibility. In addition, providing space and amenities for students to study, relax, and socialize are important.
Students are generally willing to try new places, especially when they are recommended or chosen by a friend. Actions that help to entice students can also encourage them to invite their
friends upon return visits. “Atmosphere” was the most commonly mentioned theme among
students with favorite establishments, with “good food” close behind. These two elements begin to provide basic insights into what students value, and what the West Bank can successfully
provide.
Response to the branding campaign
Students had a mixed response to the “Real. Different.” branding campaign. Generally, it appealed more to younger students. Some of the graduate students in the focus group commented
on it looking like it was designed to appeal to the “Chipotle crowd.” If the WBBA is interested
in extending their reach to include more younger students, this campaign may be effective
48
when directed toward students. However, greater barriers in terms of attraction to the neighborhood, concerns about safety, and the age-limited product mix will need to be overcome for
younger student populations to feel comfortable in the neighborhood.
Students who participated in the focus groups also had insights into improvements for the ads
of the campaign, such as providing more information about the venues featured in the ads, including students in photographic representations, and increasing the visibility of women in the
ads.
Familiarity and enthusiasm
Because Cedar-Riverside does enjoy a base of niche zealots for its business mix, culture, and/or
distinctive individual businesses, there is no question that it does have something valuable to
offer the campus community. Those who have a greater familiarity with the neighborhood have
a more positive opinion of the neighborhood. These students tend to be older, graduate students, and those who live farther from campus. Its current appeal to this particular market
could be due to these students’ willingness to explore alternatives to the standard college-area
fare found in Dinkytown and Stadium Village, a more “grown-up,” yet still rebellious and offbeat, environment.
Regardless of the cause, these students presented themselves, both in focus groups and the survey, as very enthusiastic about the neighborhood, often to the point of being protective or defensive.
49
Suggested Actions
Based on the analysis of the results of the three research methods, the research team has generated several suggested actions for the WBBA and the community as they work to attract more
students to patronize West Bank/Cedar-Riverside businesses.
Consider Niche Marketing
Throughout the research process the team recognized that it might be difficult for the West Bank
to advertise successfully to all types of students in the area using a single strategy. Because of
the unique groups of students in the area and the unique appeal of the West Bank offerings,
marketing to specific, smaller groups could be an effective way to target certain groups.
This could mean targeting certain kinds of students, like part-time master of business administration students at the Carlson School of Management or master of public administration students at the Humphrey Institute. Narrowing the target of advertisements or specials would
make it easier for businesses to create connections with student groups and student cohorts. It
may be most effective to start with student cohorts located on the West Bank, particularly the
older subset of students, who are able to patronize establishments serving alcohol.
The research team also recommends that the West Bank make greater use of social media to
reach the potential student market. Conversations with students throughout the research process indicated that using social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, or Groupon are good
ways to reach students. The research team recognizes that some business owners are more comfortable than others in using social media. A “best practices in using social media” workshop
offered by the WBBA and/or member business(es) successful in this area would one way to
share that knowledge.
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Create Sense of Familiarity among Students
The research process revealed to the team that many students are generally unfamiliar with the
West Bank/Cedar-Riverside businesses and local community. Focusing efforts to familiarize
students with West Bank events and offerings would help students to venture away from their
normal destinations and explore the West Bank. The list below offers some ideas to establish
greater connections between students and the West Bank:
•
Showcase diversity and “flavor” of the neighborhood through deeper collaboration with
the U of M and Augsburg
•
Publicize neighborhood events on campus
•
Further investigate how to expand University FlexDine options to West Bank businesses
•
Engage students during new student orientation
•
Foster greater awareness of U of M and Augsburg calendars (breaks, campus-wide
events)
Provide a Welcoming Atmosphere for New Customers
The research team’s final recommendation stems from the findings from all three research
methods in addition to conversations with friends, classmates, and co-workers about their experiences with West Bank businesses. The level of comfort for new patrons of West Bank businesses seems to be an important factor in determining whether or not that person will return to
the business. Working to achieve a unified, welcoming atmosphere among West Bank businesses would help to create lifelong customers. In order to create a welcoming atmosphere for
51
new customers, the research team has generated several ideas for West Bank businesses to consider:
•
Create a “hospitality checklist” for West Bank businesses
•
Conduct “welcoming workshops,” or best practice sharing events
•
Evaluate and modify as needed new branding campaign’s effectiveness for student
populations
•
Further intentionally rebrand “Cedar-Riverside” as “West Bank”
Final Remarks
It is clear to the student research team that the West Bank has much to offer the neighboring
student population. Leveraging the community’s strengths and vibrant cultural offerings via
advertising and strategic collaboration with university events and creating positive and welcoming first-time experiences in the West Bank seem to have the most potential for increasing
student patronage in the area.
Suggestions for Future Research
The CHANCE course and community based research offer a unique opportunity for the neighborhood to gain greater insight. Future CHANCE capstone teams can build upon this research
and enhance understanding of areas we were unable to address during our research.
•
How can new American business owners become involved in WBBA?
o
Do they want to be involved?
o
Are they interested in having more students patronize their establishments?
52
•
Can a student club be formed around increasing interest and involving students in the
neighborhood?
•
How can more students be involved with jobs, internships, or volunteering in the neighborhood?
•
How can Cedar-Riverside businesses take advantage of FlexDine opportunities for
greater student visibility and patronage?
•
How do safety perceptions and misinformation affect the attitudes of incoming students?
•
What is the "knack" for tapping into the student psyche, as evidenced by Acadia and
Mapps? How can it be shared, replicated, etc.?
References
Krueger, R., & Casey, M. (2008). Focus groups: a practical guide for applied research. Los Angeles,
Ca.: Sage Publications, Inc.
Mullins Jr., R., & Gilderbloom, J. (2002). Urban revitalisation partnerships: perceptions of the
university's role in Louisville, Kentucky. Local Environment, 7(2), 163-176.
doi:10.1080/13549830220136463.
Rodin, J. (2005). The 21st century urban university. Journal of the American Planning Association,
71(3), 237-249. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
53
Thomas, C., & Bromley, R. (2000). City-centre revitalisation: problems of fragmentation and fear
in the evening and night-time city. Urban Studies (Routledge), 37(8), 1403-1429.
doi:10.1080/00420980050058892.
West Bank Business Association (2010). About WBBA. Retrieved from
http://www.thewestbank.org/about.
West Bank Community Coalition. (2008). Welcome to the West Bank Community Coalition. Retrieved from http://www.westbankcc.org/#mission.
54
Appendices
A1—Map of Cedar-Riverside/West Bank Neighborhood, Minneapolis, Minn.
Source: MapQuest
55
A2—Locations of Campus Police Safety Alerts Incidents, May 2009–April 2010
Pillsbury Court Apartments
4% University Village
Stadium 4%
West Bank
Unknown
4%
4%
4%
West Bank Campus
4%
SE Minneapolis
28%
10th Avenue Bridge (East Side)
8%
Dinkytown
8%
Marcy Holmes
24%
East Bank Dorms
8%
Source: http://www1.umn.edu/police/alerts.html
B1—Presentation Slides from May 20, 2010, WBBA Meeting
Agenda
• WBBA and CHANCE Partnership
• Methodology (Research Tools)
Students and the West Bank:
• Key Informant Interviews
Understanding an untapped market
• Focus Groups
• Survey
Gabriele Anderson
Teresa M. Obrero
Julie Price
• Key Themes
• Suggested Actions
!
56
WBBA and CHANCE Partnership
Methodology (Research Tools)
Cedar-Humphrey Action for Neighborhood Collaborative
Engagement (CHANCE) seeks to foster and promote
community building and civic engagement among the West
Bank students, staff, and faculty, institutions, business owners,
and residents in Cedar-Riverside that will lead to positive,
sustainable relationships within the community.
• Key Informant Interviews
• 3 West Bank business owners
• 3 University of Minnesota students
• 2 West Bank institutional staff members
• Focus Groups
Community Partners
• 9 graduate students
• Lisa Hammer, Russom Solomon, and Todd Smith—
West Bank Business Association
• 8 undergraduate students
• Ben Marcy—West Bank Community Coalition
• Online Survey—60 questions
• Convenience sample of 188 University of Minnesota students
!
Key Informant Interviews
Focus Groups
• Concerns about safety are a greater barrier than the reality
Community strengths
• Major institutions within the neighborhood are both a strength and a
challenge
• Provide large potential customer base
• Unequal relationship between institutions and community
Community weaknesses
• Diversity
• Perceptions of crime
• Culture
• Parking
• Authenticity
• Litter
• Character
• Road and sidewalk
conditions
• Need for attracting more students to the West Bank
!
Focus Groups
• Strategies to attract more students
• Recognize specific demographics
• Provide student-friendly amenities (wireless internet, outlets)
• Publicize deals and student discounts
• Students’ associations with “West Bank”
• Campus buildings are most common associations
• Negative impressions of Riverside Plaza
What comes to mind when
you think of the West Bank?
Undergraduate Focus Group Responses
!
57
!
Survey
Survey
• Positive impressions of Cedar-Riverside and West Bank
• Positive impressions of Cedar-Riverside and West Bank
Cedar-Riverside
All survey respondents (188)
West Bank
90%
90%
75%
75% 74%
60%
63%
62%
45%
52%
48%
42%
79%
60%
55%
82%
74%
74%
41%
34%
15%
17%
general
safe
fun
affordable
convenient
0%
!
Survey
21%
42% 63%
26% 48%
27% 17%
75% 74%
52% 62%
general
safe
fun
affordable
convenient
Survey
• Do you have a favorite establishment in Cedar-Riverside/West Bank?
• I would be interested in checking out a venue advertising itself as “Real.
Different.”
Agree
yes
60%
60%
70%
West Bank
90%
27%
26%
63%
55%
50%
40%
37%
30%
20%
0%
West Bank
Cedar-Riverside
30%
15%
10%
Cedar-Riverside
Those with a favorite
West Bank establishment (75)
58%
45%
30%
0%
75%
All survey respondents (188)
13%
18-20 (39)
21-24 (73)
25-29 (56)
55%
50%
41%
30%
20%
18-20 (38)
30+ (19)
38%
40%
25%
21-24 (73)
25-29 (56)
30+ (20)
!
58
Survey
Survey
• What do you think of when you read the slogan “Real. Different.”?
• My friends or others I know would be comfortable in neighborhoods with . . .
• Analytical: “an alternative establishment”
• Negative : “I don’t know what it means or
refers to. It’s very business-speaky and
lacks any flavor or character.”
• High Muslim population
Analytical
36%
• High percentage of the population that are people of color
• High poverty rates
• Positive: “Something new and
exciting.”
Association
4%
Neutral
5%
• Flippant: “Who thought this up? Were
they paid?”
• Confusion: “I don’t understand what it is
trying to say”
Confusion
7%
Flippant
8%
• Neutral: “it is OK”
• Many establishments that market to immigrant populations
Negative
25%
• Many immigrant residents, business owners, or workers
• Many residents, business owners, or workers who are not native English
speakers
Positive
15%
• Reputation of high crime rates
• Association: “i think of brett favre.”
Strongly Disagree - Disagree - Neutral - Agree - Strongly Agree
!
Survey
Key Themes
• My friends or others I know would be comfortable in neighborhoods with . . .
• Image trade-offs
• Category averages for all 188 respondents
• Cedar-Riverside: more fun, more affordable
5
• West Bank: more positive overall, safer, more convenient
4
3
• Niches in student population
3.5
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.4
• Younger vs. older
2.7
• Areas of study, program cohorts
2
1.8
1
slim
Mu
le
op
Pe
of
lor
co
rty
ve
Po
ark
tm
an
igr
m
Im
ets
ple
eo
tp
ran
mig
Im
ng
eE
tiv
-na
n
No
lish
• Appearance of poverty and perceptions of crime are barriers
e
im
Cr
• Many strengths of the neighborhood—a lot of reasons for students to come!
!
Suggested Actions
• Consider niche marketing
• Target audiences by age
• Social media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs)
• Create a sense of familiarity among students
• Explore FlexDine possibilities
• Engage students during new-student orientation events
• Provide welcoming atmosphere for new customers
What do you like about your
favorite West Bank
establishment?
• Additional research into students’ perceptions of and reception to branding
campaign
!
Survey Responses
59
B2—Short Report Distributed at May 20, 2010, WBBA Meeting
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61
C1—Key Informant Interview Guide
KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW GUIDE
CHANCE
Cedar Humphrey Action for Neighborhood Collaborative Engagement Capstone
General Information: As appropriate, complete this information prior to interview.
1. Organization and Role:
2. Name of person being interviewed:
____________________________________
3. Phone number: _______________________________
4. Date and location of interview: _____________________________
5. Interviewer: ______________________________________________
6. Interview start time: _________________ Interview end time: ________________
Introduce the team and state briefly (without giving expected benefits) the
purpose. Mention how important the interviewee’s views are to the study and
thank him/her for their time.
“The purpose of this interview is to find out about your perceptions and
challenges related to the Cedar Riverside neighborhood and student patronage of
businesses. The information you provide will be used as part of the CHANCE
capstone project at the University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute. All
information gathered in the interview will be kept confidential. The identity of
individuals’ specific comments and answers will not be included in any report.”
Your participation in this interview is completely voluntary. Are you willing to be
interviewed? Yes ( ) No ( )
62
Do you have any questions before we begin? Yes ( ) No ( )
1. What is your connection to the Cedar Riverside community?
- What do you do in your job?
- If at all, how do you interact with the community (in your job, as a student, etc.)?
2. What do you like about working (studying, living, etc.) in this community?
- What do you think are the strengths of this community, as a business-owner
(student, etc.)?
- What are the weaknesses of this community, in your opinion?
3. If you are a business-owner, are you active in the WBBA? Yes ( ) No ( )
4. Do you feel that students often patronize the community's businesses?
- If any, which businesses seem to do a particularly good job of bringing in
students?
- In your opinion, how important is it to the community for more students/faculty/
staff to patronize local businesses?
5. If at all, how often do you patronize local businesses?
- If any, which CR/WB businesses or institutions do you feel most connected
with?
63
6. What are barriers for CR businesses in attracting more customers from the U of M
or Augsburg?
7. How can local businesses overcome these barriers?
8. Do you believe that safety is a problem in the Cedar Riverside community?
Yes ( ) No ( )
(IF YES, ASK :) How do safety concerns seem apparent in the community?
9. What are ways that the neighborhood collaborates with the University?
- In your opinion, do you think the community would benefit from additional
collaboration with the University?
10. Do you have any additional comments about the topics we've discussed today?
THANK YOU for taking the time to participate in this interview. The CHANCE capstone
will use the information you provided to make relevant recommendations to local
business leaders. We appreciate your help in this process.
64
D1—Focus Group Discussion Guide
Focus Group Introduction
Thank you for all for joining us today. I hope you all found the room without
any trouble.
My name is Gabriele Anderson and I will be acting as the moderator today, and
Julie Price will be the assistant moderator. We are doing research for a capstone
project at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs here at the University of
Minnesota as part of the Cedar Humphrey Action for Neighborhood
Collaborative Engagement, or CHANCE.
Today we’re going to talk about off-campus habits, including dining,
entertainment, and shopping choices. We’re interested in knowing where you
go to do these things and what you like about those places, as well as what you
think about the business communities around campus.
We asked you to participate today because you are a graduate student at the
University and can provide that specific perspective for our research.
This should flow like a conversation. We want to hear and understand all points
of view represented today, so please share your opinions, even if they differ
from what others have said. I may occasionally need to interrupt you to ensure
we finish on time, so I apologize if that happens. I know your time is valuable,
and we want to respect the schedule we promised you.
We will be recording this session to make sure our report is accurate. We will
not attribute any quotes or name your names when we produce our written
report, but we do want to make sure we provide the most helpful information
possible and we don’t want to miss any of your comments.
Please turn off your cell phones and any PDAs so we aren’t interrupted or
distracted during this time together.
Let’s begin by going around the table, starting with ________, and introducing
ourselves with just a first name. Please also tell us your favorite restaurant near
campus and what you love about it.
Questions
I.
Opening
a. What is your favorite restaurant near campus and what do you love
about it?
b. What types of activities do you normally do off campus (i.e. dining,
shopping, studying, entertainment)?
65
i.
Where do you go for: shopping for necessities
ii. Where do you go for: shopping for fun
iii. Where do you go for going out for a “night out”
iv. Where do you primarily study?
c. What neighborhood do you most often go to for these activities?
d. What are the main factors that you would say influence these
choices?
e. How often do you visit West Bank restaurants, bars, theaters, and
shops?
Key Content
f. White-Board: When going out for entertainment or dining, what
factors influence your decision of where to go?
i.
Write “factors” on white-board. Allow participants to add
other factors if we missed any: Transportation (public),
Proximity to where you live, Food & Drink Specials,
Affordability, Safety, Live Music/DJ, Parking, Proximity to
class buildings, Proximity to where you work, Feeling
Welcome, New Experience, Culture
ii. Choose top five factors when considering an area (on or offcampus) for dining and entertainment
iii. What were your top five choices?
iv. What is your top choice, and why?
v. Follow-up, probing questions
g. Visits to West Bank
66
i.
What geographic area do you think of when you think of West
Bank?
1. Does it include 7 Corners?
2. U of M, Augsburg, Fairview buildings
3. CR?
ii. What business venues or institutions come to mind when you
think of the West Bank?
iii. Are “Cedar Riverside” and “West Bank” synonymous to you?
h. What words come to mind when you think of the West Bank?
i.
Most of you have had at least one class on the West Bank,
during those times, did you patronize any West Bank
businesses?
1. Why or why not?
2. Would you say that you are aware of most of the
business offerings in Cedar Riverside?
3. Do any experiences at these places stand out to you?
Would you share with us?
4. Do you feel that any types of businesses are missing
from the West Bank? If so, what kinds of businesses or
offerings would you add to the neighborhood?
ii. If anything, what do you like about West Bank restaurants,
bars, theaters, and shops?
1. What are the strengths of this area, this neighborhood?
iii. If anything, what do you not like about West Bank
restaurants, bars, theaters, and shops?
67
1. What are challenges that you can see in the
neighborhood, that might contribute to decreased
patronage by students?
iv. If you were a business owner, generally, what would you do
to bring in U of M students?
v. If you were a business owner, in Cedar Riverside specifically,
what would you do to bring in more students?
i. Specific Knowledge Related to New Branding Campaign
i.
The West Bank has recently launched a new branding and
marketing campaign. They use the slogan, "West Bank. Real.
Different."
ii. [Show copy of ad/ads being circulated]
iii. What are your impressions of these ads?
iv. Do you think these ads capture the essence of the West
Bank? Why or why not?
v. Do the ads make you more interested to learn more about
the West Bank? Why or why not?
vi. Do the ads make you want to visit the West Bank? Why or why
not?
III. Summary
a. Do you have anything else to add?
b. Brief Summary from Assistant Moderator (Julie)
i.
Do participants agree with this summary?
ii. What do you have to add to summarize our key findings from
this discussion?
68
iii. THANKS for participating and sharing your opinions! We truly
appreciate your time. We are looking forward to continuing
our research in partnership with the West Bank Business
Association, West Bank Community Coalition, and Cedar
Riverside Neighborhood Revitalization Program.
*Note: Many probing questions will stem from the unique direction taken by the
participants of the discussion – these are just ideas to keep key topics flowing.
69
D2—Demographic Composition of Focus Groups
Table 15. Graduate Student Focus Group Demographic Information
SEX
AGE
RACE
FIELD OF STUDY
RESIDENCE
M I N N E S O TA
U OF M
RESIDENT
STUDENT
FOR
FOR
Female
24
Asian
Social Work
Minneapolis:
Seven Corners
<1 year
<1 year
Female
24
White
Public Health
Saint Paul
25 years
6 years
Female
28
White
Strategic Communication
Minneapolis
11 years
5 years
Female
26
White
Social Work
Minneapolis
<1 year
<1 year
Female
24
White
Urban and Regional
Planning
Minneapolis:
Marcy Holmes
<1 year
<1 year
Male
26
White
Public Policy
Minneapolis
24 years
5 years
Female
24
White
Urban and Regional
Planning
Minneapolis
6 years
2 years
Female
28
White
Public Policy
Minneapolis
6 years
2 years
Female
28
White
Social Work
Minneapolis:
Northeast
5.5 years
<1 year
Table 16. Undergraduate Student Focus Group Demographic Information
SEX
AGE
RACE
FIELD OF STUDY
RESIDENCE
M I N N E S O TA
U OF M
RESIDENT
STUDENT
FOR
FOR
Female
23
White
Marketing and
Operations Management
Minneapolis:
Como
5 years
5 years
Female
21
Somali
Public Health,
Youth Studies
N/A
13 years
3 years
Female
19
Somali
B.I.S.
Minneapolis
14 years
<1 year
70
SEX
AGE
RACE
FIELD OF STUDY
RESIDENCE
M I N N E S O TA
U OF M
RESIDENT
STUDENT
FOR
FOR
Female
23
White
Geology and Geophysics
Minneapolis
21 years
3 years
Male
21
White
Finance/
Accounting
Minneapolis:
Como
3 years
3 years
Female
19
AfricanAmerican
Biology, Society
and Environment
Fridley
5 years
2 years
Female
18
White
Finance
Minneapolis
<1 year
<1 year
Male
20
White
Entrepreneurial
Management
Saint Anthony
3 years
3 years
D3—Graduate Student Focus Group Transcript
Focus group held April 5, 2010, 11:30 a.m., Humphrey Institute
IF YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW, I’M GABRIELE ANDERSON, AND THIS IS JULIE PRICE,
AND I’LL BE ACTING AS OUR MODERATOR FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION. AND JULIE
WILL BE OUR ASSISTANT MODERATOR. AND BOTH OF US ARE WORKING ON A HUMPHREY INSTITUTE CAPSTONE PROJECT THROUGH THE CHANCE PROGRAM, THE
CHANCE CLASS. SO, TODAY WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT OFF-CAMPUS HABITS, INCLUDING DINING, ENTERTAINMENT, AND SHOPPING CHOICES. WE’RE INTERESTED
IN KNOWING WHERE YOU GO TO DO THESE THINGS AND ALSO WHAT YOU LIKE
ABOUT THESE PLACES, AND WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITIES AROUND CAMPUS. SO, WE ASKED YOU GUYS—ALL OF YOU TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE YOU’RE ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS AND WE’RE LOOKING FOR
THAT PERSPECTIVE IN OUR RESEARCH. SO, THIS SHOULD PROBABLY—HOW MANY OF
YOU, FIRST OF ALL, HAVE TAKEN PART IN A FOCUS GROUP BEFORE? ANYONE? SO, A
FEW OF YOU. BUT FOR US, IT’S OUR—THIS IS OUR FIRST FOCUS GROUP, SO IF YOU’RE
NEW TO IT, SO ARE WE. SO THIS SHOULD FLOW LIKE A CONVERSATION. WE WANT TO
HEAR AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF YOUR POINTS OF VIEW, SO PLEASE SHARE YOUR
OPINIONS, EVEN IF THEY DIFFER FROM SOMEONE ELSE’S. WE APPRECIATE YOUR
HONESTY. SO, I MAY OCCASIONALLY NEED TO INTERRUPT YOU TO ENSURE THAT WE
GET TO ALL THE QUESTIONS AND END ON TIME, BECAUSE ENDING AT 1 P.M. IS OUR
OBJECTIVE AND WE WANT TO RESPECT YOUR TIME. SO, WE’RE GOING TO BE RECORDING THE SESSION OVER HERE ON THIS LAPTOP TO MAKE SURE OUR REPORT IS ACCURATE AND WE WILL NOT ATTRIBUTE ANY QUOTES OR NAME YOU IN ANY OF OUR
WRITTEN REPORTS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THE MOST HELPFUL
71
INFORMATION POSSIBLE, AND WE DON’T WANT TO MISS ANY OF YOUR COMMENTS,
SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE RECORDING. SO RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, IF
YOU COULD TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES, OR ANY PDAS, SO WE AREN’T INTERRUPTED OR DISTRACTED, AND AFTER YOU DO THAT WE’LL JUST, WE’LL START BY
HAVING EACH OF YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF WITH YOUR FIRST NAME AND IF YOU
COULD JUST TELL US WHAT YOU’RE STUDYING OR WHAT YOUR PROGRAM IS, AND
ALSO TELL US YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT NEAR CAMPUS, AND WHY THIS IS YOUR
FAVORITE RESTAURANT. WE’LL START WITH _____.
All right, my name is _____. I am a School of Public Health student, first year, and, oh my, my
favorite restaurant is . . . I really like Subway. Yeah.
WHY DO YOU LIKE SUBWAY?
Because it’s fast, and I love sandwiches, and I like being able to decide what I want on a sandwich.
OK. THANK YOU.
OK, and I don’t know if I have a cell phone on me, but hopefully not.
[laughter]
We’ll find out. Yeah. But, my name is ______, and I’m an urban and regional planning student,
and I think the two restaurants are like, it’s like a dead tie between Acadia and the Red Sea,
around here. And I think it’s probably in part because of when I was in undergrad, I would
work with the business alliance, I was really interested in like global places, but also it’s just
really good food, and Acadia’s better for like if you wanna go a little bit faster, and the Red Sea’s
a little more sit down. So.
THANK YOU.
All right, I’m _____, and I’m an MPP student, and I . . . It’s a hard question, because I really like
all the restaurants in Cedar-Riverside that I’ve been to so far, but I go to Acadia the most. And I
also really, really, maybe even more so like the Wienery, but I don’t go there as often because it
takes a while, but it’s very unique and very interesting.
My name is ____; I’m a master’s of public policy student as well, second year. And I have, like, a
trifecta of Acadia, Wienery, and Chipotle. Those are the three. And really, price is a big thing.
Also, Acadia’s good because it’s a good place to go for a sit-down meal, have a beer. The others
based on price and deliciousness.
I like this pizza. I’ve never had it before! Is it near here? Anyways, I’m _____, and I am a master
of social work student with an emphasis in community organizing and advocacy. Does it have
to be this campus? Or?
WELL, I—WE’RE TRYING TO HAVE SOMETHING AROUND THE U OF M.
OK, well I mean—
BUT IF YOU HAVE—
Like Mims by the Saint Paul—
72
OK, YEAH, THAT’S FINE.
OK. So, Mims. Because they have good gyros that are inexpensive.
My name is _____. I’m also a social work student doing community organizing and advocacy.
And I was gonna say Mims, she stole it. But also in Cedar-Riverside I like Hard Times.
I’m _____, and I’m first year urban and regional planning, and I’ll go with Acadia, because
[can’t hear] on the corner, and [can’t hear] people watching, passing by. And also [can’t hear rest
of comment].
I’m _____. I’m strategic communication major. And I’m gonna represent the East Bank here with
Bon Amis(?), my favorite.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO NOW THAT WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER, AND KNOW
ONE ANOTHER’S NAMES, WE’RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO A LITTLE BIT
MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU NORMALLY DO OFF CAMPUS IN TERMS OF
SHOPPING FOR NECESSITIES, SHOPPING FOR FUN, GOING OUT FOR A NIGHT OUT,
AND WHERE YOU PRIMARILY STUDY. SO WE CAN START WITH WHERE DO YOU SHOP
FOR GROCERIES, AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO AROUND IN A CIRCLE, YOU CAN JUST
OFFER IF YOU WANT, OFFER WHERE YOU GO TO SHOP FOR GROCERIES.
Does it have to be . . .
NO, IT CAN BE ANYWHERE. WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY GO?
Well, I live right by the Wedge, and I do not have a car, so that’s where I go.
Yeah, I also don’t have a car, so I go to the Quarry, so, ‘cause that’s near me.
OK.
I live in Roseville; I usually go to Cub.
OK.
Like, six top grocery stores
[laughter]
I live near Everett’s Meats, and also a little Mexican place right by there. I go to [can’t hear] and
then I go to Target a lot of times. I go to Trader Joe’s, I go to the Midtown Exchange.
OK. ALL RIGHT. AND HOW ‘BOUT SHOPPING FOR FUN, SOMETHING THAT MIGHT NOT
BE A NECESSITY, NOT GROCERIES.
I go to the mall when I have time, just because the light rail goes over there, and everything is,
you know, accessible in the Mall of America, [can’t hear rest of comment]
OK.
I love Target.
OK.
[laughter]
That’s my fun shopping. On a budget shopping.
73
It’s as fun as it gets.
I buy a lot of gifts at Patina.
OK.
I sometimes go to either Har Mar or Rosedale if I want—especially if it’s in the winter and I
want to be inside somewhere and just walk around.
Oh, and I go to Rosedale too.
OK.
I never shop for fun.
I like Target.
ALL RIGHT. SO, WE’LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON. WHEN YOU’RE GOING OUT FOR A
NIGHT OUT, AND THIS CAN MEAN A VARIETY OF THINGS, AND YOU CAN TELL US IF
YOU WANT, YOU CAN TELL US WHAT YOU DO FOR A NIGHT OUT, IF THAT MEANS A
MOVIE OR ANYTHING ELSE—GOING TO A BAR OR A RESTAURANT, SO, YOU CAN TELL
US THE NAME OF THE PLACE THAT YOU GO, OR JUST THE AREA THAT YOU GENERALLY GO. AND MAYBE WHY YOU GO THERE.
I live in Northeast, so I usually kind of stay close to home.
OK.
And I’ve found lately, I’ve been spending nights kind of out but in, at other people’s houses, at
friend’s houses.
I don’t go out that much. But when I do, I try to choose places that are on the bus line, ‘cause I
don’t have a car. But usually the places are chosen by other people because I’m not that familiar
with places yet [can’t hear phrase]. And so usually I go out with some of my social work
friends.
I come here quite a bit—Acadia and and in Seven Corners, Town Hall. Also, I live in Northeast
so I go to places around there—Mayslack’s, [can’t hear], places within walking distance, so.
And I do—I also come here sometimes, and I like bars that have music at night. If I’m gonna go
out I usually pick one that has a show as well as [can’t hear word].
I go—I kind of go between Uptown, which is where I live, to, like, Loring Park area, ‘cause I’m
right on the border, and I come up here a lot too. I actually go the opposite. If someone has music I don’t go there unless there’s a band I’m looking for. Because I’d rather talk to people and
that’s actually a big pet peeve of mine, [can’t hear—something about paying a cover to not hear
conversation].
[laughter]
‘Cause I really don’t like when I’m trying to find a bar and they all have covers because they all
play music that I don’t care about.
That’s funny—that’s happened to me twice at Acadia, which is why I don’t go there at night because—
74
They don’t have a cover there, but they actually, yeah, you can’t talk to people. I usually don’t
like bands that [can’t hear]
SO IT’S ACTUALLY, FOR MOST OF THE REST OF YOU, ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY FOR
COVERS IF YOU GO OUT? OR NOT USUALLY?
I’ll listen to a band, but I won’t pay a cover.
Right, right.
[general agreement]
If it’s somebody I want to see, then I’ll definitely pay.
Yeah. I’ll go to specific concerts, or a lot of times my husband will really want to go to the concert and I sort of do. But otherwise I like to go to places where you can talk more. The only place
with music that I like to go just to hang out with people is Dulono’s, because it’s not too loud
and it’s pretty fun and free.
OK. ALL RIGHT. AND SO OUR LAST QUESTION FOR THIS SECTION IS WHERE DO YOU
PRIMARILY STUDY? AND YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU STUDY AT HOME, OR IF YOU USUALLY STUDY IN A CAMPUS BUILDING, YOU CAN SAY THAT TOO, BUT ALSO IF YOU OFTEN GO TO A COFFEE SHOP TO STUDY OR SOMEWHERE FAR OFF CAMPUS OR
AROUND. JUST WHERE DO YOU USUALLY STUDY?
I’ve gone to Mapps. I also study in Wilson Library. And at my home.
I get kind of stuck in the library, especially when I’m working with a certain software that you
have to have, ‘cause you know if you don’t have it on your computer or in 85. And when I’m
actually like reading or something I go to Mapps.
I usually will be at Humphrey, but I’ve also been known to—I go to Acadia a little bit, so I can
have a beer. But I’ve really started getting into going to Bedlam ‘cause nobody ever goes there
during the day. And they have really good views right by the window, like of downtown.
Do they have [can’t hear] or anything? Or get some drinks or . . . ?
Yeah. Yeah, they have food and drinks. Like the best wild rice I’ve ever had.
Cool.
Yeah, so that’s where I’ve been going lately. Don’t tell too many people. Let’s keep it within the
room.
[laughter]
I stay at Humphrey too, and room 40 study room, ‘cause those other places like I get distracted.
I study at home or in my office, which is in ____ Hall.
OK. _____, where do you study?
Well, I live in Saint Paul, so I like to go either somewhere, there’s a coffeehouse that I can walk
to that plays—you know, the Dunn Bros., or to Caribou Coffee oftentimes, ‘cause my grandma
will give me gift certificates, so I like being able to use those to purchase my drinks. Otherwise,
it’s difficult to justify buying coffee all the time.
75
ALL RIGHT. AND SO, WHAT ARE THE MAIN FACTORS YOU WOULD SAY THAT PROBABLY INFLUENCE THE CHOICES THE MOST FOR THE THINGS THAT WE JUST TALKED
ABOUT? ABOUT WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO GO?
Price. That’s huge.
Availability to an outlet. Some places, it’s hard to find.
[general agreement]
Also, like I can’t study somewhere if it’s too quiet, but not too loud. So it’s like the perfect
amount of sound.
If I have a special kind of studying to do I’ll usually go to a special place, like a little treat, [can’t
hear comment].
[laughter]
Well, yeah, it depends too, like, you know, like you were saying, if I have to, if I really have to
focus and get something done, I either go somewhere where there’s not a bunch of people, so
that’s when I’ll go to like Bedlam, because [can’t hear], whereas if I, if it’s just a little more casual, I’ll go to Acadia or get [can’t hear] beer or something like that.
I WANNA TAKE A QUICK BREAK TO WELCOME OUR NEW PARTICIPANT. WHAT’S YOUR
NAME? AND YOU CAN JUST WRITE YOUR NAME ON THAT CARD AND THEN YOU
CAN—WE’LL GIVE YOU A—AND YOU CAN JUST DROP IN WHENEVER BUT WE’LL JUST
CONTINUE ASKING QUESTIONS. OK. SO I KNOW THAT MOST—SOME OF YOU SPEND A
LOT OF TIME ON THE WEST BANK IN SCHOOL, AND SOME OF YOU ARE NOT WEST
BANK STUDENTS, BUT HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU VISIT WEST BANK
RESTAURANTS, THEATERS, AND SHOPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? IN COMPARISON TO
OTHER PLACES THAT YOU GO?
A lot.
For me it’s a lot more ‘cause I’m mostly here and so then it’s the convenience, you know between classes if I want to grab a cup of coffee or something. And it—but it varies between, some
recycle more than others, so it varies between like none and maybe more like four times. And
that’s mostly going to Mapps, just to have a chance of scenery.
OK.
I actually intern at Brian Coyle Center, so I’m actually on the West Bank a lot even though I’m
not here for class. So, anytime that I forget to bring my lunch, or, like when I go to Mapps.
I also live in Northeast, but intern at Brian Coyle, and I found that I come here more for entertainment as well, just I think it’s great places to study, eat, drink, so I’ve been coming here more
than staying in Northeast.
I’m here half the time, and since I live a couple miles away, I’ll often end up elsewhere in the
evenings.
And I’m never over here for class or anything, and I think I’ve been here once socially. One evening I was at Cedar-Riverside. There was a Haiti benefit, so. And that was the only reason I
came over here. Other than that, I don’t ever intentionally come over here.
76
I’m probably here a couple times a year. It depends if there’s like a show at the Cedar, [can’t
hear word], or the Nomad. Those are the kind of places I come over for.
I just come over for [can’t hear word]. Other than that I don’t—I mean I’m—usually I’m at
Humphrey, and I go to [can’t hear phrase].
[can’t hear first part of comment], but I really like the area so, [can’t hear—something about the
Chinese restaurant on West Bank]. Some of my friends told me it’s dangerous here at night.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHINESE RESTAURANTS OVER HERE? DO YOU KNOW THE
NAMES OF ANY OF THEM?
Lucky Dragon.
OK. ALL RIGHT, SO I THINK WE’LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT EXERCISE UNLESS ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING THEY WANT TO ADD ABOUT THEIR VISITS TO WEST BANK?
ALL RIGHT. SO WE’LL MOVE ON. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOARD, THIS IS THE NEXT
THING WE’RE GOING TO DO. THERE ARE, LET’S SEE—TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT—TWELVE FACTORS THAT WE KIND OF HAVE COME UP WITH. THESE ARE NOT EXHAUS—THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, BUT. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IS
USING THE PAPER THAT YOU HAVE AT EACH TABLE—A SHEET FOR EACH OF YOU,
AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO WRITE WITH, LET ME KNOW. OK, DO YOU
HAVE A PEN? OK. AND YOU CAN ADD TO THIS LIST AS YOU’RE WRITING. BUT WHAT I
WANNA FIRST ASK EACH OF YOU TO DO IS RANK FIVE FACTORS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU WHEN YOU’RE CONSIDERING GOING SOMEWHERE FOR DINING OR
ENTERTAINMENT. IT CAN BE THESE, BUT IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT ONE THAT’S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU THAT WE DON’T HAVE UP THERE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD
AND ADD THAT AND WHEN WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSION YOU CAN LET US KNOW
WHY YOU CHOSE THAT.
Did you say you want three?
FIVE. WE’RE GONNA GO WITH FIVE, YES.
DO YOU WANT THEM IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE TOO, OR JUST THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT?
IF YOU WANT TO RANK THEM, YOU MAY. BUT IF IT’S HARD TO RANK, WE’LL JUST GO
WITH TOP FIVE.
YEAH.
JUST FIVE IS FINE.
DO WE NEED A MINUTE—ANOTHER MINUTE, MAYBE? ALL READY? ALL RIGHT. WE
WILL START AND IF YOU’RE NOT DONE WE’LL JUST HAVE OTHER PEOPLE OFFER
THEIR TOP FIVE FIRST. SO, WE’LL JUST START BY ASKING KIND OF HOW YOU WENT
ABOUT CHOOSING YOUR TOP FIVE, AND WHY MAYBE YOU ELIMINATED SOME, WHY
YOU KIND OF PRI—HOW YOU PRIORITIZED AND MADE THIS LIST, AND JUST OFFER
KIND OF THE REASONS WHY. YOU CAN OFFER AS MUCH DETAIL OR YOU CAN JUST
TELL US YOUR TOP FIVE.
Well, the most time—most of the time when I go out is during the daytime—
77
OK.
When I’m around here. So, and that might be because there’s not a lot of places to go out near
where I live or where I work. So this is kind of really the proximity is huge. And that’s what I
put my first one: proximity to class buildings. And then affordability, because I’m someone who
has a really bad memory, so food and drink specials don’t really work for me.
OK.
So—‘cause I never remember where they are. So I’ll just—I just like the places that are generally
affordable. And then feeling welcome, culture, and new experience.
OK, AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE, CAN YOU JUST TALK KIND OF
WHAT AFFORDABLE MEANS TO YOU?
Yeah, I mean [laughs] I—well, it would be under ten dollars, usually. Like so, especially if go to
Mapps or Acadia or somewhere around there, so.
OK.
I listed affordability as the number one thing, and that means to me kind of similar to—really, I
don’t want to pay more than four to five dollars for a beer, and I don’t want to pay definitely
more than ten dollars for some kind of food. Or really, closer to seven—six or seven. And transportation—public—‘cause it has to be you know, that’s my only way of getting around. Proximity—I kind of just lumped both together because it depends on where I am.
OK.
You know, if I’m at home, I go to places near home, if I’m here—but these are used—really, the
only two places I am. So. And then I list—I don’t know if this is legal, but I lumped together culture and feeling welcome as well.
OK.
Because I kind of see them as pretty similar.
OK.
And when I’m—like I don’t really go to Hard Times because I feel like they are people that, like,
anytime I’m there I feel like I owe them something, you know. Going in like, ‘Oh, you know, I’m
just trying to get some food,’ but I feel I’m not welcome there. And that—and so, that’s something that’s a pet peeve of mine. And then new experience I put down at the bottom because I
like to try new things.
OK. _____
Public transportation is the first thing, because I don’t have a car, and I always have to have like
bus schedules with me, and check out the nearest bus stop to the place I wanna go, and just like
____ said, it’s really tied to the proximity to where I live. So, if it’s close, I can walk. If it’s not, it
should be near a bus stop or something. And it’s kind of tied to safety too. So there’s some
places that I don’t want to be out at certain times, so I have to leave at a certain time, to catch the
bus also. [can’t hear phrase] affordability is number four, but it’s not as important as the others
for me, because as long as—for example, at a restaurant, as long as the food is good, I’m good.
78
And then feeling welcome is good too. You don’t feel like a stranger, like ____ said, sitting in a
corner, looking at other people.
I also had transportation as my number one, because if I can’t get there, then I can’t go there.
So—which I didn’t include proximity to where I live ‘cause where I live there’s—I live in like a
bedroom community kind of area, where people don’t talk to people. But anyways, so—
That’s your community organizing, you can—
Yeah. [laughter] It’s just weird for me, because of like the culture of neighborhoods that I’ve
come from. Anyways. So, speaking of culture, that’s number two. Three, I put affordability and
food and drink specials, but that’s probably not true.
[laughter]
Because I, well no,‘cause I wrote it down ‘cause I have good intentions, but they don’t necessarily follow through. So, I say that I’m choosing things based on affordability, but when it comes
down to it, I don’t actually. And then I had new experience and feeling welcome.
I like to go places where I know what I can expect. And so I would say less than a new experience, for me it’s more about like where my friends are going to go, and where I feel like I’ll run
into people that I know, places I’m familiar with. And so that kind of keeps me in the places that
I tend to go, obviously. But then again, if a friend of mine, like, has come up with a new place to
go, I’m usually willing to do that, so if there’s some particular reason that’s drawing a friend to
a new place, I might find myself in a new place.
AND SO, WHAT WAS YOUR TOP CHOICE?
Well, I listed affordability, but, again—
[laughter]
Kind of along the lines—it probably is more where my friends are gonna be, so.
OK. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
Maybe I’m the only one, but I really am driven by food and drink specials, like I try really hard
to remember them, and I’m always looking them up online.
OK.
I just sent an article about food and drink specials to several of my friends the other night, [can’t
hear word] find the perfect happy hour just to be sure.
ARE THEY USUALLY JUST GENERAL FOOD AND DRINK SPECIALS, OR DO STUDENT
SPECIALS PLAY INTO YOUR LOOKING FOR SPECIALS AT ALL?
There’s not a lot, although, well, I will go to like the Saint Anthony Main movie theater ‘cause
they offer a student special price.
OK.
But mostly there aren’t any.
OK. YEAH. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH STUDENT DISCOUNTS?
At like a restaurant?
79
YEAH, ANYWHERE? OK.
You know sometimes for like events that Humphrey’s doing, they’ll ask somebody—someone
off campus close by if they’ll do a group special, and when they do that, that’s more likely—I’m
more likely to go to that.
OK.
But it’s not like advertised in regular avenues, it’s like on the listserv and so, it’s—
OK. GO AHEAD.
You done?
Yeah.
I love student specials, I just don’t know many of them here, but, like, in the town I came from,
like, I knew all of them, and so even after I graduated I kept my ID. . . .
[laughter]
In the last semester, [can’t hear] to buy clothes, [can’t hear] they asked me to buy clothes with
the ID [can’t hear]
OK. SO, KIND OF THE CONSENSUS IS THAT YOU DON’T SEEM TO HEAR ABOUT TOO
MANY STUDENT DISCOUNTS, BUT IF THERE WERE YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT THEM. OK. ALL RIGHT, SO WE CAN GO BACK. IF THERE’S ANYONE WHO
HASN’T SHARE THEIR TOP FIVE YET.
I put for my top one quality of the food or entertainment. But that’s—I kind of link that with
affordability, ‘cause I don’t go out all that often, but I’m willing to pay more for a restaurant that
I know is gonna be really good, rather than going out often to a mediocre place. I don’t know.
Maybe I’m a food snob I guess. And then two would be a live music or a DJ.
OK. AND, SO WHAT WERE THE OTHER ONES . . . ?
And then after that would be, four would be culture and then five would be safety.
One thing I have that other people haven’t mentioned yet is parking. I do have a car and I use it.
But I’m also, the other one is affordable—affordability. Because I am very frugal, and so I will
only go places if they have validated parking, or free parking. And so the other ones were just a
new experience, trying out new places, and culture and then specials.
[can’t hear most of comment, but notes say she prefers proximity, safety, affordability, welcome,
and specials]
. . . I can’t really afford a meal more than about ten dollars, and then so feeling welcome. . . .
SO IS THAT EVERYONE? OTHERWISE I HAVE KIND OF A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. A FEW
OF YOU MENTIONED SAFETY AS PART OF YOUR TOP FIVE, OR THAT YOU MIGHT FEEL
SAFER IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS AT NIGHT, OR NOT. CAN YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT
HOW YOU VIEW SAFETY WHEN YOU’RE GOING OUT AT NIGHT IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND MAYBE, IF IT IS A CONCERN TO YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS, HOW YOU
GO ABOUT MITIGATING THAT.
80
OK, so, for example I live in Marcy Holmes, and there’s a lot of stuff that I do hear, often I hear
that someone got robbed, or stuff like that, so I consider that a safety matter, I don’t want that to
happen to me. And also, so this is some stuff that I hear from other people, or well, like I don’t
see, like I haven’t seen someone like be in trouble, like myself, but there’s sometimes you feel
unsafe yourself, like actually I have a feeling in Cedar-Riverside and I don’t want to be out after
eleven.
Oh well, like, I don’t see… I haven’t seen someone that you know has been in trouble, like, myself. There are some of…Sometimes you feel unsafe yourself, like, actually I have the feeling in
Cedar Riverside. And I don’t want to be out. (can’t hear) Just because I just don’t have a good
feeling.
OK.
And for me, I also have a car. And sometimes I park further down where you don’t have 1-hour
parking. I think the two things that really play into safety for me – or maybe even three, is lighting. I really like it if it is light and bright – that’s good. I like other people on the street. You
know, not just one person, cuz that’s kind of freaky. But I mean like, have it be like heavily trafficked. And then you feel much safer when there is other people around. And then also having
like sidewalks. You’re not afraid of the ‘it’s dark, you’re gonna get hit by a car.’ So those are, I
mean, those are, just really basic things that I attribute to safety.
OK.
I have a, I guess I don’t want to throw you off-track, I have a different perspective. I rarely think
about safety when going out, but part of that is because I rarely go out alone. And so I don’t
know if that’s part of it. And also that I’ve lived in larger cities than this, so I just don’t feel like
Minneapolis is intimidating to me. [Laughs]
OK.
But I do worry about… actually I think that when I go out with other people who drive. They
have like 8 drinks and then drive and I worry about that kind of safety a lot in Minneapolis. I
think it’s a pretty big culture of that.
YEAH, OK.
I’m with Sarah, I mean I’m not, I don’t know. I just like, don’t even think about it. Maybe part of
is just because I like, in the places that I’ve lived I’ve lived in the “dangerous” neighborhoods
but I’ve never felt like I was in danger, you know. And so I guess I tend to not even think about
it. I mean … around Manhattan by myself. I don’t know, whatever. So … [interrupted]
(Hard time hearing speaker)
Some of my female friends live in Riverside … not very safe. Also feel… Asian people in this
community say it’s not very good.
[Pause in conversation]
Maybe it’s more of a concern, or, maybe it’s a paranoia. But, I like going out with a group of
people.
[Pause]
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ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO SAFETY?
ALL RIGHT, OK. SO WE’RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE WESK
BANK, SPECIFICALLY. THERE… I JUST WANT TO, WE JUST WANT TO FIND OUT NOW
WHAT GEOGRAPHIC ARE DO EACH OF YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK OF
WEST BANK? YOU CAN MENTION WHAT KIND OF BUILDINGS, BUSINESSES, OR ANY
KIND OF BOUNDARIES YOU THINK OF… OR WHAT YOU KIND OF SEE AS THE WEST
BANK, WHAT YOU VIEW AS THE WEST BANK.
[Pause. Thinking.]
I think of it as like the river to the light rail to Franklin. That kind of area.
OK.
[Someone talking]
I have a much smaller image. Just that corner. I don’t even know where it is from here. That
corner after you go over the Washington Ave. Bridge. Not Seven Corners, on this side.
OK. ON CAMPUS?
No. Not campus. Well, like, kind of like behind where the library is.
OK. NO, THAT’S FINE.
[Laughter] I have no idea where it is.
I think of it as smaller too, like, the campus area mostly. Or kind of in the seven corners area. It’s
a little overlapping but distinct from Cedar Riverside.
OK.
Yeah and I’m also thinking, it’s a little bit smaller and I think it’s because I think of it as places
where I walk to from campus. And so like, Bruegger’s is too far… even though it’s before
Franklin. And it’s on Riverside so it’s a little bit more heavily trafficked and I kinda like to – I
don’t know – stay in that compact little area away from walking on the roads too much, so…
OK
I actually think about the towers but I think that’s because I work with people from the towers
so when I think Cedar Riverside I’m thinking of the Riverside Plaza.
SO, BUT -- WELL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. WHEN GABRIELE ASKED WHAT YOU
THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WEST BANK AND YOU AUTOMATICALLY
TRANSLATED THAT INTO CEDAR RIVERSIDE?
Yes. I think they are two in one.
OK. THAT’S GOOD TO KNOW.
See I think of them as like very different things. Like when I hear West Bank I think of campus,
whereas when I think about Cedar Riverside I think about that whole other area. Like, like I
know what the official boundaries are, but like, the Seven Corners area, I don’t usually think
about that because the culture is so different there.
SURE.
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[Continuing] Than, where it is – where I think about it in Cedar Riverside. Which is kind of that,
that same kind of area, so.
I use those two terms interchangeably.
CEDAR RIVERSIDE AND WEST BANK?
Yeah.
I typically view Cedar Riverside as more of including residential area and I think of West Bank
as more the businesses along Cedar… I agree that I don’t really think of Seven Corners as part
of West Bank. I think of mostly the businesses along Cedar before you get to (94?). And I don’t
think about Augsburg or the hospital when I think of Cedar Riverside or West Bank.
SO, SOME OF YOU. I JUST WANT A SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY OF YOU USE THE
TERMS WEST BANK AND CEDAR RIVERSIDE INTERCHANGEABLY, THEY MEAN THE
SAME THING TO YOU?
SIX AND A HALF? [Laughter]
It kind of depends, too. I mean like, I know the borders are kind of like, broad, but it’s still like
West Bank is still tied to the University. So I don’t think of University as Cedar Riverside but I
might think of Cedar Riverside as part of West Bank. It’s not like two ways, it’s just one.
SURE. OK.
WE NEED SOME VENN DIAGRAMS OR SOMETHING. [Laughter]
THANK YOU. OK. SO NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, WHAT BUSINESS OR ENTAINMENT
VENUES COME TO MIND, INITIALLY, WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WEST BANK? AND IT
CAN BE AN INSTITUTIONAL VENUE, SOMETHING ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY, OR NOT. JUST KIND OF THE FIRST PLACES THAT COME TO MIND?
Since I’m at Humphrey, like, the first thing that comes to my mind is the Humphrey Institute.
OK.
Acadia.
Midwest Mountaineering.
Brian Coyle Center.
Theatre in the Round, for me. I always see…(can’t hear)
I just think of like, the whole West Bank – University Campus, all the buildings.
I also think of the, like Palmer’s, and…where’s the place that we were just talking about – Hard
Times. I think of those as like typical West Bank places.
I also think about Somali Mall. There’s two of them in Cedar Riverside.
Mixed Blood. Midwest Mountaineering.
… (can’t really hear) Restaurants?
Midwest Mountaineering, or Wilson Library.
83
OK. SO MOST OF YOU HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE CLASS ON THE WEST BANK, AND
THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE DIFFERENT ACADEMIC ASSOCIATIONS OR WORK ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE WEST BANK. SO DURING THESE TIMES, IT SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF
YOU HAVE PATRONIZED WEST BANK BUSINESSES, BUT WHAT MADE YOU GO TO WEST
BANK OR CEDAR RIVERSIDE BUSINESSES DURING THOSE TIMES? SCHOOL, OR WORK,
OR FOR ENTERTAINMENT? CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE REASONS YOU
WENT THERE?
One the things for me, I think, actually the… getting involved in the Humphrey and hearing
about what CHANCE was doing. That actually kind of helped me jump in to going out to different places, or made it more of…doing it consciously – to go and see things. That, and just the
fact that it’s so close to where I go for classes.
My freshman year when the co-op was on the corner, I loved going there. And I was in the
dorms on the Superblock so I would have to bike over there, but I just really liked that place.
…(can’t hear) …I also go to the restaurants…and by my apartment, and I think, sometimes I just
feel when you come into the community…lots of stores
During the day I often make a conscious decision to try to get out of school and like get out into
the neighborhood. Both because like, why am I supporting University Dining Service with my
dollars all the time? It’s only like a tiny bit harder to leave. And just to get a – a fresh air and different perspective. And I think it’s a great neighborhood and I do wanna enjoy it while I’m here.
I’m not on West Bank for school and work. So I come here at night for the bars, for cheap beer
on tap. Acadia and The Nomad. Or concerts.
OK.
I go out in the…I go to the restaurants near, around this area. Especially on weekends. Since
there’s nowhere near open…at school. SO, and I’m here, most of the weekends – so I have to go
to… And also if there is something going on, which I hear from someone…And I, I don’t know.
Something going on, like at a theater, or somewhere else…
OK. SO WE CAN MOVE ON. DO ANY OF THE EXPERIENCES YOU’VE HAD WITH WEST
BANK BUSINESSES STAND OUT TO YOU? ANY OF YOU CAN SHARE A REALLY GOOD
EXPERIENCE THAT YOU’VE HAD AT ANY PLACE, WHETHER IT’S A RESTAURANT OR A
THEATER…OR HAVING REALLY GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, ANY EXPERIENCE THAT
STANDS OUT TO YOU?
I think my favorite is, I was hanging up flyers for an event…and so I was going from store to
store. A number of people, like, looked at me like ‘What is this white girl doing in here?’ You
know…but then once I explained what I was doing there, my event, they were all like ‘Oh!’
Cause’ it was a women’s event. ‘Can’t we come?’ No – no it’s just women. [Laughter] They’re
like ‘Oh OK, well I’ll, I’ll tell people about it.’ And so, so yeah, that was my favorite I think.
I think, I think my best experience has been with the restaurant, K-Wok. Since it’s a family business, so like grandma is always around. They just sit around and talk to people. (Can’t hear)
I mentioned before –(the ???) – I’ve had good studying experiences there. It’s a good…
OK.
84
Yeah, and this is a…more in the evenings, for fun. The Cedar Cultural Center, the Bedlam. And
I’m always like, ‘Oh it’s so great that these are right next to my school.’ And especially the first
time I went to the Cedar Cultural Center, it’s so unique and it’s a comfortable place to see a concert. And they have good food. And it’s just so cool. ‘Why haven’t I been here before?’
OK.
I also like that Acadia is kind of like this hub for, kind of, at least for Humphrey. Like, I feel like
a lot of times when I go there it’s like really easy to run into people you know…
And when I think about my best experiences, I just think like, building relationships. So I can
see them when I go with friends or when I eat somewhere new, I like met this really interesting
Somali woman at the bus stop one time, it wasn’t even in a – it wasn’t even in a restaurant. But
it was just kind of, you know, one of those connections you make.
….Midwest Mountaineering…those sales are great (Can’t really hear)
[Voices] Oh yeah!
Isn’t it the 23rd? Or something?
Yeah, that’s something I’d, you know, agree…
ALL RIGHT. SO FROM WHAT YOU KNOW, AND FROM THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE OVER
HERE ON THIS SIDE OF CAMPUS, WHAT KINDS OF BUSINESSES DO YOU FEEL ARE
MISSING FROM THE MIX ON THE WEST BANK?AND IF YOU COULD ADD A CERTAIN
KIND OF BUSINESS OVER THERE…YEAH, GO AHEAD. SOMETHING THAT YOU WISH
WERE OVER HERE.
Grocery store.
GROCERY STORE?
I miss the co-op.
Me too.
I do too.
Maybe a coffee shop that’s open early in the morning. And maybe a coffee shop or something
that would have counter service, that’s not a chain, where you could get food fast. The Chinese
bakery is good for that, but there aren’t a lot of other options…for food that is just fast.
It’d be cool if there was a place for dancing, too. I don’t know of any, for that…
[Voices, chatting…about this suggestion]
[can’t really hear this person] Grocery store…public library
IT’S TOO BAD BECAUSE THEY USED TO HAVE A LOT OF THESE.
[longer pause]
ANYONE ELSE?
…Maybe something open-space, like a park, because like this area is too small, if there’s a park
over there by Franklin…it’s just like a, you know, not a good place to just sit…and enjoy.
85
IT’S JUST A PLAYGROUND?
Yeah it’s just a playground. But it would be better if there was just more open spaces.
…(Park) is close to Franklin, but yeah, it is kind of a walk.
OK.
Coyle is on a mission to improve the park, but the Park Board isn’t on board.
They should put pressure on them… Scott Vreeland is the—
Yeah, yeah, yeah! Everybody call Scott Vreeland, and tell him, that—
[Laughter in group]
‘Cause they don’t think that people in Cedar Riverside have any power, and so—
[Voices]
Another related thing is that – there’s not a very good way to walk to the light rail.
OK.
Which is also…which I know is … related to the city…(can’t hear end of sentence)
It’d be cool just to have some like, you know, some kind of print on the sidewalk to the light
rail. [Laughter in group, yeahs!] ‘Cause I don’t really know how to get there! [Laughs]
People don’t know how to get there—
You know, it would just be fun to have little (trails, or trees ?? @19:47)…[laughter in group]…we
could just follow them…by the road…and I’d be right there!
HOW MANY OF YOU AGREE WITH THE LIGHT RAIL – FINDING THE LIGHT RAIL?
I had problems the first time, but then I figured it out. It was really confusing.
Yeah, I just… -It’s just not very friendly, like even if you know where it is…
And actually, I mean I never had a bad experience…but I don’t feel, welcome, in that part – by
the Cedar towers. Never had a problem…I just don’t feel welcome. I just want to – walk, as fast
as I can.
DOES ANYONE ELSE FEEL THAT WAY, WALKING BY THE TOWERS? IF YOU’VE HAD EXPERIENCES?
Just a couple of days ago, me and my girlfriend were walking by there and, you know, people
were just making all these lewd comments…I’ll say ‘lewd comments’ to be polite [laughter in
group]…at, at her when we were walking by just the other day. So, you know, I’ve never had
any problems but she…(can’t hear)
Yeah it doesn’t feel comfortable over there.
CAN WE JUST – I’M SORRY. CAN WE JUST HAVE A SHOW OF HANDS – HOW MANY
PEOPLE WISH THERE WAS A MORE OBVIOUS WAY FROM CAMPUS TO THE LIGHTRAIL?
WHO’VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THAT – EVEN IF YOU’VE FIGURED IT OUT NOW?
86
OK – THANK YOU. (how many? 6?)
OK, DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING LEFT TO ADD ABOUT THE LIGHTRAIL? NO,
OK.
NOW WE’RE JUST GONNA – I’M JUST GONNA ASK THIS QUESTION – WHAT DO YOU
THINK ARE THE STRENGHTHS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN THE WEAKNESSES, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AS THINGS THAT YOU LIKE, OR THINGS THAT
ARE BARRIERS – TO YOU, AS A STUDENT, OR SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE’LL START WITH, WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND WHAT DO YOU
LIKE?
I think the diversity is awesome, because there are so many different kinds of businesses and
different kinds of food experiences…that you don’t always get other places. But, at the same
time, I realize this might go into a weakness at the same time. Like it’s sometimes, a – a stumbling block, for people ‘cause of the feeling welcome and getting involved is a little bit harder
sometimes. So I think it’s really great, but I also think it’s kind of a hard thing for some of the
businesses probably to get over, too.
OK.
I think one of the strengths is the culture. Like I’m very much – I love places where people go
out and about (getting louder, with passion), you can talk to strangers and the kids go play in
the playground or in the street – or whatever! Rather than in the place that I live in now. So the
fact that you can walk around and people are out talking to each other, you can stop somebody
and talk to them – and not all of them speak English, but, you know, you can have these relationships with people, like, within your neighborhood. Like, a very public space. So, that’s what
I think my strength is.
I think one of the strengths, for me at least, like it does seem to be a little bit of an older crowd –
not like way old, but you know I get the sense that it’s more mid-to-late 20s—
RATHER THAN … ?
Yeah, ‘cause I would be, like, not like it as much if I felt like it was overrun with undergraduates.
Yeah like Sally’s!
[Talking…laughter]
Yeah there’s kinda this – and I don’t know how to – like, like I said I was thinking about this –
and I don’t really know how to explain it very well. There’s kind of an authenticity the neighborhood seems to have and I don’t know that that’s what makes me go there…but that’s just
kind of a word that comes to mind.
Yeah it has the diversity that includes both the people who have kind of been here forever and
people who are kind of really new to the country and – and so many different restaurants, it’s
very compact and dense and reminds me more of like a neighborhood in Chicago where I used
to live …
It’s a little (gritty?) and has some character – is what I think of – and I like that.
87
Also, the fact that – well not everybody – but more and more people are becoming like active
participants in like, effecting change in the neighborhood. Like the Resident Advisory Council
(?) and the Youth Council and stuff like that trying to like --- trying to like – work with the Park
Board and improve those things and trying to improve issues of crime in the neighborhood and
really coming together and trying to effect change. And so I think that’s another strength…
I would go off of that and say that I think there’s a real strength in the community here…
whether it’s the West Bank Business Association or the, like people are connected and work
with each other, and so…I feel like there’s diversity in businesses and restaurants and just like,
options around here. And I like the diversity of that. And the feeling of the culture around here.
HOW ABOUT SOME OF THE BARRIERS OR CHALLENGES? THIS CAN BE MORE GENERALLY, OR WE CAN THINK ABOUT THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS WHO
MAYBE AREN’T AS ADVENTUROUS AS SOME OF YOU, WHY THEY MIGHT NOT GO TO
THIS PART OF CAMPUS?
Parking, crime perception.
I agree with the whole perception-thing. Like people who don’t go there and know the neighborhood they just get this whole like scary ‘Oh! The crack stacks!’ And like all this kind of fearmongering type stuff – so I think that’s a big thing.
It is though, I mean, I was at the Nomad when there was a shooting across the street – I mean
like there is that stuff; it happens. And it’s not just a perception. I think it’s a barrier to get over –
I feel it is.
OK.
Well, and like you say it is like I noticed it is a bit older of a crowd too, so if you’re looking at the
demographic of undergraduates who typically go to Dinkytown or the Sally’s area, there’s a –
there’s like a – the one time I was at, I don’t know what bar it is, it’s the one that’s down by 94
and they had like a band playing and even just like the personality of that place to me, it
seemed very distinct. While it maybe racially seemed diverse, but there was definitely a personality to it just the same way the Library does…so whatever, I think when you’re talking about
undergraduates, or other students, who maybe aren’t seeking out cultural diversity – like that
can be a barrier then. Because if that’s kind of how this place is seen, then if that’s not a priority
or an interest of theirs, then, they’re not necessarily going to pursue it.
I was going to say- just the walkability, like sometimes – there’s not always crosswalks everywhere. There’s sometimes – I, I would love to see like some traffic-common things, or even
some artwork on the streets. Like in St. Paul they have some of those intersection-murals. That
would be – just, make it a little bit more slowed-down, ‘cause some people that it’s just a transit
route and they don’t really care about pedestrians.—
I see it also as an area – …with no political power—
Sure – yeah—
I’d also say – this kind of pertains to my former – well, it is kind of a tapestry (?) where the institutions’ individualism (?) where they’re like ‘Oh well we don’t – you’re not a regular here so
you’re not – we don’t like to, we don’t’… well it’s gets at the feeling welcome. I remember being
88
at Hard Times and oftentimes you walk in and you just don’t feel like they care about you at all.
And so—
That’s the whole experience that you come there for! [Laughs, Laughter in group]
CAN YOU NAME ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT HAPPENS, OR DOESN’T HAPPEN?
Yeah, I mean like. I come in, and I’ve gone in there – and I always forget that it’s a cash-only
place and I’ll go in and I’ll order something and get out my card and they act like I’m an idiot
for forgetting that it’s a cash-only place. ‘Cause I don’t go there too often. So things like that –
I’ve experienced it there and…other places…Sometimes they’re like that at Bedlam, it’ll be like
that too and also occasionally at the new – there’s just this kind of sense that you should know
what to do…and if you deviate a little bit, then they get really annoyed with you. Whereas it’s a
cultural thing, and if you go in there for the first time it’s not necessarily obvious the way to order, or the way to…you know
THEY DON’T HAVE THE… [talking, laughter]
It’s not even about that! It’s about, you know, if like, you go into Hard Times and you have to
write down your order and your name; it’s not necessarily intuitive. Maybe they could point
that out -- a little easier.
[Talking, laughter, agreement]
I actually like Hard Times but I agree with you. I feel like every time I forget how to order, or
like, ‘Am I doing it right? Are they gonna judge me?’ But you have to be up for it if you go in
there.
YEAH BUT THEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE COOL ONCE YOU GET IT? [laughter]
No then you feel like you’ve sold out to them! [Laughter] Sold out to the hippies!
ALL RIGHT. IN THE SAKE OF TIME, I’M JUST GOING TO ASK—
I just wanted to add something…about the area. I personally prefe if the area in general was
more visually pleasant. Or maybe fun – or more nice buildings – or green areas. It’s just visually not that—
A lot of the building stock is not in very great shape – and that’s the reason that we have such
interesting enterprises going on. But it’s also a problem—
And just like public art- just a little, like mural on a wall, things like that, just to—
Especially just the whole area has its own culture…and work on…there’s just aspects to work
on
Visually.
And I think it gets disregarded in the road areas. See even here in like Seven Corners it’s like not
potholes and then you get to like 4th street and the entire road is like potholes. So I feel like it
just gets neglected.
89
YOU DIDN’T MENTION SIGNAGE OR ANYTHING, BUT DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH THIS, OR CAN YOU TELL WHICH BUILDING IS—
Well I can tell which street I am on, but I know…but if you ask me, I never had a specific
signage problem.
WITH RESTAURANTS OR BUSINESSES?
No. ..I just knew, I just followed the sense of, ‘yeah, the light rail should be there.’ So I just
walked and found it.
SO LET’S DO OUR NEXT QUESTION AND THEN THE LAST ACTIVITY WILL COME AFTER
THIS. SO, IF YOU WERE A BUSINESS OWNER, GENERALLY, IN THE UNIVERSITY OF
MINNESOTA AREA, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO BRING IN U OF M STUDENTS?
I think first is the recognition, like we were saying before, that there’s a specific demographic,
you know, an older demographic, that if they started to try and cater to other, you know,
younger demographic, or or something like that, it would drive away their base clients, and so
first it’s a recognition of that and finding out ways to target those people specifically. Instead of,
I would say it would be a real shame if they thought that they were—you know, if they opened
up a bar like Sally’s or the Library there.
SO THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN UNDERGRADUATE AND KIND OF GRADUATE LEVEL?
KIND OF THE AGES THERE?
It’s just that I see that’s already the base there, and it wouldn’t be helpful for them to bring in
more people at the expense of people that are going there already.
It’s interesting that the things that I really like are, you know, if you have free wireless, if you
have a public restroom, if it’s clean, the atmosphere, and if you’ve got good seating options. So,
you know, if you want to read you can sit in a nice comfy chair, or if you need to be on your
computer you can be at a table.
I think deals for students is always a way to show that you’re happy to have them be generous
with your business.
I think word of mouth is part of it. So many times I won’t go to a place if, like, somebody hasn’t
recommended it. Sometimes I’ll walk by somewhere and go in. But how many times if they go,
like, ‘Oh, yeah, have you checked out this place? They have like amazing pancakes,’ or whatever. So, yeah, probably, even getting that solid base of customers, and just be amazing.
I think maybe if they bring in a student organization, since students are so transient, you know,
having something stable.
Having the right kind of space for studying, the wireless, that goes for pretty much any student
population, graduate or undergraduate, or whatever. But then, like ____ said, with the different
segments of students, you should definitely target one segment or the other; it could be beyond
undergraduate or graduate—you could target business school students (I’m not sure they get
out very much at all). You can target international students, because there’s a whole other culture going on in that community, right?
[can’t hear comment]
90
Or more bus shelters, you know, just generally sprucing them up?
There’s more frequent service here in different neighborhoods around the university, ‘cause
you’re either kind of on one bus line or another, like, it’s really inconvenient for me to go to Stadium Village, so even if I wanted to, which usually I don’t, like I don’t go there because it’s not
on any of my routes, and there’s no good way to get a little bit wider than the Campus Connector, you’d have to get a campus neighborhood connector.
ALL RIGHT, SO THIS—WE’RE GONNA DO THIS. ALL RIGHT, SO, THE WEST BANK HAS
RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW BRANDING AND ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN AND THEY
USE THE SLOGAN ‘WEST BANK. REAL. DIFFERENT.’ OK? SO, WHAT WE’RE GONNA DO
IS, THERE’S SIX DIFFERENT ADS HERE AND I’M JUST GONNA PUT, KIND OF, I’M
GONNA GIVE YOU EACH ALL SIX OF THEM, OR YOU’LL SHARE KIND OF AMONG
EACH TABLE. AND THEN WHAT WE WANT TO GET IS JUST YOUR GENERAL IMPRESSIONS OF THESE ADS. WE WANT TO KNOW IF YOU’VE SEEN THEM. SO AFTER I GIVE
THEM TO YOU I’M GONNA ASK HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THEM. AND THEN
I’M JUST GONNA ASK FOR GENERAL IMPRESSIONS, AND WHAT YOU THINK OF THESE
ADS. OK? AND IF YOU DO HAVE SPECIFIC COMMENTS RELATED TO ONE OF THE ADS
YOU CAN WRITE COMMENTS ON YOUR NOTE PAGES THAT YOU HAVE, WITH THE
NUMBER. SO I’M GONNA GIVE YOU GUYS JUST ONE MINUTE TO LOOK AT THEM, AND
THEN WE’RE GONNA TALK. IF YOU WANNA WRITE ON THE BACK OF THEM. . . .
Oh, we’re not talking about it?
WELL, WE’RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IT, BUT WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SAY EVERYTHING, SO IF THERE’S CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON, YOU
CAN WRITE ON THE BACK TOO.
So, we’re supposed to write down what stands out to us?
JUST YOUR GENERAL IMPRESSIONS—THINGS THAT—ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU
HAVE.
[discussions in small groups]
ALL RIGHT, WE’RE GONNA START OUR DISCUSSION NOW. AND IF THERE’S—YOU CAN
CONTINUE MAKING COMMENTS BY WRITING ON YOUR SHEETS OF PAPER, AND THAT
IS FINE, AS WE GO ALONG. BUT FIRST OF ALL, I’D JUST LIKE A SHOW OF HANDS: HAVE
ANY OF YOU SEEN ANY OF THESE ADS, OR ANYTHING WITH THIS ‘WEST BANK’
GRAPHIC—HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN THOSE BEFORE TODAY? HOW MANY OF YOU?
OK. TWO. ALL RIGHT. AND CAN YOU JUST MENTION WHERE YOU’VE SEEN THOSE,
JUST QUICKLY?
You know, I can’t think about where I saw it, but I’m positive I did.
THAT’S OK. YOU HAVE SEEN IT.
Yeah, and I’m sure I’ve even seen one of these ads. This one: ‘Come see your favorite band before they become everyone else’s.’ And I’ve seen the logo, but maybe, I don’t know, the West
Bank. I get e-mails from like West Bank Business Association and those things, so maybe that’s
where I’ve seen it.
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I think I saw it at the West Bank Business Association meeting or somewhere from CHANCE.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. OK. SO WE’RE GONNA START, WE’LL START WITH _____ AND
_____. AND WE MIGHT GO OVER A FEW MINUTES, SO IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, THAT IS
OK. ‘CAUSE IT’S 12:58—12:57. BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ON THESE IF
YOU CAN STAY. SO.
I haven’t seen these before. I think the messaging is done really well. The tag lines are fabulous,
I think, like, especially the music one, it really gets at why people go to see shows at the Triple
Rock, for example. The logo, I think, looks a little like ‘Whiskey Junction/Cabooze’-heavy. It
doesn’t seem like it really embraces everything that the West Bank is.
SO IT DOESN’T DO A GOOD JOB OF CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF THE WEST BANK TO
YOU?
Right, right. I think it’s nice, but I . . . It doesn’t. . . . Yeah, if I had to guess . . . If it didn’t say
‘West Bank’ on there and I had to guess which neighborhood in Minneapolis that represented I
would not ever guess the West Bank.
OK.
Yeah, I think the logo . . . It’s not unique. It doesn’t resonate. I don’t get, I mean. . . .
OK.
WHAT ABOUT THE TAG LINE, THE ‘REAL. DIFFERENT.’ SORT OF MOTTO. DOES THAT
FEEL WEST BANK-ISH? DOES THAT MAKE YOU THINK OF THE WEST BANK?
No.
There’s something about authenticity, that if you call attention to it, it goes away.
[general agreement]
So, when you start to talk about how authentic you are, you’re no longer.
LIKE PEOPLE SAY, ‘I’M SO WEIRD!’ UH, NO YOU’RE NOT.
Not anymore, you’re not.
YOU USED TO BE.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE ‘REAL. DIFFERENT.’ PART OF THE
SLOGAN?
I agree.
OK.
I don’t know, it just makes me kind of annoyed. It’s like, ‘So, nothing else is real or different?’ I
don’t know. It’s just one of those kind of like snotty remarks that maybe doesn’t need to be
made.
OK. SO HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD SAY YOU PROBABLY DON’T LIKE THE ‘REAL. DIFFERENT.’ ASPECT OF THIS?
[show of hands: five of nine participants]
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Yeah, I think I could like it because if I—I mean, if I didn’t grow up in the area or know anything about it, and if I saw this, I’m like, ‘Oh, real, different—that’s kind of intriguing, but since
I know the place, it kind of puts a different perspective on it. Does that make sense?
I think the message is right, but the words aren’t—like the words are sort of self defeating or
something.
Yeah. I agree, like if you had the message the same, but I mean, I don’t really like the actual logo
either, like the—I mean the stars don’t, I don’t know, it just seems kind of [can’t hear word].
I think most of the pictures were from number two, the guy with the skis, doesn’t really seem
to—I don’t really get why they chose him, and him with the skis, like if they’re—I don’t know
what their demographic is they’re going for, but that does not—when I see him, I do not think
West Bank.
OK.
And it’s just skis. Like, if it was other things too besides skis it would appeal to more people.
DO YOU THINK THAT THESE ADS APPEAL TO STUDENTS—PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE
CLASS WITH OR SPEND TIME WITH? IF THEY SAW THESE ADS, WHAT DO YOU THINK
MOST STUDENTS’ IMPRESSIONS WOULD BE?
Most of them would like it, but I’m just talking about graduate students. I don’t know anything
about undergraduate students, how they would react.
OK.
The people I go to school with might point out the fact that there are no women. So, and also,
and although they have a couple of West African men, I’m also curious about if these will only
be printed in English? Or if they will also include Somali, Oromo, Amharic, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish—which are all frequently-used languages.
OK.
I think it’s—I think this is aimed at the early twenties-aged people, like people slightly younger
than me. And I think I’m drawn to the font on those big tag lines, like ‘Think globally, shop locally,’ it’s like Chipotle font.
Yes, exactly.
It’s appealing exactly to Chipotle people.
OK. OK.
And I think that there’s a difference between the bike and the music—
NUMBER ONE AND SIX?
Number one and five and six. These are all—that’s in one category, and then the shopping is in
something different. And what we were talking about was like, it would be really cool to see—
to have like an identifier, like where this is, ‘cause we don’t know. And then also maybe something about a rule, you know, ‘cause usually when you—well, at least the places I shop for
clothes—it’s on a rack, and not on the wall, you know. It’s a little intimidating to go in and not
know. And first of all, I don’t know if I would wear these clothes. And then—and so it’s a little
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intimidating to go in and not know, like, what’s going on. And so it would almost be like,
‘Never shopped off the rack? Come try something new,’ or something. You know, just something that would say it’s OK if you’ve never done it before.
YEAH, IT WOULD EXPLAIN THAT EXPERIENCE MORE?
Yeah.
OK. ANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT YOU HAVE?
Were these all produced? ‘Cause it’s like one and two, three and four, five and six, are like really
close together, like, it’s like almost the same shot with a different person. And this looks like the
same band.
OK.
THEY TELL THE SAME STORY?
Yeah.
OK.
I really like the pictures actually. I think the pictures, especially all together—I don’t know if
they’re distributed together, but together they kind of show a lot of what Cedar-Riverside is.
Although I think of this as Cedar-Riverside, not the West Bank, necessarily, so that’s kind of interesting. The women thing, definitely, I noticed. And then. . . . Oh, and there’s no restaurants.
And this is such a big dining place. Where is the great food?
And is this—I’m just curious—is this just supposed to be as far as attracting to businesses or
other institutions in the area or?
WHO THEY’RE TARGETING?
Yeah. ‘Cause I think there’s a lot more to the neighborhood, like, you know, there’s the food
there, and like, just the general culture and other things that aren’t necessarily portrayed in this,
it kinda seems like, ‘Oh, you should buy some stuff.’
Yeah.
Yeah, and so, yeah, that’s some things that. . . .
It would be cool if when you were saying about how it’s more of a community feel, to actually
capture that . . .
Yeah.
. . . that, you know, there’s people talking . . .
Right.
. . . And laughing together, you know, like, and actually being, oh, you know, It’s not like a stock
photo, it’s like actually really happening. . . .
Yeah.
That would be cool.
And these are the real people in the community, not some. . . .
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Yeah.
ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS THE FINAL ACTIVITY THAT WE’RE GOING TO DO, SO IF THERE’S
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD ON THESE, WE’LL MOVE ON TO THE SUMMARY
AFTER THIS.
Did anybody else feel like the shopping ones were harder to relate to? Or is that just me?
A little bit.
I think having a label, you know, where this is, and what kind of shop it is, just a little text
would help.
Yeah.
Or even what kind of clothing it is, like ‘Come check out our blank clothing.’
And if I didn’t know the neighborhood I wouldn’t know where you would go for bike stuff or
where you would go for skis. If I didn’t already know the neighborhood, I would. . . .
That’s funny, yeah, cause it’d be like, ‘Oh, great, I’ll go there!’
And get a bike, and then . . .
Where?
And then you walk around and find things. Yeah, you’re right, if there’s a little tag that said the
store . . .
Yeah: ‘Midwest Mountaineering,’ and here’s the address, here’s the phone number, here’s the
web site.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
IT’S BEEN REALLY A GREAT CONVERSATION. SO, FIRST, OK, WE’RE GONNA SUMMARIZE OUR WHOLE CONVERSATION NOW. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD—ON ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE TOPICS
THAT WE’VE DISCUSSED TODAY? ANYTHING YOU DIDN’T GET A CHANCE TO SAY?
Would you mind telling us a little bit about your capstone, or like what you’re doing this for?
YEAH. WE’RE SORT OF—OUR CLIENTS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, IS THE WEST
BANK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM AND THE WEST BANK COMMUNITY COALITION.
So, you’re working with Zak?
NOT DIRECTLY, BUT WITH THAT ORGANIZATION. AND THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW
HOW THEY CAN APPEAL TO STUDENTS, HOW THEY CAN CONNECT WITH THE STUDENT POPULATION, WITH THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND SO
WE THEN, PARTLY BECAUSE MY MAJOR IS ACTUALLY STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION,
AND SO WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE INTERESTING TO STUDY THEIR CAMPAIGN
AND ALSO JUST WHAT STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE, AND
SO THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GETTING AT. WE’RE DOING FOCUS GROUPS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE, AND WE’RE LAUNCHING A SURVEY SOON, AND SO
WE’LL TRY TO GET AS MANY OF THOSE OPINIONS AS WE CAN. BUT IT SOUNDED TO
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ME, JUST TO SUM UP OUR DISCUSSION HERE, SOUNDED TO ME LIKE MOST PEOPLE
REALLY ENJOY THEIR EXPERIENCES AT CEDAR-RIVERSIDE, THEY LIKE GOING THERE.
SAFETY’S A LITTLE BIT OF A CONCERN, AND SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES WERE JUST
THE NEIGHBORHOOD UPKEEP, AND JUST FEELING LIKE IT’S A DIFFERENT CULTURE,
IT’S A DIFFERENT WORLD, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EACH PLACE IS LIKE,
AND THEY’RE ALL A LITTLE DIFFERENT, AND THEY DON’T NECESSARILY WALK YOU
THROUGH THE PROCEDURES, SO THAT’S SOMEWHAT OF A BARRIER. AND THEN ALSO
TRANSPORTATION. THAT’S KIND OF AN ISSUE FOR ME, ‘CAUSE THERE’S NO HIGHFREQUENCY BUS LINE. BUT THAT YOU ENJOY IT, AND YOU WANT TO KIND OF—TO
HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I GET THAT FEELING FROM THIS GROUP. YOU WANT IT
TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL, YOU WANT MORE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT IT, YOU WANT
TO BE ABLE TO SHARE IT. IS THAT KIND OF. . . .
DO YOU GUYS AGREE WITH THIS SUMMARY? OR IS THERE ANY QUALIFIERS YOU
WANT TO ADD TO THAT?
It’s in part, like, self interest. It’s like, you want it to appeal to you, because then you get more
use out of it. So, of course we want to make it better, so we’ll use it more.
One thing I guess that didn’t come up is that it doesn’t—the one unique thing about CedarRiverside is like, I’m not gonna live here ever, I mean, there are some apartments that might appeal to me here but not very many. There’s your building that you live in, right? And it’s
student-oriented housing specifically, and then there’s all sorts of other—the high rise towers
and everything, but there’s nothing really for students. So there has to be something that gets us
while we’re here, or that makes us come back at night.
Or, [can’t hear phrase]. That’s why it’s not Uptown.
Or any [can’t hear word] housing for students.
Not students, but mid-20s people, or early-30s people.
Yeah.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, IF NO ONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING TO ADD, WE JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH
US. WE’RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR RESEARCH AND HELPING OUT THE WEST BANK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND THE WEST BANK COMMUNITY COALITION AND THE CRNRP, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE UPDATED HOW
OUR RESEARCH GOES, WE DEFINITELY HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND
ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT. SO, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
D4—Undergraduate Student Focus Group Transcript
Focus group held April 12, 2010, 11:30 a.m., Humphrey Institute
ALL RIGHT, I THINK WE’RE GOING TO GET STARTED AND JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
YOUR TIME, SINCE YOU’RE ALL HERE ALREADY. SO WE’RE JUST GOING TO START
WITH AN INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINNG US TODAY. WE’RE REALLY
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EXCITED THAT WE HAVE SUCH GREAT NUMBERS AND I HOPE YOU ALL FOUND THIS
ROOM WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE AND FEEL FREE TO GRAB SOMETHING ELSE TO EAT
WHILE WE’RE TALKING. WE CAN DEFINITELY CONTINUE EATING LUNCH. BUT AS
SOME OF YOU KNOW ME, I’M GABRIELE ANDERSON AND I’M GOING TO BE ACTING
AS THE MODERATOR TODAY AND JULIE PRICE TO MY RIGHT WILL BE THE ASSISTANT
MODERATOR AS WILL TERESA OBRERO. WE ARE DOING RESEARCH FOR A CAPSTONE
PROJECT HERE AT THE HUMPHREY INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND WE’RE PART
OF THE CEDAR HUMPHREY ACTION FOR NEIGHBORHOOD COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS CHANCE. SO WE’RE PART OF THE CHANCE
COURSE AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE DOING RESEARCH FOR TODAY. SO TODAY WE’RE
GOING TO TALK ABOUT OFF-CAMPUS HABITS, INCLUDING DINING, ENTERTAINMENT, AND SHOPPING CHOICES. WE’RE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHERE YOU GO
FOR THESE THINGS AS WELL AS WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT THOSE PLACES AND WHAT
YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES AROUND CAMPUS. WE
ASKED YOU ALL TO PARTICIPATE TODAY BECAUSE YOU’RE ALL UNDERGRADUATES
WHO PRIMARILY STUDY ON THE WEST BANK AND WE’RE LOOKING FOR THAT PERSPECTIVE IN OUR RESEARCH. SO THIS SHOULD FLOW LIKE A CONVERSATION. WE
WANT TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND ALL VIEW POINTS REPRESENTED TODAY SO
PLEASE SHARE YOUR OPINIONS EVEN IF THEY DIFFER FROM WHAT EVERYONE ELSE
IS SAYING. I MAY OCCASIONALLY NEED TO INTERRUPT YOU TO ENSURE THAT WE
FINISH ON TIME. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE DONE BY 1 P.M. SO AND IF
YOU DO HAVE TO LEAVE EARLY FOR SOME REASON OR NEED TO LEAVE THE ROOM
TO GO TO THE BATHROOM FEEL FREE TO DO THAT YOU’RE FREE TO, FREE TO GO IF
YOU NEED TO. SO WE’RE RECORDING THIS SESSION TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR REPORT IS ACCURATE. WE’RE NOT GOING TO ATTRIBUTE ANY QUOTES OR NAME YOUR
NAMES WHEN WE PRODUCE OUR WRITTEN REPORT. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE PROVIDE THE MOST HELPFUL INFORMATION POSSIBLE SO WE DON’T WANT
TO MISS ANY OF YOUR COMMENTS. SO RIGHT NOW I’M JUST GOING TO ASK PLEASE
TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES OR PDAS IF YOU HAVE ANY ON YOU. SO THAT WE
AREN’T INTERRUPTED OR DISTRACTED DURING OUR TIME TOGETHER. AND AFTER
WE ALL DO THAT WE’RE GOING TO START BY GOING AROUND THE TABLE AND WE’RE
GOING TO START WITH IS IT YASMIN? YEP. OK WE’RE GOING TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES WITH OUR FIRST NAME AND WHAT YOUR MAJOR IS MAYBE AND YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT NEAR CAMPUS AND WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT IT.
I’m ______. My major is biology, society and environment. And my favorite restaurant on campus is the Loring Pasta Bar. Good food.
My name is _____ I’m geology and geophysics major and my favorite restaurant near campus
it’s actually over on Franklin Avenue Second Moon Coffee Shop and Café.
OK. THANK YOU.
Hi my name is ______. My major is public health, youth studies and leadership. My favorite restaurant would probably be Sahara which is right across the street in Cedar Riverside.
My name is ______ I’m a freshman and my major is public health, leadership and biology and
my favorite restaurant is also Sahara.
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OK. THANK YOU.
Hi I’m _____ and I major in marketing and operations management. And my favorite restaurant
on campus is probably Cafe 421. Just for the good food and I like the atmosphere.
THANK YOU.
I’m ____ I’m finance and accounting major and my favorite restaurant on campus is probably
Al’s breakfast.
I’m _______ I’m finance major, I lost my voice. My favorite restaurant is Noodles because we
had one at home and I really liked it and it’s cheap.
Hi my name is _____ I’m a management major and my favorite restaurant is also Al’s breakfast.
ALL RIGHT. GREAT, THANK YOU EVERYONE. WELL, WE’RE GOING TO START BY WITH
SOME WARM UP QUESTIONS. WHAT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES DO YOU NORMALLY DO
OFF CAMPUS. SO WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DINING, SHOPPING, STUDYING AND
KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT. SO I’M JUST ASK THE QUESTION. WE DON’T NEED TO GO
AROUND IN A CIRCLE ANYMORE BUT YOU CAN JUST OFFER UP YOUR ANSWERS
FREELY. FIRST ONE IS WHERE DO YOU GO FOR SHOPPING FOR NECESSITIES LIKE
GROCERIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
Target.
Target on Lake Street.
OK.
We go to Rainbow foods in the Quarry.
Rainbow foods in the Quarry.
I live right next to the Quarry, and I go to Rainbow Foods, Target and I’ll go to Walmart there’s a
Cub Foods by the Walmart.
OK.
I don’t live on campus. So shop
I also shop at Target on Lake Street.
I don’t shop for groceries. (laughter)
SO WHERE DO YOU GO FOR SHOPPING FOR FUN?
Rosedale
Rosedale Mall
I’d probably say Rosedale too, sometimes Target.
OK SO I’M JUST GOING TO ALSO ADD IN WHY, WHY YOU GO TO WHERE YOU GO TO
SHOP FOR FUN?
Well I go to like to two different areas depending on what it is I’m getting. When I’m getting my
scarves and skirts I usually go to there’s like three major Somali Malls that I go to. There’s one
right on campus near light rail. I go there like usually right after school or sometimes I go to the
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one on 24th. When I’m not shopping for scarves and skirts I usually go to the mall because it’s
easier to get take the light rail.
WHICH MALL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE MALL OF
AMERICA?
Yes that’s the one.
JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE.
It would just be the MOA. It’s just more convenient just hit the stores that I want.
To go shopping for fun I tend to look for pretty directed items. So I go to Sara Cura in Dinkytown and there’s a vegan and vegetarian gift shop on Franklin Avenue. I can’t remember what
it’s called. I don’t go to the MOA or those big shopping centers because they stress me out too
much. I don’t know where I’m going. I keep it little. Dinkytown, Franklin Avenue shops.
I go shopping like a lot of stores where I want to spend a lot of time. So Mall of America whenever I get a ride.
WELL YOU’RE GOING FOR A NIGHT OUT OR FOR JUST ENTERTAINMENT IN GENERAL
WHERE DO YOU GUYS GO?
Usually Dinkytown, go to like Burrito Loco or Blarneys ‘cause it’s easiest to get to and back if
you’re drinking you don’t have to pay for a taxi to get back so.
I would say Dinkytown probably as well. Just because of its location. Convenient and easy, easy
to plan. Like in the summer probably more so in the winter. If we were to go out it would be
more downtown. Just because the weather is more conducive to do that.
I’M JUST GOING TO ASK A QUESTION. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE 21 YEARS OR OLDER?
JUST SO I KNOW WHO MIGHT. OK. ALL RIGHT I’M SORRY YOU CAN CONTINUE.
Night out I try to get my friends to come out to Cedar-Riverside and go to Acadia or go to Nomad if there’s a show at Triple Rock or 400 Club. Otherwise keeping it nature wise go to Minnehaha or go to (inaudible).
Just to a movie, at a theater.
I don’t really go out. [Laughter]
THAT’S OK.
I don’t know. I wouldn’t say I’m boring I don’t exactly go out.
HOW ABOUT YOU ____?
Besides friends house probably Dinkytown.
______?
Probably what ______ said. The closest theater probably movie theater.
Same.
OK I got something. Occasionally I’ll go with some friends to get some half priced apps at Applebee’s.
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I think we have to throw in Legends too. I go to Legends a lot on Hennepin. Just because it’s a
little off campus and it’s close to where I live but it’s not that same campus feel as Dinky town.
Good food.
ALL RIGHT, I THINK WE HEARD FROM EVERYONE. SO NOW I’M GOING TO ASK WHERE
YOU DO YOU PRIMARILY STUDY. AND IF YOU GO SOMEWHERE TO STUDY MAYBE A
COFFEE SHOP OR RESTAURANT, OR CLASS BUILDING OR HOME. WHERE DO YOU
PRIMARILY SPEND TIME STUDYING ON OR OFF CAMPUS?
I usually go to different coffee shops like Expresso Expose, Expresso Royale or Purple Onion.
Just to get like a different environment. They’re kind of closer to the dorms.
I tend to go to Second Moon Café or Hard Time Café. Because they’re less busy than any Dinkytown coffee shop ever is and it’s not a student environment. So I I’m not stressed out or distracted by other students studying. I’m the only person studying is how it feels.
I just study at Wilson, Carlson even Hanson.
I I study in my house in my room is OK. But if I really need to like buckle down and study for a
long period time and its crunch time I usually go to the Walter Library or Wilson, or Diehl Hall
or someplace where it’s really really quiet.
I study at home almost all the time. But if I do go somewhere I’ll go to Bordertown Coffee Shop.
I study on campus. Either that or study.
I study at home but like _____ said if it’s really down to the wire I go to Walter.
AND THE FINAL QUESTION FOR OUR WARM UP IS HOW OFTEN DO YOU VISIT WEST
BANK RESTAURANTS, BARS, THEATERS, OR SHOPS.
At least twice a week.
I go there everyday. I usually go to Sahara everyday. On my way to the train station. Or there’s
actually a grocery store for junk food.
Once a week. I work by there.
I’m really like never over here so I guess I would have to say 0 times per week. I’m mainly here
for class.
YOU’RE MAINLY HERE FOR CLASS?
I’d say like once or twice a semester.
Same with me.
Maybe every once in a while if I’m just starving on the West Bank that convenience store but
very scarcely.
OK SO WE’RE THINKING THIS MAINLY DEPENDS ON KIND OF WHERE YOU LIVE.
WHERE DOES EVERYONE LIVE?
Raise your hands for Dinkytown. Como?
HOW ABOUT THE DORMS? 1. DO YOU LIVE IN THE AREA OR OFF CAMPUS?
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I live by Prospect Park which is kind of close.
OK.
Off campus also.
St. Anthony.
ALL RIGHT SO WE GOT A VARIETY. ALL RIGHT SO WE’RE GOING TO MOVE ONTO OUR
FIRST EXERCISE OF OUR DISCUSSION TODAY. SO ON THIS WHITE BOARD YOU CAN SEE
THAT WE HAVE SOME FACTORS WRITTEN UP THAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH THAT
WE THINK MIGHT AFFECT WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO GO FOR DINING OR ENTERTAINMENT. SO YOUR CHOICES RELATED TO THOSE THINGS. THIS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE
LIST. SO AS WE GO THROUGH OUR EXERCISE IF THERE’S SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE TO
COMBINE INTO ONE CATEGORY OR COME UP WITH YOUR OWN FEEL FREE TO DO
THAT. THESE ARE JUST UP THERE TO KIND OF GET OUR DISCUSSION GOING. IF EACH
OF YOU COULD GRAB A ONE SHEET OF PAPER FOR YOURSELF AND A MARKER. IF YOU
DON’T HAVE SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH LET ME KNOW. AND IF YOU COULD PUT
YOUR NAME AT THE TOP THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE’RE GOING TO COLLECT THESE
AT THE END SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT. SO WE’RE GOING TO START BY HAVING YOU
CHOOSE YOUR TOP 5 FACTORS FOR WHEN YOU’RE CONSIDERING AN AREA ON OR
OFF CAMPUS FOR DINING AND OR ENTERTAINING FOR THOSE PURPOSES. JUST
CHOOSE YOUR TOP FIVE; THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE IN ANY ORDER. SO YOU CAN TAKE
A FEW MINUTES DO TO THAT. SO IT’S LOOKS LIKE MOST OF YOU ARE FINISHED.WE’D
LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU SO JUST TELL US YOUR TOP FIVE AND MAYBE HOW
YOU WENT ABOUT CHOOSING, PRIORITIZING YOUR LIST. ANYONE CAN START.
Well my number one was food quality. Like I alluded to earlier I don’t really go out that much
so if I’m going to go out get some food with some friends so. If I’m going out to eat I’m thinking
about food quality. The next thing is price. Which is usually why I end up at Applebee’s ‘cause
that’s when I’m with most of my friends.
OK.
We usually compromise with price. For me personally if I’m going to make the choice it’s going
to be based on like how quiet it is I guess. I don’t really like noisy environments. I think those
would probably be the biggest three. Safety and parking would kind of maybe subliminally
apply but I don’t really think about those kinds of things too much.
OK. THANK YOU.
I also put quality of food first or like entertainment. If I’m going to take the time to do it I want
it to be worthwhile. Affordability and proximity ‘cause I don’t have a car here. So if it’s close.
CLOSE TO LIKE THE DORMS.
Yes. And I’m not like too concerned about safety because when I go out I usually have a lot of
friends with but we’re like not going to go to really sketchy areas so that’s on my list too.
OK.
I had affordability, culture, proximity to where I live. Food and drink specials and quality of
food.
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OK. THANK YOU.
I had sort of like the genre. I don’t really know how to describe it sort of like the type of food I
feel like. So that’s one. And parking always considering if it’s going to be easy or if you’re going
to have to pay for a meter I don’t know. Different things like that. Affordability like if I feel like
spending a lot that night or really not that much at all. And then I always think about the proximity to where I live. If it would be easy to just have something close by or if I’m up for going
someplace far away. Then also new experiences I usually like to try new places that I haven’t
been before just because it’s fun.
THANK YOU.
Well first on my list is transportation. Because I don’t really care where I’m going as long as I
know how to get there and back. New experiences. Also feeling welcome sometimes I enter
someplace and I just feel like unwelcome and so then my whole mood is not there. The next one
would be affordability and then also food specials.
THANK YOU.
I had a lot in things in common with ______. Transportation is very important because obviously you have to get there. Safety is really essential and then feeling welcome is important too
‘cause obviously you’re going to a place and you definitely want to feel welcome. Experience I
like to learn about new things and affordability, since I’m a student and don’t really have that
much money.
OK. THANK YOU.
I guess it starts with affordability because the like $20 of excess money I have every month is
pretty hard to spend. And then culture. I really hate mainstream places. So I don’t go to most
bars in Dinkytown or anything like that. I want to get out I want to go to Los Ocampo on Lake
Street and I want to run around in East St. Paul and find the best Chinese restaurants. Like I
want to find really really great ethnic foods. And then transportation. In the winter it’s a factor
because I mostly bike. In the summer basically otherwise accessible. Then just go along with
that proximity if I have to bike 12 miles to get there I don’t really want to go there. Safety is only
a factor depending on how large the group is. If it’s a big group of people in car or on a bus then
it’s fine. If it’s me alone and I’m biking, I’ve had incidents where people have tried to attack me
on my bike. So I try to watch out.
OK.
Mine is parking. I don’t live on campus so when I go to places near campus it’s expensive. Affordability and the culture.
THANKS EVERYONE. AND NOW I’M GOING TO ASK IF YOU DIDN’T GET A CHANCE TO
TALK ABOUT THIS YET. WHAT IS YOUR TOP CHOICE IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONE OF
THESE AS YOUR TOP CHOICE AND WHY?
My top choice would be food quality. The reason why is because when I choose to go out to eat
it’s because I’m looking for something that I wouldn’t have at home something I wouldn’t be
make myself.
Along with that if I’m going to spend my money on something it should be good quality.
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Food quality it’s what’s gonna makes the experience fun and good.
Probably just like the mood for the type of food genre or entertainment type.
IF IT CAN OFFER WHAT YOU’RE IN THE MOOD FOR.
Yes exactly.
OK.
Transportation would be mine.
I’M JUST GOING TO CLARIFY. IS IT TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY OR USUALLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION?
Whichever. Whether I’m driving or taking the bus.
JUST HOW YOU’RE GOING TO GET THERE IS MOST IMPORTANT.
I think in order for anything to happen you have to feel welcome. So that would be my top.
ALL RIGHT.
I think for me off my list it’s going to be the culture the kind of experience I can get when I go to
a new place.
Parking I can’t really enjoy myself if I have to keep thinking about meters.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOW WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE WEST BANK A LITTLE BIT MORE. FIRST QUESTION THAT I WANT TO ASK RELATED TO THE WEST BANK
IS GENERALLY WHAT GEOGRAPHIC AREA YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF THE
WEST BANK.
Anything along Riverside Avenue.
OK. THIS CAN BE INSTITUTIONAL, UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS, OR IT CAN BE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OR STREETS THAT ARE THE BOUNDARIES OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
I think of Carlson School of Management.
OK. SO WHERE YOU TAKE CLASS.
I think I also think of Carlson since that’s the main reason why I’m always over here. And if
anything else it would be anything on Riverside. Like Kilimanjaro Café, Mapps Coffee Shop.
ALL RIGHT.
I think of Carlson and guess before I was a Carlson student I thought of the like the music and
arts.
SURE LIKE THE WEST BANK ARTS QUARTERS.
But now I’d say Carlson first.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY GEOGRAPHIC AREA DESCRIPTION?
I think of Cedar Riverside when I hear West Bank and like Carlson both. Those are the two
things I think of.
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I think of Cedar Avenue.
A FOLLOW UP QUESTION WOULD BE ARE CEDAR RIVERSIDE AND WEST BANK SYNONYMOUS TO YOU? HOW MANY OF YOU THINK OF THE SAME THING AREA WHEN
YOU HEAR WEST BANK AND CEDAR RIVERSIDE. THREE. FOUR. FOUR. THE REST OF
YOU SEE AS A DISTINCTION.
I see them as next to each other.
OK AS NEXT TO EACH OTHER BUT NOT THE SAME THING.
I think of Cedar Riverside being the concentrated population center. Where there’s loads of restaurants and loads of small shops. Like whatever is within the half mile radius at that crosssection I view as Cedar Riverside. The West Bank technically extends past Riverside down to
Franklin is where I would say. Franklin to the river.
DID YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING?
I didn’t even know where Cedar Riverside was.
OK. SO. LET’SEE WHAT BUSINESS VENUES OR INSTITUTIONS COME TO MIND WHEN
YOU THINK OF THE WEST BANK? MOST PREDOMINANTLY. SOME OF YOU GOT AT THIS
BEFORE BUT YOU CAN USE YOUR SAME ANSWERS.
I think of Hard Times. It sticks out.
ALL RIGHT.
West Bank Grocery, Selah Restaurant, Brian Coyle, Mapps Café, Sahara.
You named them all. [laughter]
I guess for me it would be the complex of the Hub, Thrifty, and Midwest Mountaineering. Bedlam and Mixed Blood Theaters. Red Sea Bar.
I think of the Wienery and Bedlam.
I think of the grocery convenient store in Blegan.
THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE STUDENTS AT CARLSON. WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS ONE OF
THE FIRST THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND.
ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT WORDS COME TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WEST
BANK?
Long walk. In winter really cold bridge. [laughter]
I think of CSOM.
I think of public safety alerts. [laughter]
Nah I lost it. You know how you have the first words you think of, maybe not the best words.
Maybe I’ll come to it later.
I think of the Cedar Riverside buildings. Riverside Plaza.
OK YEP.
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Sadly enough the first thing I think of the concrete jungle. Since that’s what everyone call it.
What do they call it?
The concrete jungle. ‘Cause there’s like no grass here.
AS COMPARED TO THE EAST BANK.
You go down to the mall and you come here and it’s just like blah and gross.
Lots of concrete work. I think you need to talk about Ralph Rapson about that one, his style.
To me a lot of it is campus oriented. Carlson and Humphrey come to mind. I feel like West Bank
is more diverse, like culturally diverse then East Bank and that pops up in my mind too.
ALL RIGHT.
No parking.
OK. SO MOST OF YOU HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE CLASS ON THE WEST BANK. DURING
THOSE TIMES DID YOU PATRONIZE ANY OF THOSE WEST BANK BUSINESS AS A STUDENT ON THE WEST BANK?
Not necessarily as a student just on my way to work.
I wouldn’t say I went to any of those places as a consequence of classes. I lived in Middlebrook
on Franklin Avenue and now live in Dinkytown. Any of the places I liked are because I lived
there not because I had classes.
ALL RIGHT. IT’S MORE WHERE YOU LIVED.
I think I broke once or twice and was so hungry and stopped in the convenient store and
grabbed like an oddwala.
I utilize the dining halls over here like Middlebrook. A lot of the restaurants downstairs for my
night class.
I go to Hard Times or Starbucks in Carlson. Hard Times has dollar coffee.
OK.
I use Starbucks and that little convenience store of coffee or hot drink for night class.
Well I just always go into Cedar Riverside. For some reason I see it as two different areas that
are not connected. Most people don’t venture out into Cedar Riverside. I feel welcome transportation wise. They have a lot of different restaurants around here, for whatever it is that you
want to eat. And plus I have, like, family members that live in the Riverside Towers so if I need
anything I can just go over there…
[Laughter.] That’s nice!
Your private restaurant [Laughter]
So, sadly I think the University doesn’t do a great job of encouraging students to actually venture off to the neighborhood. Obviously it’s like – within walking distance. But personally I
think that a lot of the reasons why I go to the restaurants in Cedar Riverside is mainly because I
have a connection to the neighborhood. And I really try to encourage University students too…
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those public safety alerts that I mentioned before really kind of cast a shadow on the neighborhood which is not necessarily true.
It’s very true. [Others: yeah]
One of my roommates says that she won’t come over – or she won’t feel safe walking over
here— because she sees like public safety alerts for the West Bank (and not?) Dinkytown.
Which, I mean, if anything, I think it’s not true
Yeah. [Voices in agreement]
I feel far less safe walking in Dinkytown than I do walking down Cedar Riverside because there
isn’t an intrinsic malice in the population that lives here, like Somali, Ethiopian, there’s no malice towards people in general. Like, everyone’s just trying to live here and get along. People
view it as dangerous because it’s like a high concentration of something they don’t understand.
And plus with those – sorry – but with those public safety alerts, a lot of the descriptions are
just, like “East African”, so it’s basically like, an entire population.
Yeah [Group, some laughter]
It’s like 20 of 5-6,000 people that are the ones who are causing any amount of trouble, like…
On top of that, they are suspects. So they don’t even know if they are East African or not, because if they did then they wouldn’t even be looking for a suspect. So they just say it’s an East
African person when sometimes it might not even be true.
Right.
[Continues] And on top of that, the University, I feel, is sending a message itself. Because if you
look at Hanson, I mean, the back of Hanson is facing the community. And then they have all
these little convenient shops and coffee shops within those buildings so the students don’t even
have to get out and out into the community. So I think that they themselves are sending the
message.
Or that, the layout of the Cedar Riverside neighborhood where it’s economically profitable to
have certain businesses is where it’s closest to the University, where like people who have to
walk down to, I don’t know, like the Triple Rock area, they wouldn’t go down there because
they view it as being unsafe but not really … (can’t hear) I think, I think the University is just
trying to concentrate their business.
WOULD YOU GUYS SAY, OR, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THE
UNIVERSITY SAFETY ALERTS … DOES THAT HAVE ANY, HAVE THOSE IMPACTED YOUR
PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY?
I felt that, I went over to Cedar Riverside for a concert once. And I was with like 20 people and I
still felt unsafe… just because I was unfamiliar with the area. I don’t really know anything about
it, I’ve never been over here. And I feel safer in Dinkytown just because I’m familiar with it and
there’s more people around.
SO THE FAMILIARITY MAKES A DIFFERENCE? OK.
[MALE] For the public safety alerts I don’t really think of West Bank, I usually think of more the
Como area and 12th street and 7th kind of area.
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OK
[Continues] But not the West Bank.
I feel that I’m pretty unfamiliar with Riverside area, and I’m really only over here for classes
and my only, like, exposure is the emails they send where do they do make it sound sort of
scary. And…so when I’m coming over here it’s a lot for night classes where I have like parked
down aways – because parking is always an issue – and then I walk to the Carlson by myself,
and it is at night, so just in that situation anyways I get a little nervous or whatever. So in my
experience over here I do feel uncomfortable and I don’t know if it’s because I’m on the West
Bank or because it is at night.
So…about the public safety alerts. Nighttime in general is a scary time. It doesn’t matter where
you’re at. You don’t know who can be out at nighttime. So, like, I never really walk alone by
myself at night. It doesn’t really matter where… and I actually feel really safe over here because
most of the public safety alerts happen in the East Bank area. They are rarely ever here on the
West Bank so I never really go into Dinkytown at night, so it doesn’t really affect me.
SO AT NIGHT, IN GENERAL, YOU WOULD FEEL LESS SAFE?
Yeah, even on top of that. I, like, always, if I am by myself, I utilize the escort services. So there
is really no reason for me to even worry that much.
OK.
[Male] Personally, I don’t feel unsafe over here. But, definitely, those emails definitely send a
negative connotation towards the Cedar Riverside area. And those, on top of – I don’t know if
it’s the U, the University could do a lot better job of promoting the businesses in this area. Because when people think of the West Bank, they don’t think of all the shops over here. Like I
can’t even name like 5 of them – and all of my classes are over here. And like, so, when you
come over here, the first things that you think of are, ‘there’s the school and there’s Cedar Riverside’, which has like this negative shadow cast over it. So like, I don’t know if it’s the businesses
that don’t do a good enough job of getting their names out there to the students, or if it’s the
University that doesn’t promote these businesses, or like, the two of them not coordinating together. But like, when I come over here, I don’t even like think about staying here. I just like,
leave. There’s just no reason to stay here. And the only information you get from the University
is negative – but that’s just because they don’t send anything positive ever. Like, it’s not that I
think it’s unsafe, it’s just I don’t know the positive aspects of over here – just the negative, that’s
all you hear about.
OK.
I don’t know, that could be partially due to just like, you’re going to be more familiar with and
frequent the stores and shops and restaurants where you reside. And there’s just so much more
living areas and residencies on the East Bank versus the West, so like you’re going to be more
comfortable where you live. So that could be partially due to people feeling more familiar and
comfortable maybe on the East Bank versus the West.
As far as this year’s concerned even, I feel like there have been far more safety alerts for East
Bank areas than West Bank. Like, 2 years ago when I was a freshman there was like the Wilson
Library attacks and a couple incidents on the West Bank and that was a little bit scary but I lived
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in Middlebrook and I was there every day and like, when people are out on the street at night,
they’re just doing whatever they wanna do and they don’t… there isn’t like an intrinsic need to
feel attacked or… people at night. But like, the East Bank, I mean, you have the shootings earlier
you have people being molested last year. I mean, like, I feel like the East Bank has far more
population, of like, less population that can be… OK, like, here’s the thought: ready? The East
Bank, it’s a lot easier for people to like meld in and look as if they’re a part of the student body. I
feel that because like you have input from various neighborhoods on the East Bank, there’s no
strict control or anything, that’s how you get people like running around on their bikes, and
LIKE grabbing at people, or attacking others and that’s because they just wandered in off the 16
or something like that. I mean I feel like the people who cause harm in these neighborhoods
aren’t actually from these neighborhoods, they just see it as a place to cause harm.
OK. SO SAFETY IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS HEAR ABOUT IN EMAILS
AND AFFECTS ALL OF CAMPUS, GENERALLY. BUT IT CAN, I’M JUST SUMMARIZING, IT
CAN AFFECT YOUR PERCEPTIONS OF WHERE YOU GO TO CLASS…
Yeah.
OK. WOULD MOST OF YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF A LOT OF THE BUSINESS
OFFERINGS IN CEDAR RIVERSIDE?
Business offerings, like deals? Or just what’s here?
JUST WHAT’S HERE, WHAT’S AVAILABLE IN CEDAR RIVERSIDE.
Then yes.
YES?
I would say so.
OK, I’M JUST KIND OF ALSO GOING TO ASK… WHY? YOU JUST, SPEND A LOT OF TIME
HERE?
Right. I live over here, I enjoy being over here.
AND YOU’VE WORKED AROUND HERE?
Yeah.
OK.
It’s basically just my route to work, it’s basically just that street. Everything else is still foreign to
me.
Well I live in Northeast Minneapolis, and I am still very familiar with this community. I go in
here all the time, I know all of the businesses. I know that there is a school that I go to to volunteer sometimes or I go to the community center. It’s a beautiful place once you go inside. Well,
not many people go inside. But there’s a lot it has to offer.
I would say that I’m not familiar with the offerings just because I’m not here as much and the
only time I am is for class. So it’s to Carlson and then back to campus or home.
OK.
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[Male] Same here. Yeah I don’t know what’s over here really because I just come over for class.
And then I just go home if I’m gonna eat or something, usually. So I’ve never really gone out
and explored what it has to offer. And I’ve like, it’d be nice if like somehow there would be like
pamphlets given to Carlson students at like orientation. Like brochures, like here’s what we offer and maybe even like student specials. Like, I can’t name like one student special that’s offered in this area. Like, I don’t know…there’s no reason, to like, go here – when I can just drive
home.
YOU CAN GET WHAT YOU NEED CLOSER TO WHERE YOU LIVE?
[Male] Yeah, yeah. And I feel like there’s student specials all over Dinkytown. They’re clearly
promoting themselves to students. Like, that’s their demographic. Where over here I don’t
know if students are their main demographic, like, I don’t know.
Ok. Would you still go to businesses in Dinkytown if they didn’t have student specials?
[Male] Sure yeah. But I mean, like, a lot of times when I do go to Dinkytown it is because they
have specials. DInkytown is also closer to where I live. So if I’m gonna go out , in general, I’m
gonna go…but an incentive to go out is like cheap burritos or cheap beer.
Yeah.
And the Burrito Loco specials are great?! [Laughter]
[Male] Yeah
So I have a quick question. So how did you find out about those student discounts?
[Male] Just being around Dinkytown and walking around East Bank. Or like word of mouth in
general. I feel like if you’re in the dorms, which is like East Bank for most people, that’s where
you go is Dinkytown, and you familiarize yourself with that. And you also like, I feel like, as
soon as you come in, everybody’s talking about Mesa Pizza or Annie’s Restaurant and…once
you hit 21 you know Blarney and Library. Like, the bars over here and all the restaurants over
here, even though they probably have the specials, you just don’t even like – at least I don’t
even like, think about it. You know.
I’m gonna recommend a great happy hour, at Acadia Café.
[Male] Like what is, where is that?
It’s Acadia Café. So if you’re like, at Carlson, and you’re on 19th which goes to Carlson and on
the other side is the parking ramp, you just walk down a block, to Riverside, and then walk
down another block and it’s right at the corner of Cedar and Riverside.
[Male listening] OK. Yeah
They have the best beer specials in town, they have delicious appetizers – amazing food. I can’t
even recommend anything… it’s just, like the best greasy fries ever. [Laughs]
[Male] See, exactly. Stuff like that, if you knew – like I don’t ever dodge these places, I just don’t
even consider it. Like, it’s like, ‘Oh well Burrito Loco has a deal tonight, let’s go.’ I’m never like
‘Burrito Loco,’ oh, well even Seven Corners – I don’t even consider going there.
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Triple Rock has ‘Bacon Wednesdays’ [laughter]. You can go there and, like, eat a crap load of
bacon.
I…uh, oh were you gonna answer?
I’M…I’M JUST GONNA GO THROUGH THIS QUESTION. AND YOU CAN…IF YOU GUYS
HAVE THINGS TO ADD THEN…DO YOU, JESS, KNOW THE BUSINESSES IN CEDAR RIVERSIDE?
No, I agree with her. I don’t have any friends that want to go over and explore, either.
ALRIGHT. BRIAN?
No. I, I just make a bee-line to where I gotta go. Class, and then right back to East Bank. So I’m
kind of a…(Can’t hear..)
AND I, I DON’T THINK I’VE HEARD FROM YOU. WOULD YOU SAY YOU KNOW MOST OF
WHAT’S OFFERED IN CEDAR RIVER—IN WEST BANK?
Probably I do. And it’s mainly because I went there and found out about it.
OK. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD?
Well just the same thing that she said. And more…people that recommend different places to go
to other people what they experience and explore it… and sometimes you yourself have to be
the one who’s exploring in order to go past to find out and that way you don’t miss out on all
the deals.
OK. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU EVERYONE. DO ANY OF YOU FEEL THAT ANY TYPES OF
BUSINESSES ARE MISSING FROM THE WEST BANK? JUST ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS OFFERING. IT CAN BE SOMETHING RELATED TO A TYPE OF RESTAURANT, A TYPE OF
PLACE TO…A KIND OF BAR… A KIND OF… ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS OFFERING THAT
MIGHT BE MISSING? THAT YOU THINK MIGHT ENCOURAGE YOU OR YOUR CLASSMATES OR FRIENDS TO GO OVER HERE MORE OFTEN?
I think that the only thing that really isn’t over her is like mainstream clothing store or really,
really established places. Like there are a ton of small nooks and crannies on the West Bank full
of great businesses but they’re not as established or as concentrated as the ones in Dinkytown.
OK.
[Longer pause of silence]
I don’t think there’s even very many well-established clothing places in the East Bank either.
And I don’t think it’s really fair for me to answer this question because I don’t really know
what’s over here.
OK.
[Male] Yeah again I’m not really that familiar with what there actually is here, but I know there’s
a Chipotle somewhere around here. That just seems just like a college staple, that if they like
would… I mean I feel like wherever there’s a Chipotle students will flock to that. [Laughter in
group] And stuff like that, I feel like the things that work in Dinkytown, there’s no reason they
wouldn’t work for students…like, the pizza by the slice type places, like cheap, on-the-run sub
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shops, stuff like that – where I just need lunch. That’s why people are usually over here, if they
don’t live here, to just grab a lunch-type meal. Something cheap and easy.
OK.
I would sort of have to say the same type of thing. I’m thinking, not to be like, all-commercial or
whatever, but I feel like for college students if they know and recognize the Chipotles or Subways. The stuff that’s easy, and convenient – they’re more comfortable with, and they would be
more likely to frequent versus some place that they’re unfamiliar with. I feel like there could be
more of that easy, convenient type-places that you could pick up a quick lunch or a quick coffee.
And I know that they have a Jimmy John’s…I think? Right? Maybe, maybe more things like
that.
SO MORE FAMILIAR THINGS TO GET PEOPLE TO KIND OF, COME OUT AND EXPLORE…
Yeah.
AND THEN MAYBE SEE SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF? [people talking, yeahs]
I agree.
I disagree because I think that by adding more or, a lot of established, like, corporate businesses,
like Chipotle, like Noodles & Co. – that will detract from businesses that are here, that deserve
the attention that those places do.
I actually, sort of, have a little problem with that because I think that if there is a Noodles or a
Chipotle it’s – it draws people in so that maybe someone will go ‘Oh there’s this and that here,
and might as well try it.’ Cuz that happens to me a lot when I’m on the East Bank. If there’s
something like sort of like where I would go when I’m at home and then I see a little, other restaurant that I haven’t heard of, I just walk in. That’s what I feel.
OK.
I agree with you because if there is a Chipotle on the West Bank or there’s a Noodles…it’s not
going to get people into the more culturally-diverse areas to go shopping, or for food. So I think
it would detract from the other businesses if there were. And that’s the – that’s the reason you
look for a new experience. You get what’s on the East Bank and bring it to West Bank, that’s totally – it’s not the point. You’re supposed to go find new experiences, find a new place to go,
and find new specials maybe. And by bringing them in, you’re just creating another East Bank.
And I mean, to point out, for those of you who don’t know. The Noodles and the Chipotle are in
Seven Corners, which is about a half-mile away from the proper Cedar Riverside intersection.
And the Jimmy John’s is another half-mile down from there. So, there are those places. They’re
just not as close to campus as they could be because of like, already established businesses.
OK, ALRIGHT. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR OPINIONS ON THAT. I KNOW THAT
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I APPRECIATE HEARING FROM ALL OF YOU… AND THIS MIGHT APPLY – SOME OF YOU MIGHT
BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION MORE THAN OTHERS, BUT THAT’S OK.
SO I’M GOING TO ASK: WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WEST BANK RESTAURANTS, BARS,
THEATERS, OR SHOPS? ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
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[Pause]
I feel like there’s a different feeling in the West Bank. I can go get Thai food or Somali food or
whatever kind of food I want on the same street, compared to East Bank.
Now it’s kind of interesting because I – I like to come over here because it’s not populated by
students. And I feel like what you’re trying to do with this focus group is understand how to get
more student involvement in the Cedar Riverside area. And so, the reason I come over here is
because it’s an older crowd, it’s a non-University crowd, it’s more diverse as far as the kind of
people you are going to meet. And so that, that’s why I come over here, that’s my draw.
OK, WELL IN OUR FOCUS GROUP, WE’RE NOT TRYING TO, WELL WE’RE TRYING TO
JUST LEARN ABOUT THE WHAT THE PERCEPTIONS ARE THAT STUDENTS HAVE IN REGARD TO CEDAR RIVERSIDE AND THE WEST BANK. WE’RE NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING NECESSARILY -- WE’RE JUST TRYING TO LEARN MORE.
ANYONE ELSE? WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT WEST BANK SHOPS, THEATERS…?
I just think it has a lot to offer, culturally and in terms of just, you being – you being able to find
just whatever it is you want to find. If you want to go buy a skirt and then go get some…Somali
food, or if you want to go into the community, you can go to the school or go to the Brian Coyle
Center, which is a community center. It just has this – it has a lot of…it’s its own little community that people aren’t aware of. You can learn, and you can meet new people and just the other
day – I went into Mixed Blood Theatre. I had never been to Mixed Blood Theatre and I just went
it and saw this really good show, it’s just, no one tells me ‘Oh go see that.’ I just go walk past it, I
enter the door. I feel so comfortable just exploring, myself.
OK.
What I like about the neighborhood, it’s probably just starting a conversation with the University students, if I ever get a chance, to get them to come to the neighborhood. And just kind of
dispelling stigmas about the neighborhood and misconceptions. Cuz a lot of people just don’t
know a lot about the neighborhood and they just have preconceived notions about what the
neighborhood is. Once they get in, they just figure out it’s just like any other neighborhood.
WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK IS…ARE STRENGTHS OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD? AND THIS
AREA?
I think the fact that, I don’t know, it is – there’s a lot of diversity. I think that’s what’s really,
really great about this area. And, granted I don’t have that much exposure, and I think I need
more, I think that I am sort of a culprit to these preconceived notions from the emails. And
that’s the exposure that I get. So I’m sort of culprit to that. So I think that diversity is really the
strong point.
AND, IN THIS QUESTION -- I’LL JUST ASK SO WE CAN KEEP MOVING. YOU CAN NAME
SOME STRENGTHS AND THEN ALONG WITH SOME BARRIERS OR KIND OF WEAKNESSES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD? IF YOU CAN KIND OF SHARE BOTH OF THOSE.
[Male] Once again, I’m not very familiar here. And I don’t think much of it. But I imagine if it’s
closer, close to downtown, that would probably qualify as a strength. And even though the dis-
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tance isn’t that big of a factor, just the fact that it’s over a river—for me and for a lot of students
just probably makes it seem a lot farther than it actually is.
I think one of the greatest strengths is the area is how accessible it is by every route you can
imagine. There are numerous ways to get here just by walking, biking, there are half a dozen
buses that go through and if you’re committed to the parking, you can find it. And just kind of
stroll along to get to where you need to go. I think, I think it’s a very accessible neighborhood.
And that’s a great part of it. And then I think that a weakness might be like just the state of the
neighborhood – like, the streets are really broken down, very pothole-y, the sidewalks aren’t
[?]…there’s a lot of trash around, things like that.
I don’t mean to like, interject, but that might be like my barrier – the accessibility. I don’t know,
It’s a trip – a longer trip for me to get over here. And parking, it always seems to be an issue for
me. So that in itself is a barrier, in addition to the fact that if I were to go out in Seven Corners at
the end of the night it’s an issue, how to get home and I’d probably end up having to take a taxi
– although if I did bike, I could if it’s nice. I don’t know but they’re all factors. But, to me, accessibility is sort of a barrier.
OK. THANK YOU.
I think that the cultural diversity is a plus, but I think that it can also be a – a barrier to some
people. I think that some people just walk into Cedar Riverside and get culture shock. It seems
to me, they just, it’s really different to what they see everywhere else. I just, I just think that they
might assume that that’s what all the businesses and restaurants were all catering to one kind of
person.
THANK YOU.
I think that going along with what Megan said, that just goes along with it’s kind of isolated
from the rest of campus and people aren’t really familiar with it so it’s kind of a barrier.
[Male] I think a strength is there’s still a really strong community-feel over here compared to,
say, maybe Como Ave even just because … I feel like it’s diverse, sure, but there’s also this huge
East African presence that’s like really communal and nice. Like you drive around the streets
around here and you always see like old men out like conversing on the street and stuff like
that, you don’t see that in Como. You go to Como and it’s like one house is a 70-year old lady
who doesn’t wanna leave and the next one is like 20-year olds who move out every nine months
and are replaced by other 20-year olds. And it’s not really like a community. But over here
there’s definitely that communal feel, which I think is really good, it’s just if they could somehow incorporate that to students, or people who don’t live here. Like there’s a community here,
but I don’t really feel a part of it.
OK.
[Pause]
ANYONE ELSE WANT TO COMMENT ON THE STRENGTHS OR CHALLENGES?
No, I think it’s just so community-based that … yeah I understand why some students don’t feel
like they’re a part of that community. It’s just that a majority are East Africans, but at the same
time a lot of people have to go into the community, to do – like whether they’re doing workU n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a – Tw i n C i t i e s!
113
study or just a project or something. And once they start talking to the people it’s just like they
click, and the community doesn’t shut itself out from the rest of the University population I
think it’s the opposite.
OK. ANYTHING ELSE?
SO IF YOU WERE A BUSINESS OWNER, GENERALLY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO BRING
IN U OF M STUDENTS?
[Pause]
Advertise. There has to be a way for, I mean, there’s thousands of students here that have like
no idea – that’s just reality – that have no idea what there is to offer. If there’s some way you
could like make a booklet that’s handed out by the Daily, pick one up at the beginning of school
and like, here’s this mom & pop, hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop, here’s what we have to offer.
Like, I’m sure people – I think that most people would rather go this like hole-in-the-wall type
of place if it’s good and high-quality, compared to like, Subway. But we don’t know it like, exists.
But in order for that to happen, in a sense, the University has to take that first step – cuz a lot of
these -Absolutely
[Continues] A lot of these don’t have connections to the college or University, you know? So in
order for me to be able to see stuff in the Daily – like, you guys are in Carlson and I’m sure you
guys are into business and stuff, so this could be something you could go on to actually start
something to change the culture in Carlson
Yeah, it’s gotta be both.
And it’s interesting because I’m pretty sure that Bob Bruininks worked really heavily to develop
the Stadium Village area to be a very high-focused, student environment. And let’s say the next
University president does the same thing to integrate the West Bank and have
That could be one of the best things, for the neighborhood, too. Just more participation with the
University, I mean, Stadium Village wouldn’t have as many offerings as it does if it wasn’t for
Bob Bruininks’ huge goal to get it –
And those little coupon books, you know, you see. Like those are almost all East Bank businesses. If they could do that for over here.
I mean, yeah, Stadium Village stretches for quite a ways [yeahs, agreement] Like down University. So that’s the same situation here, it’s just not as clean – it’s not as brand-new. It’s these like
dirty bars that have been here for like 30-40 years.
I think with the community, the University of Minnesota involvement in it would be getting
people to put a lot more pressure on the City to fix the roads. And since that community is here,
there’s no reason that all the taxpayers shouldn’t … especially with all these students that have
to drive past there. It’s very dangerous with all those potholes and with the garbage out there,
so there’s no reason why the city should do something about it. And if the university took up
that issue to help, ‘cause it is part of the community. And they seem to have a connection with
the Como area and all over the East Bank, so if they take on the same role with the CedarU n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a – Tw i n C i t i e s!
114
Riverside community area it’ll look cleaner, and even get people who are away from the University of Minnesota community to come into it.
Yeah, I’ll point out that I live just on 15th in Dinkytown, so kind of the main drag, and during
the football season when everyone would be like trashing Dinkytown, throwing all their bottles
and garbage everywhere, the university sent out cleanup crews to Dinkytown neighborhoods to
clean up. And they put out extra trash bins to do that, so if the university sends cleanup crews
and their facilities management staff out into the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, it’ll be so
much cleaner so much quicker. And it wouldn’t be a factor of like strangers coming in and
dumping all the [couldn’t hear phrase] and really being able to clean it up [couldn’t hear
phrase].
I’m sure that sends a good message to the people that live here too, if you would send university students out to go clean up the area, like I’m pretty sure that’s a way to get accepted into
the community. Instead of helping yourselves, like go and helping the community.
Yeah, I mean, it’s appreciated, ‘cause like all that trash in my yard, I didn’t put it there, and I
don’t really want to clean it up, so that when the U comes and does it, I’m just like, all right!
I agree--I think there needs to be a greater connection between the University and the West Bank
area. If I were a business owner, I would consider doing student—University of Minnesota student deals and discounts, advertising heavily on the West Bank, but also more importantly on
the East Bank, because people on the West Bank have more exposure naturally to it anyways, vs.
On the East Bank, you are secluded and all your classes are over there, you have no idea unless
you get exposure through—whether coupons, fliers, something like that, so. . . .
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ABOUT WHAT MIGHT MAKE SOME OF
YOUR FRIENDS OR CLASSMATES OR STUDENTS IN GENERAL . . . ?
I thought of a student [couldn’t hear word] on the West Bank. Is it Midwest Mountaineering,
you get a certain discount with a university card? So, like . . .
I didn’t know that.
I think—I’m pretty sure I’ve seen postings on their window.
SO MOST PEOPLE ARE KIND OF IN CONSENSUS THAT MAYBE MORE ADVERTISING TO
STUDENTS WOULD HELP?
Yeah.
[general agreement]
I mean, you’re talking about this brochure and the CHANCE program has an entire thing set up
with like a restaurant guide in the area, and if that was printed in the Daily at the beginning of
each semester, I mean, just seeing that and being like, ‘Oh, wow! I can get really great east African food here. I can go to this bar and get a really awesome special after school—you know,
you’re in Carlson . . .
And I feel like eventually the word of mouth will spread, like the way people talk about Andy’s
and Mesa, that will eventually happen, but I feel like almost right now it almost has to be like
forced—here’s a pamphlet, here’s what we have. Like, it shouldn’t have to be like that, but
that’s what it is right now because people just aren’t aware. So it’s like, it has to be like directly
115
given to like here’s what we have type of deal. I mean, ‘cause, or else how would you know?
People aren’t talking about it.
Yeah, I mean, take the shadow off the Cedar-Riverside area.
Sure.
Talk about it.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR [couldn’t hear world]. IT’S BEEN VERY
HELPFUL FOR US. NOW WE’RE GONNA MOVE ON TO KIND OF OUR FINAL EXERCISE.
AND, JULIE IS GOING TO . . . EACH TABLE THAT YOU GUYS ARE SITTING . . . WE HAVE
TWO OF YOU AT EACH TABLE, WE’RE GONNA GIVE YOU A SET OF SIX ADVERTISEMENTS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED BY THE WEST BANK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
AND THE WEST BANK HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW BRANDING AND MARKETING CAMPAIGN. THEY USE THE SLOGAN ‘WEST BANK. REAL. DIFFERENT.’ OK. HOW
MANY—CAN I—AFTER YOU KIND OF LOOK AT THESE CAN I JUST GET A SHOW OF
HANDS: HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THESE ADS BEFORE TODAY?
I think maybe.
ONE MAYBE? ANY FOR SURE SEEN IT? ANYONE FOR SURE THAT THEY’VE SEEN
THESE? NO.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THESE SPECIFIC ADS, BUT ANY—
OR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE—
ANYTHING WITH THAT CAMPAIGN, LIKE THE LOGO—
THIS LOGO. YEP. HAS ANYONE SEEN THIS LOGO BEFORE?
The West Bank logo?
YEAH.
If I did, I don’t recognize it.
NO? OK. JUST CHECKING. JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT. AND SO WHAT WE’RE GONNA
ASK YOU TO DO IS KINDA JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THESE AND YOU CAN TALK
AMONGST EACH OTHER FOR A FEW MINUTES AND JUST WHAT ARE YOU GENERAL
IMPRESSIONS OF THESE ADS? DO YOU THINK THAT THEY CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF
THE WEST BANK? WHY OR WHY NOT? AND DO THE ADS MAKE YOU MORE INTERESTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WEST BANK OR VISIT THE WEST BANK? AND SO
JUST YOU CAN THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS YOU
CAN WRITE THEM DOWN. AND YOU CAN JUST TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO LOOK AT
THESE ADS AND JUST HAVE SOME GENERAL IMPRESSIONS OF THEM.
Well, it looks like their focus is toward the music. I mean, for these two it says music, but then
over here it says, ‘aside from the best entertainment venues in town . . .’
Yeah. [can’t hear comment]
Right.
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ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY FIRST IMPRESSIONS?
I really like the ‘think globally, shop locally,’ because I think that a lot of people do think of like
diversity over here. And then, when you think of that, I mean it’s like the perfect slogan. It’s
great.
HOW ‘BOUT A MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION. GOING BACK TO THE SLOGAN, AS YOU
CAN SEE IT SAYS ‘WEST BANK.’ AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM IT SAYS, ‘REAL. DIFFERENT.’ AS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS, DO YOU LIKE THIS SLOGAN? DO YOU THINK
THAT THIS WORKS FOR THE WEST BANK?
When I looked at it, my first impression, just at first glance, the West Bank sort of logo sort of
looked like a sort of like a police—I don’t know—logo.
IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A POLICE BADGE?
Yeah.
A little bit, it’s got the little ‘Minneapolis’ on the bottom of it . . .
WITH THE STAR, MAYBE?
Yeah.
I mean, I like the style because it’s towards like the gear head aspect that the West Bank has, like
there’s kind of like a heavy, like, biker vibe over here, and I think it appeals to that sort of like
independent thing.
OK.
I enjoy it. I feel like it wouldn’t be like a favorite logo of mine, [can’t hear comment]
OK. ANYONE ELSE?
‘Real. Different.’ I don’t really . . .
YOU DON’T REALLY . . .
It doesn’t . . . I don’t get it.
OK.
Like, it’s real different.
[laughter]
I get it.
YOU LIKE IT?
Yeah, I do. I just wonder what the colors are.
YEAH, WE DON’T HAVE THIS IN COLOR.
OK.
BUT I THINK IT’S RED—
IT’S RED AND YELLOW—
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GOLD—
YEAH, GOLD.
I like that. I didn’t think of it as a police badge ‘till you said so and now that’s all I can think of,
so . . .
It could subconsciously promote safety.
[laughter]
Yeah, ‘we’re the entertainment police.’
_____, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE ADS?
I like the ‘Real. Different.’ part. I think it’s totally true [missed comment] to reality and the West
Bank. I’m not, like, so sure about the layout of the logo. So, I don’t know, I think they could do
something else.
OK.
______, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE ADS?
I mean, for me it’s kinda hard to whether the ads give a good [can’t hear word] of the West
Bank.
OK.
I mean, this isn’t the kind of stuff that appeals to me.
SO DO THESE MAKE YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WEST BANK, OR VISIT
IT MORE?
Not really. I’m not dogging on it, it just doesn’t seem like my kind of thing is all it is.
OK, SO THEY JUST DON’T REALLY APPEAL TO YOU.
I feel like they’re just reinforcing the stereotype that we have for the West Bank. And they don’t
really see any, like, students per se in the pictures, so it doesn’t really make me thing of like being related to the university.
Just a question, can I ask what the stereotype is?
I think that’s just [can’t hear word] and diverse.
And you would see that as a negative?
No, I just thought it’s reinforcing.
OK.
The stereotype doesn’t have to be negative.
No, no, I understand, just wondering if that’s like a positive thing—
It doesn’t make me feel they’re, kind of—
Does it make it feel like this is a culture I’m not a part of? Like this doesn’t appeal to me because
this isn’t the culture I’m in?
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WE’LL JUST SKIP—I’M JUST GONNA—WE DON’T NEED TO NECESSARILY ASK QUESTIONS OF EACH OTHER. I DON’T WANNA PUT ____ ON THE SPOT, THAT’S ALL.
Yeah, I was just—
SO, JUST ANY IMPRESSIONS OF THE ADS?
I like the two guys smiling.
YOU LIKE THOSE?
Yeah.
WHAT ARE YOUR—DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADS THAT LIKE—OF THE SIX, ARE
THERE ANY THAT YOU LIKE A LOT? OR SOME THAT ARE MORE CONFUSING TO YOU,
THAT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE EXACTLY ADVERTISING?
I like number four. I don’t know why—I just really like that.
OK.
Number one.
THE BIKE ONE?
Just looks neat.
OK.
I just had my bike grill stolen, so I—
[laughter]
—went to the bike shop.
_____, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE ADS?
I like number four, too. Like, and the overall, like the ‘Real. Different.’ I don’t think it’s really
like reinforcing stereotypes, it’s pushing students to think, or whoever is looking at it to understand that the neighborhood might look a little different, but it has a lot to offer so just come in
there, like expecting whatever happens.
YEAH.
I think it highlights a lot of what West Bank has to offer. Like in number four, ‘think globally,’
there’s a lot of clothing and accessories that you can get locally. And I’m not a bike person, but
here’s bikes for those who like it. And music, and I mean I think it just appeals to everyone’s
inner need, like music and biking and clothes. And I don’t see anything about food, here.
OK. SO THAT’S KIND OF MISSING, YOU WOULD SAY.
Yeah.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK THAT STUDENTS ON THE WEST BANK, OR STUDENTS IN
GENERAL, DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD MAKE YOUR PEERS OR CLASSMATES MORE
INTERESTED IN THE WEST BANK? DO THESE APPEAL TO STUDENTS?
119
I think it would expose them to potential places they could go. I mean, I don’t know if it’ll drive
them to come to the West Bank. I think it’ll cause them to go, ‘Oh, cool. There’s some clothing to
get out there. Oh, cool. There’s some shows that maybe I can see in the future.
OK.
It might not be immediate impact, but it might be exposure.
I think that it’s exposure as well, and a segue into that, maybe like listing certain businesses
would be effective.
LIKE THE LOCATIONS OF WHERE THE PICTURES ARE?
Yeah, yeah. To sort of like have them be able to make a mental connect, like, you obviously understand the ideas that they’re trying to put across, but the students might be still confused, like
OK, but like what are these places, then, and where are they?
OK.
So that could be even more effective.
OK.
And also, like even if the students themselves do not want to go out and venture into this community [can’t hear word] that are shown in these pictures, they at least think of, ‘hey, West Bank
has this’ instead of, you know, all this crime. And they can say, OK, West Bank—now they can
start thinking more of, instead of Carlson, they can start thinking of a bike shop or restaurants,
or places to shop. Even if they themselves don’t go out there.
OK. SO YOU THINK IT DOES A GOOD JOB OF KIND OF JUST SHOWING MORE OF
WHAT’S AVAILABLE IN WEST BANK, OUTSIDE OF THE CAMPUS PART.
I think it would be nice if there were young people that could replace the individuals on this,
kind of. Young people can relate more to young people their own age.
Or like even university students, like have them shopping, or have them looking at bikes or
have them, you know, on a microphone, or whatever. Just have them—
SHOW HOW A UNIVERSITY STUDENT COULD INTERACT IN THESE—
Yeah, and just, and then you could, that way, just reinforce the fact that, ‘yeah, we as University
of Minnesota students are welcomed in this community’ sort of thing.
OK.
CAN I JUST, I JUST WANT A QUICK SHOW OF HANDS, WHO, AT FIRST GLANCE, LIKE
WHEN YOU SAW THIS SLOGAN, THE ‘REAL. DIFFERENT.’ WHO LIKED IT? [three raise
hands]
OK, AND THEN WHO DIDN’T LIKE IT?
I felt indifferent.
OR FELT INDIFFERENT, LIKE IT DIDN’T APPEAL TO YOU. IF IT DIDN’T APPEAL TO YOU,
RAISE YOUR HAND. [five raise hands]
I don’t like hate it.
120
OK, THAT’S FINE, I JUST WANTED TO GET A QUICK SHOW OF HANDS. THANK YOU.
YEAH, THANKS. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO ADD TO THIS
DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE ADS, SPECIFICALLY? JUST ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
For the band ones, they could put like upcoming shows, as well as the location of where they
are.
OK, LIKE ADVERTISE WHAT’S COMING UP?
Yeah, yeah.
OK. ANYTHING ELSE?
I think that this was mentioned earlier, if they had one that showed like some crazy food or
something.
[laughter]
YEAH, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE GETTING AT THE DINING ASPECT? OK. ALL RIGHT,
WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE. DOES ANY—NOW THIS IS A SUMMARY RELATED TO
THE WHOLE DISCUSSION. JULIE IS GOING TO KIND OF DO A QUICK SUMMARY OF
WHAT SHE KINDA HEARD, SUMMARIZE OUR DISCUSSION. IT’S BEEN—WE HAVE A
LOT OF COMMENTS, SO IT MIGHT NOT BE . . . BUT SHE’S GONNA DO THIS, AND THEN
AFTER SHE GIVES HER SUMMARY, YOU GUYS CAN KINDA ADD QUALIFIERS OR IF YOU
DISAGREE OR AGREE.
WELL, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WE HAVE ABOUT HALF AND HALF THAT ARE PRETTY
EXPERIENCED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT AREN’T, SO IT’S GREAT TO
HAVE THAT BALANCE AND THE PERSPECTIVES OF BOTH SIDES.
[laughter]
IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING, WE HAVE THIS GREAT DIVIDE RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
OF THE ROOM.
IT’S GREAT.
NO, IT’S WONDERFUL TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALL ARE
INTERESTED IN QUALITY, AFFORDABLE FOOD, AND TRANSPORTATION ALSO CAME
UP A LOT—PARKING OR TRANSPORTATION. AND THEN, LET’S SEE, AND JUST BEING
FAMILIAR WITH IT, AND SO IF THERE’S A LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA
THEN THERE’S SORT OF THIS SENSE THAT YOU’RE NOT REALLY SURE WHAT’S THERE,
OR YOU’RE NOT REALLY SURE IF YOU’RE WELCOME THERE, YOU DON’T REALLY FEEL
SAFE THERE, MAYBE. SO, SO IT’S JUST THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS A KEY
FACTOR IN HOW COMFORTABLE YOU FEEL THERE. AND, LET’S SEE, WHAT ELSE? AND
AS FAR AS THE ADS GO, I REALLY LIKED—APPRECIATED THOSE COMMENTS, THOSE
WERE GREAT. THAT YOU WANT SOME MORE STUDENTS, AND MORE ABOUT THE
FOOD, ‘CAUSE THAT KIND OF IS A DRAW FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. AND THE
LOGO, HAD DIFFERING LEVELS OF APPEAL TO STUDENTS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO OUR SUMMARY? YEAH, THAT WAS OK?
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I THINK WE’RE DONE. AND THANK YOU, JUST THANK YOU SO
121
MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING AND FOR SHARING. WE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US TO HEAR FROM STUDENTS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE WEST BANK AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR SHARING. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD
TO CONTINUE OUR RESEARCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WEST BANK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THE WEST BANK COMMUNITY COALITION, AND THE CEDAR-RIVERSIDE
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM. SO WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU CAN TAKE SOME FOOD AS YOU LEAVE, JUST HAND IN
YOUR YELLOW SHEETS; ALSO YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.
AND I HAVE A SHOUT-OUT TOO: WE’LL BE DOING A REALLY BIG, LARGE-SCALE SURVEY, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IF WE E-MAIL YOU IF YOU COULD ANSWER
THE SURVEY AND THEN SPREAD IT AMONGST YOUR FRIENDS. JUST SO WE GET SOME
MORE IDEAS FROM MORE FOLKS.
YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANKS FOR COMING!
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.
D5—Ads Used in Focus Groups
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E1—Survey Instrument: Off-Campus Socializing, Shopping, and Dining
1. Welcome!
Thank you for adding your voice to the community in which you live, work, and study. Your
responses will strengthen University-community relationships for you and future students at
the University of Minnesota. It will only take you about ten minutes to answer these questions.
If you need to exit the survey and complete it at a later time, please select that option at the top
of your screen. A reminder to complete the survey will be e-mailed to you.
Your responses to this survey are confidential. We will have no way to identify you with your
responses.
This survey will close on May 1.
(show/hide trigger question) (simple page jumping)
1. Are you a current student enrolled at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus? *
•
Yes
•
No
(hidden)
2. In what level of study are you currently enrolled?
•
Undergraduate
•
Graduate or Professional
•
Non-degree Seeking
(hidden)
3. What is your field of study?
2. General Patterns
This page will address some of the general patterns of your life.
(show/hide trigger question)
4. Where do you live while attending the University of Minnesota?
-- Please Select -- on-campus housing (dorm or apartment) / off campus
(hidden)
Select the dorm or apartment in which you currently live.
•
Bailey Hall
•
Comstock Hall
•
Sanford Hall
•
Middlebrook Hall
124
•
Centennial Hall
•
Frontier Hall
•
Pioneer Hall
•
Territorial Hall
•
University Village
•
Mark G. Yudof Hall
•
Roy Wilkins Hall
(hidden)
Select the neighborhood in which you currently live.
•
Cedar-Riverside
•
Como
•
Dinkytown/Marcy-Holmes
•
Downtown Minneapolis
•
Prospect Park
•
Seven Corners
•
Seward
•
Stadium Village
•
Other Minneapolis neighborhood
•
Saint Paul
•
Other Twin Cities metropolitan neighborhood
•
Outside Twin Cities metropolitan area in Minnesota
•
Other state
5. Are you employed in addition to attending the University of Minnesota? If so, where? (select
all that apply if you work in more than one location)
•
Do not work
•
On campus—East Bank
•
On campus—West Bank
•
On campus—other
•
Cedar-Riverside
•
Como
•
•
125
•
Prospect Park
•
Seven Corners
•
Seward
•
Stadium Village
•
•
Saint Paul
•
•
•
Other state
6. Where are your classes located during the current semester?
•
All East Bank
•
Mostly East Bank
•
Roughly half East Bank, half West Bank
•
Mostly West Bank
•
All West Bank
•
Other
(simple page jumping)
7. How do you travel when you are off campus? (select all that apply)
•
Drive
•
Ride with someone else/carpool
•
Bus/train
•
Walk
•
Bicycle
•
Motorcycle/scooter
•
Rollerblade/skate/skateboard
•
Other
3. Current Activities
For these questions, please consider your activities in the past seven days.
(show/hide trigger question) (hiding all after) (simple page jumping)
8. In the last week, if you went off campus for dining, shopping, or entertainment, where did
you go? (select all that apply)
•
Didn't leave campus for those reasons
126
•
Cedar-Riverside
•
Como
•
•
•
Prospect Park
•
Seven Corners
•
Seward
•
Stadium Village
•
•
Saint Paul
•
•
•
Other state
•
Not sure/can't remember
9. In the last week, what activities did you engage in off campus? (select all that apply)
•
Dining
•
Drinking
•
Dancing
•
Spending time at a coffee shop
•
Studying/computer use at public wi-fi/coffee shop
•
Live music (club)
•
Live music (concert hall)
•
Live theater
•
Other live entertainment
•
Movies
•
Athletic event
•
Grocery shopping
•
Clothes shopping
•
Other shopping
•
None
•
•
Other
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10. In the last week, which of these neighborhoods did you enter? (select all that apply)
•
Cedar-Riverside
•
Como
•
Dinkytown
•
•
Seven Corners
•
Seward
•
Stadium Village
•
West Bank
•
•
None of the above
11. In the last week, if you went off campus for dining, shopping, or entertainment, what factor(s) influenced your choice(s) of where you went? (select all that apply)
•
Proximity to work/home
•
Favorite hangout
•
Cool people go there
•
Friends decided where to go
•
Good food
•
Good entertainment
•
Good prices
•
Student specials
•
Coupon or other special offer (not student special)
•
Saw a recent ad
•
Attractive storefront
•
Wanted to try a new place
•
Recommendation of a friend
•
Wanted to see musician/band/show
•
•
Other
4. Impressions of campus-area neighborhoods
For this section, please let us know your impressions about the areas around campus.
12. I have a positive impression of . . .
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Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Not Applicable
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Not Applicable
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Not Applicable
Cedar-Riverside
Dinkytown
Downtown
Minneapolis
Seven Corners
Seward
Stadium Village
West Bank
13. I feel that . . . is safe.
Strongly
agree
Cedar-Riverside
Dinkytown
Downtown
Minneapolis
Seven Corners
Seward
Stadium Village
West Bank
14. When I want to have fun, I go to . . .
Strongly
agree
Agree
Cedar-Riverside
Dinkytown
Downtown
Minneapolis
Seven Corners
Seward
Stadium Village
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Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Not Applicable
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Not Applicable
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Not Applicable
West Bank
15. I feel that . . . is within my budget.
Strongly
agree
Agree
Cedar-Riverside
Dinkytown
Downtown
Minneapolis
Seven Corners
Seward
Stadium Village
West Bank
16. It is convenient for me to go to . . .
Strongly
agree
Agree
Cedar-Riverside
Dinkytown
Downtown
Minneapolis
Seven Corners
Seward
Stadium Village
West Bank
5. Important factors in choosing off-campus venues
17. How important are each of these factors in choosing a venue for shopping, dining, or socializing?
130
Very important
Important
Neutral
Not important
Very unimportant
Not Applicable
Accessibility
(transportation,
parking, etc.)
Affordability
Good food/
drinks
Location (proximity to work,
home, school)
New experience/
cultural experience
Safety
Specials/student
specials
Welcoming atmosphere
6. Attitudes of People You Know
For this section, please think about your friends and others you know.
18. My friends or others I know are or would be comfortable in neighborhoods with . . .
Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Not Applicable
High Muslim population
High percentage of
the population that
are people of color
High poverty rates
Many establishments that market to
immigrant populations
131
Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Not Applicable
Many immigrant
residents, business
owners, or workers
Many residents,
business owners, or
workers who are not
native English
speakers
Reputation of high
crime rates
7. Familiarity with Area Neighborhood Resources and Marketing
19. Select which, if any, of the following online resources you've accessed.
•
www.cedarriverside.com
•
www.dinkytownminneapolis.com
•
www.marcyholmes.org
•
www.sewardbusiness.org
•
www.stadiumvillage.com
•
www.thewestbank.org
20. What do you think of when you read the slogan "Real. Different."?
21. I would be interested in checking out a venue advertising itself as "Real. Different."
•
Strongly agree
•
Agree
•
Neutral
•
Disagree
•
Strongly disagree
•
Not Applicable
22. Are you familiar with any advertising campaigns using the slogan "Real. Different."?
•
Yes
•
No
(hidden)
132
What organization, product, or service have you seen using the slogan "Real. Different."?
23. Which Minneapolis neighborhood best fits the descriptor "Real. Different."?
•
Cedar-Riverside
•
Como
•
Dinkytown
•
•
Seven Corners
•
Seward
•
Stadium Village
•
West Bank
•
Don't know
•
Other
8. Experience with Campus-area Establishments
Please check the box next to any campus-area establishment you have ever visited. (select all
that apply)
24. Art and Performing Arts Venues
• Barbara Barker Center for Dance
•
Theatre in the Round
•
Bedlam Theater
•
University Theater/Rarig Center
•
Cedar Cultural Center (The Cedar)
•
University of Minnesota Nash Gallery
•
Mixed Blood Theater
•
West Bank Arts Quarter
•
People's Center Theater
•
West Bank School of Music
•
Southern Theater
•
None of the above
•
Ted Mann Concert Hall
•
Davanni's Pizza & Hoagies (2500 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis)
•
Hard Times Cafe
•
Heavenly Daze Coffee
•
Jewel of India
•
Jimmy John's Sandwiches (2037 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis)
•
K-Wok
•
Keefer Court Bakery and Cafe
25. Restaurants/Coffee Shops
• Acadia Cafe
•
Alleaamin Coffee Shop
•
Bruck's Espresso Bar
•
Bruegger's Bagels (2515 Riverside
Ave., Minneapolis)
•
Cedar Coffee
•
Chai's Thai Restaurant
•
Chipotle (229 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis)
133
•
Kilimanjaro Cafe
•
Sagal Restaurant and Coffee
•
Lucky Dragon
•
St. Martin's Table
•
Maashaa'Allah Restaurant
•
•
Mapps Coffee & Tea
Starbucks (2515 Riverside Ave. S.,
Minneapolis)
•
Mediterranean Deli
•
•
Noodles & Co. (233 Cedar Ave. S.,
Minneapolis)
The Grill Room at the Holiday Inn
(1500 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis)
•
The Wienery
•
Town Hall Grill & Brewery
•
None of the above
•
The Corner Bar
•
Quiznos (1851 Washington Ave. S.,
Minneapolis)
•
Red Sea Bar & Restaurant
•
Sahara Restaurant
26. Bars
• 400 Bar
•
Bullwinkle's Saloon
•
Triple Rock Social Club
•
Nomad World Pub
•
None of the above
•
Palmer's Bar
•
West Bank Grocery
•
None of the above
•
Riverside Floral
•
Preston's Urban Pub
27. Grocery/Markets
• African Grocery
•
Kuik-E Mart
•
Otanga Grocery
•
Wadajir Grocery and Halal Meats
28. Shops/Malls
• Al Maqdis African International Mall
•
Alkarama Mall
•
Riverside Imports
•
Cedar Riverside Liquor Store
•
Ross West Bank Pharmacy
•
Cedar Tobacco and AAA Home
Health Care
•
Samiya Clothing Store
•
Super Bazaar
•
Depth of Field Futons and Yarnery
•
The Hub Bicycle Co-op
•
Freewheel Bike
•
Thrifty Outfitters
•
Grease Pit Bike Shop
•
•
Intercontinental Video
Winner Gas (2517 Riverside Ave.,
Minneapolis)
•
Mayday Books
•
World Beat Music & Video
•
Midwest Mountaineering
•
None of the above
134
29. Service Providers
• AMS & Associates
•
MG Pro Barbershop
•
Amaana International Travel
•
People's Center Medical Clinic
•
Amal Money Wire
•
Riverside Holistic Health Clinic
•
Associated Bank (1801 Riverside Ave.,
Minneapolis)
•
Shalom Alterations
•
Taj Salon (formerly Accent Salon)
•
Beauty Secret 1 Hair Design
•
Tawakal Express
•
Campus Travel Center
•
Universal Chiropractic Health Clinic
•
Harry's Travel, Electronics, & Shipping
•
University Travel Services
•
Holiday Inn Hotel MinneapolisMetrodome (1500 Washington Ave. S.,
Minneapolis)
•
University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview
•
West Bank Dry Cleaning and Alteration
•
None of the above
•
Kaah Express Money Wiring
•
Lottsa Tax & Accounting and Financial Planning Services
32. What do you think is missing from or underrepresented in the business mix in the
Cedar-Riverside neighborhood? (select all
that apply)
30. Do you have a favorite establishment in
Cedar-Riverside/West Bank?
• Yes
• No
(hidden)
31. What is your favorite Cedar-Riverside/
West Bank establishment?
(hidden)
What do you like about it?
•
Co-op
•
Drive-thru coffee
•
Hardware store
•
Ice cream store
•
Laundromat
•
Movie theater
•
Pizza by the slice
•
Standard grocery/market
•
To-go food
•
Don't know
•
Other
135
9. Campus-area Neighborhood Knowledge
33. Select the number or numbers marking Cedar-Riverside on this map. (select all that apply)
•
1
•
5
•
9
•
2
•
6
•
10
•
3
•
7
•
Don't know
•
4
•
8
136
10. Campus-area Neighborhood Knowledge
34. Select the number or numbers marking West Bank on this map. (select all that apply)
•
1
•
5
•
9
•
2
•
6
•
10
•
3
•
7
•
Don't know
•
4
•
8
11. Personal Information
Please tell us a few basic facts about yourself.
35. Age
•
Under 18
•
18 to 20 years
137
•
21 to 24 years
•
25 to 29 years
•
30 to 34 years
•
35 to 39 years
•
40 to 44 years
•
45 and over
36. Gender
•
Male
•
Female
37. Race (select all that apply)
•
White, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
•
White, of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
•
Black or African American
•
American Indian or Alaska Native
•
Asian
•
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
•
Other race
38. Education level (mark highest level attained)
•
Some college or associate degree
•
Bachelor's degree
•
Master's degree
•
Professional degree
•
Doctorate degree
E2—Survey “Cover Letter”
Need a study break?
Want a chance to win fabulous prizes from neighborhood merchants?
Have opinions to share?
Let your voice be heard in building neighborhood relations around campus. Research sponsored by the CHANCE program of the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota seeks
U of M students' opinions in a study that will help increase engagement and collaboration between the University and its surrounding neighborhoods.
138
Just 10 minutes of your time will help your campus and community. Get involved! Click
http://umn.chance.sgizmo.com. Then forward this link to your friends so they can participate
as well.
All students who complete the survey may choose to be entered into a random drawing to win
one of the following prizes:
• $25 Nomad World Pub gift card
• $15 Palmer's gift card
• two tickets to a show of your choice at the Cedar Cultural Center
• two tickets to a show of your choice at Bedlam Theatre
Thanks for your help!
Gabriele Anderson
Teresa Obrero
Julie Price
E3—Demographic comparison tables
Table 17. Age Ranges for Undergraduates, 2009–2010
S U RV E Y R E S P O N D E N T S
NUMBER
R E G I S T R AT I O N D ATA
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
18-20
36
45%
13,964
48.79%
21-24
44
55%
11,404
39.85%
25-34
0
0%
2,530
8.84%
35+
0
0%
712
2.49%
NA
0
0%
9
0.03%
80
100%
28,619
100%
T O TA L
Table 18. Age Ranges for Graduate and Professional Students, 2009–2010
NUMBER
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
18-20
2
1.85%
15
0.09%
21-24
29
26.85%
3,219
18.65%
139
NUMBER
25-34
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
72
66.67%
10,584
61.31%
35+
5
4.63%
3,436
19.9%
NA
0
0%
8
0.05%
108
100%
17,262
100%
T O TA L
Table 19. Age Ranges for Total Student Population, 2009–2010
NUMBER
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
18-20
38
20.21%
13,979
30.47%
21-24
73
38.83%
14,623
31.87%
25-34
72
38.3%
13,114
28.58%
35+
5
2.66%
4,148
9.04%
NA
0
0%
17
0.04%
188
100%
29.921
100%
T O TA L
Table 20. Undergraduates by Gender, 2009–2010
NUMBER
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
MALE
19
23.75%
14,352
47.97%
FEMALE
61
76.25%
15,569
52.03%
T O TA L
80
100%
29.921
100%
140
Table 21. Graduate and Professional Students by Gender, 2009–2010
NUMBER
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
MALE
23
22.12%
8.612
48.4%
FEMALE
81
77.88%
9.183
51.6%
104
100%
17,795
100%
T O TA L
Table 22. Total Student Population by Gender, 2009–2010
NUMBER
MALE
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
43
23.37%
22,964
48.13%
FEMALE
141
76.63%
24,752
51.87%
T O TA L
184
100%
47,716
100%
Table. 23. Race and Ethnicity of Undergraduates, 2009–2010
NUMBER
WHITE, NON-
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
75
91.46%
21,293
72.29%
W H I T E , H I S PA N I C
0
0%
716
2.43%
ASIAN
5
6.1%
2,549
8.65%
BLACK OR AFRICAN
1
1.22%
1,328
4.51%
OTHER
1
1.22%
3,570
12.12%
T O TA L
82
100%
29,456
100%
H I S PA N I C
AMERICAN
141
Table 24. Race and Ethnicity of Graduate and Professional Students, 2009–2010
NUMBER
WHITE, NON-
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
89
81.65%
11,478
65.81%
3
2.75%
378
2.17%
12
11.01%
1,017
5.83%
4
3.67%
491
2.82%
OTHER
1
0.92%
4,076
23.37%
T O TA L
109
100%
17,440
100%
H I S PA N I C
ASIAN
BLACK OR AFRICAN
AMERICAN
Table 25. Race and Ethnicity for Total Student Population, 2009–2010
NUMBER
WHITE, NON-
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
167
86.98%
32,771
69.88%
4
2.08%
1,094
2.33%
16
8.33%
3,566
7.6%
5
2.6%
1,819
3.88%
OTHER
0
0
7,646
16.3%
T O TA L
192
100%
48,896
100%
H I S PA N I C
ASIAN
BLACK OR AFRICAN
AMERICAN
Table 26. Education Level of Enrolled Students, 2009–2010
NUMBER
U N D E R G R A D U AT E
PERCENT
79
42.25%
NUMBER
29,921
PERCENT
62.71%
142
NUMBER
G R A D U AT E /
PERCENT
NUMBER
PERCENT
108
57.57%
17,795
37.29%
187
100%
47,716
100%
PROFESSIONAL
T O TA L
143
E4—Favorite establishments and what students like about them
W H AT I S Y O U R FAV O R-
W H AT D O Y O U L I K E A B O U T I T ?
ITE CEDAR-RIVERSIDE/
W E S T B A N K E S TA BLISHMENT
Acadia
Good food, laid back environment
Acadia
Acadia
I know people there
Acadia
Good beer, food, great location!
Acadia
Proximity to Humphrey, study atmosphere, social atmosphere,
good food (the fries!), good music
Acadia
Relaxed, good beer, good prices, and very conveniently located.
Acadia
Good cheap food and close to school
Acadia
Good food, good selection of beer, simple atmosphere
Acadia
live music!!! good beer selection. chill atmosphere.
Acadia
atmosphere
Acadia Cafe
Great beer selection
Acadia Cafe
Laid back atmosphere, friendly people and great food. Fun to get
off campus.
Acadia Cafe
THEY HAVE A GREAT BLACK BEAN BURGER AND GOOD
BEER SELECTION
Acadia, also Mapps
Close, fast and very friendly service. Both places are comfortable
to sit in, either for 10 minutes or an hour
Bedlam
Welcoming to a wide variety of people. Engaged with community.
Bedlam
Brian Coyle Center
welcoming, friendly environment. wide array of necessary services.
bullwinkles
super chill
Cedar Cultural Center
Great bands perform in a very relaxed atmosphere. The sound
system is amazing.
Chai's
good food, nice decor
Chai's Thai
Great food, unique atmosphere.
Chai's Thai
food is good, inexpensive
Chais Thai
It is a small restaurant with good food. Nice atmosphere and
within walking distance to the west bank
Hanson Hall
it's where my classes are
Hard Times
Delicious food
144
Hard Times
Awesome Veg/Vegan food, good atmosphere
Hard Times Cafe
Hard Times!
Everything - the food, the atmosphere, the people. I feel really
comfortable there.
Welcoming atmosphere, calm, clean, smell of coffee is not overpowering, private chain/privately owned, the owner knows me
by face and is very personable.
Jewel of India
and Tedd Mann
the food is delicious! there are many great concerts here, and
many are free!
Jimmy John's
Really close to classes and fast, cheap food
k-wok
good food, reasonable price
Keefer Court
Unique yummy food for an excellent value. Fast service Familiar
Well-run
Keefer Court
Asian Bakery
Keefer Court
tasty pastry:)
Keefer Court Bakery
and Cafe
Authentic Chinese pastries, difficult to find anything like it anywhere else
Kilamanjaro
Great food. Friend used to work there.
Lucky Dragon
They provide good food at reasonable prices.
Lucky Dragon
The food.
mapps
it's close, the staff are nice, free internet
mapps
Convenient, friendly, independently-owned
mapps
It's a cozy feel and the people are really nice and the coffee is
good. I also like going there when I go to Midwest Mountaineering as they're all located together. I usually go to more than one
place when I'm in Cedar-Riverside/West Bank because it's a little
farther from home than East Bank.
Mapps and Acadia
Hang out place
Mapps and
Midwest Mount.
Atmposphere, delicious chai, great music
Mapps Coffee
very nice atmosphere
Mapps Coffee & Tea
The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed and they have good
prices and it is close to campus.
Mapps Coffee Shop
The atmosphere and friendly service
Mediterranean Deli
The workers are friendly, it's quick, there's fun people, the owner
is super friendly, the falafel and cheese curds are great, it's small.
145
It's proximity to the U and the inventory--I like going there to
play around and I like knowing that if I need a good pair of shoes
or a coat I can get one without going too far off campus.
Its awesome. supply's to my interest/ hobby's. welcoming. free
rock wall
Local shop. Friendly people. Fun environment.
Everything (except the prices), the atmosphere, the people shopping there, the things they sell.
Close to campus, friendly staff, good products, frequent sales
It's close to campus, the people are very friendly, and I enjoy the
variety of outdoor products they offer.
and thrifty outfitters
The merchandise they sell and the deals you can find
Nomad
The Vibe and beer selection
Palmer's
entertainment, affordability, crowd
Palmers
Cheap, stiff drinks and a nice padio
Palmers Bar
The diverse and inclusive atmosphere.
Palmers!
Diversity, easy going. It feels like a living room. People talk to
one another and introduce themselves, which is so rare in a bar.
The fire outside and the strong drinks
Preston / Town Hall
Both are very close to where I live and have a nice environment to
hang out.
Saint Martin's Table
It's an oasis in the hectic city; the food is beyond amazing; I love
the volunteer wait staff and the tips that go to charity. It just
makes me feel good in so many ways to go there.
Sergent Preston's
Tasty food, good atmosphere.
SGT PRESTONS
the fish bowls. mmmmm alcohol.
somali restaurant
good food
Southern Theater
Always has interesting high quality performances
the Weinery
It's got a ton of hot dogs and is super cheap. What's not to love?
Town Hall
Good beer, food, atmosphere
Town Hall
Great beer, food, atmosphere, friends. My husband and I had our
rehearsal dinner there!
Town Hall
Food & Beer
Town Hall Brewery
The beer. The food. The outdoor dining.
146
Triple Rock
Most of my friends meet there.
Triple Rock
Great veggie food
Tripple Rock
live music, good drinks, good food
True Thai
AMAZING food.
What do you like about your favorite establishment?
Source: Wordle.net
147
E5—Survey Responses Summary Report
Response Summary Report w/o fave establishment
Response Summary Report w/o fave
establishment
August 12, 2010
1. In what level of study are you currently enrolled?
Item
Graduate or Professional
Undergraduate
Count
108
79
Percent %
57.75%
42.25%
Page 1 of 43
148
2. What is your field of study?
Item
Social Work
Public Policy
Economics
kinesiology
strategic communication
Urban and Regional Planning
urban planning
Mathematics
MSW
nutrition
Actuarial Science
Applied Economics
Architecture
Biochemistry
Biology
Journalism
Marketing
Masters of Public Policy
MPP
Nursing
psychology
public relations
Strategic Communications
undecided
Accounting and Finance
Actuarial Science, Finance and Risk Management
Applied Kinesiology
bio-systems engineering
Biochemistry and physiology
Biology, society and the environment
Biology, Society, and the Environment
biomedical engineering
Business & Marketing Education and Management
Count
27
17
12
5
5
5
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent %
14.52%
9.14%
6.45%
2.69%
2.69%
2.69%
2.15%
1.61%
1.61%
1.61%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
Page 2 of 43
149
Item
business and public policy
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry and Ceramics
Child Psychology and Youth Studies
Communications
Ecology
econ
Education
El ed
Elementary Education
English, History
Entrepreneurial Management
Environmental Science
Epidemiology
Family and Social Science
Finance
Finance and Accounting
Finance/Accounting
food science
Genetics
Global Public Policy
global studies
graphic design
Housing Studies
Italian and Spanish
Journalism-Strategic Communications
journalism/cinema/Spanish
kinesiology-pre PE licensure emphasis
Marketing and Finance
Marketing and Operations Management
Mass Communication
Master of Public Policy
Master of Social Work & Master of Public Policy
Masters in Public Policy
Masters of Public Policy - Global Public Policy
Math Education
MBA - marketing
medicine
Microbiology
MURP
Natural Resources
Non profit management
Physics
Political Science
Public Affiars
Public Health
public policy & social work
Public Policy/Social Work
Publilc Policy
recreation park and lesier
Retail Merchandising/ Apparel Design
science policy
Social Work & Public Health
Social Work and Public Health
Sociology
Count
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent %
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
Page 3 of 43
150
Item
sociology and journalism
Spanish
sport management
Sport management, Minor in Management
Sports Management
Statistics
supply chain and operations
undecided!
Urban & Regional Planning
Youth Studies
Count
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent %
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
Count
159
24
Percent %
86.89%
13.11%
3. Where do you live while attending the University of Minnesota?
Item
off campus
in University-owned dorm or apartment
Page 4 of 43
151
4. Select the dorm or apartment in which you currently live.
Item
Territorial Hall
Middlebrook Hall
Centennial Hall
Pioneer Hall
Comstock Hall
Mark G. Yudof Hall
Roy Wilkins Hall
Count
10
4
3
3
1
1
1
Percent %
43.48%
17.39%
13.04%
13.04%
4.35%
4.35%
4.35%
Page 5 of 43
152
5. Select the neighborhood in which you currently live.
Item
other Minneapolis neighborhood
Como
other Twin Cities area
Saint Paul
Cedar-Riverside
other area of Minnesota
Prospect Park
Seward
Stadium Village
other state
Count
42
35
30
17
11
6
4
4
3
3
3
1
Percent %
26.42%
22.01%
18.87%
10.69%
6.92%
3.77%
2.52%
2.52%
1.89%
1.89%
1.89%
0.63%
Page 6 of 43
153
6. Are you employed in addition to attending the University of Minnesota? If so, where? (select all that apply if you work in
more than one location)
Item
do not work
Saint Paul
other Minneapolis neighborhood
On campus—East Bank
on campus—west bank
On campus—other
Cedar-Riverside
Other state
Seward
Count
63
27
21
21
20
20
17
16
6
3
2
2
1
Percent %
33.51%
14.36%
11.17%
11.17%
10.64%
10.64%
9.04%
8.51%
3.19%
1.60%
1.06%
1.06%
0.53%
Page 7 of 43
154
7. Where are your classes located during the current semester?
Item
All West Bank
All East Bank
mostly west bank
Mostly East Bank
roughly half east bank, half west bank
St. Paul
St. Paul Campus
all St. Paul
Mostly st paul
st paul
Mostly St. Paul Campus
Saint Paul
Saint Paul campus
St Paul Campus
About 1/3 on each campus (West, East, and St. Paul)
All St. Paul campus
East and St. Paul
East Bank and St Paul
East Bank and St. Paul
Half West Bank/Half St.Paul Campus
Moo U (St. Paul)
Most St. Paul, some West Bank
mostly st. paul
no coursework this semester
off-campus (independent study)
Only West Bank and St. Paul
St. Paul campus (it exists!)
St.Paul campus
West Bank and St. Paul campus
West Bank and St. Paul split.
Count
42
28
25
24
19
10
7
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent %
22.34%
14.89%
13.30%
12.77%
10.11%
5.32%
3.72%
1.60%
1.60%
1.60%
1.06%
1.06%
1.06%
1.06%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
Page 8 of 43
155
8. How do you travel when you are off campus? (select all that apply)
Item
drive
walk
bicycle
bus/train
Ride with someone else/carpool
Motorcycle/scooter
Run
Rollerblade/skate/skateboard
Count
118
110
109
105
64
9
2
1
Percent %
62.77%
58.51%
57.98%
55.85%
34.04%
4.79%
1.06%
0.53%
Page 9 of 43
156
9. In the last week, if you went off campus for dining, shopping, or entertainment, where did you go? (select all that apply)
Item
Saint Paul
Cedar-Riverside
Stadium Village
Seward
Como
Didn't leave for those reasons
Seven Corners
Other state
Prospect Park
Count
65
59
52
50
46
30
26
22
17
15
11
9
9
4
2
Percent %
34.95%
31.72%
27.96%
26.88%
24.73%
16.13%
13.98%
11.83%
9.14%
8.06%
5.91%
4.84%
4.84%
2.15%
1.08%
Page 10 of 43
157
10. In the last week, what activities did you engage in off campus? (select all that apply)
Item
dining
Grocery shopping
drinking
Spending time at a coffee shop
Studying/computer use at public wi-fi/coffee shop
Clothes shopping
Athletic event
Other shopping
Dancing
Movies
Live music (club)
Live theater
Other live entertainment
Live music (concert hall)
bday party
camping
Como zoo
fix car
Moving
Museum
None
portrait studio
work
Count
135
110
77
75
59
46
38
34
21
20
13
10
5
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent %
81.82%
66.67%
46.67%
45.45%
35.76%
27.88%
23.03%
20.61%
12.73%
12.12%
7.88%
6.06%
3.03%
1.82%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
Page 11 of 43
158
11. In the last week, which of these neighborhoods did you enter? (select all that apply)
Item
Dinkytown
West Bank
Como
Cedar-Riverside
Stadium Village
Seward
Seven Corners
None
Count
98
88
78
76
57
56
36
35
7
4
Percent %
59.39%
53.33%
47.27%
46.06%
34.55%
33.94%
21.82%
21.21%
4.24%
2.42%
Page 12 of 43
159
12. In the last week, if you went off campus for dining, shopping, or entertainment, what factor(s) influenced your choice
(s) of where you went? (select all that apply)
Item
proximity to work/home
good food
good prices
favorite hangout
friends decided where to go
Good entertainment
Coupon or other special offer (not student special)
Wanted to try a new place
Student specials
Cool people go there
Recommendation of a friend
Wanted to see musician/band/show
Saw a recent ad
Attractive storefront
close to work
familiarity
single trip to target
twins game
Twins Game!
visited owner of restaurant
Count
127
98
74
67
62
34
29
29
19
18
15
12
4
4
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent %
76.97%
59.39%
44.85%
40.61%
37.58%
20.61%
17.58%
17.58%
11.52%
10.91%
9.09%
7.27%
2.42%
2.42%
1.82%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
0.61%
Page 13 of 43
160
13. I have a positive impression of . . .
Table 1 of 2
Item
#0
Cedar-Riverside
#1
Dinkytown
#2
Downtown
Minneapolis
#3
Seven Corners
#4
Seward
#5
Stadium Village
#6
West Bank
#7
Average %
Table 2 of 2
1
8.6%
16
#0
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
0.5%
1
1.1%
2
1.1%
2
1.1%
2
1.6%
3
2.0%
5
9.1%
17
14.4%
27
20.7%
39
8.6%
16
16.7%
31
10.2%
19
14.9%
28
13.5%
4
26.7%
50
52.1%
98
59.0%
111
38.5%
72
24.7%
46
32.1%
60
47.3%
89
40.1%
NA
15.5%
29
0.5%
1
1.1%
2
15.0%
28
28.0%
52
8.0%
15
1.1%
2
9.8%
3
20.3%
38
19.7%
37
12.8%
24
27.3%
51
21.0%
39
36.4%
68
27.1%
51
23.5%
2
19.8%
37
13.3%
25
5.9%
11
9.6%
18
8.6%
16
12.3%
23
8.0%
15
11.1%
Average
Total
2.6
187
3.7
188
3.9
188
3.0
187
2.6
186
3.1
187
3.6
188
3.2
1,311.0
Page 14 of 43
161
14. I feel that . . . is safe.
Table 1 of 2
Item
#0
Cedar-Riverside
#1
Dinkytown
#2
Downtown
Minneapolis
#3
Seven Corners
#4
Seward
#5
Stadium Village
#6
West Bank
#7
Average %
Table 2 of 2
1
12.8%
24
2.7%
5
2.1%
4
2.7%
5
2.7%
5
3.2%
6
3.2%
6
4.2%
#0
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
5
5.3%
10
6.5%
12
5.3%
10
4.8%
9
8.2%
15
4.3%
8
7.0%
13
5.9%
4
17.1%
32
37.3%
69
33.2%
62
39.6%
74
24.0%
44
36.9%
69
40.3%
75
32.6%
NA
14.4%
27
1.1%
2
15.5%
29
27.3%
50
8.6%
16
2.2%
4
9.8%
3
18.7%
35
34.6%
64
34.8%
65
24.6%
46
25.1%
46
32.6%
61
26.9%
50
28.2%
2
31.6%
59
18.9%
35
23.5%
44
12.8%
24
12.6%
23
14.4%
27
20.4%
38
19.2%
Average
Total
2.3
187
3.3
185
3.1
187
2.8
187
2.4
183
3.0
187
3.2
186
2.9
1,302.0
Page 15 of 43
162
15. When I want to have fun, I go to . . .
Table 1 of 2
Item
#0
Cedar-Riverside
#1
Dinkytown
#2
Downtown
Minneapolis
#3
Seven Corners
#4
Seward
#5
Stadium Village
#6
West Bank
#7
Average %
Table 2 of 2
1
19.9%
36
5.5%
10
3.3%
6
6.6%
12
9.8%
18
8.7%
16
13.6%
25
9.6%
#0
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
5
7.2%
13
21.3%
39
17.4%
32
2.8%
5
5.5%
10
2.7%
5
3.3%
6
8.6%
4
14.4%
26
41.5%
76
55.4%
102
23.8%
43
9.8%
18
20.8%
38
12.0%
22
25.4%
NA
20.4%
37
5.5%
10
4.9%
9
21.0%
38
31.7%
58
16.9%
31
12.0%
22
16.0%
3
15.5%
28
13.7%
25
9.8%
18
26.0%
47
20.8%
38
22.4%
41
28.8%
53
19.5%
2
22.7%
41
12.6%
23
9.2%
17
19.9%
36
22.4%
41
28.4%
52
30.4%
56
20.8%
Average
Total
2.0
181
3.4
183
3.6
184
2.3
181
1.8
183
2.3
183
2.3
184
2.5
1,279.0
Page 16 of 43
163
16. I feel that . . . is within my budget.
Table 1 of 2
Item
#0
Cedar-Riverside
#1
Dinkytown
#2
Downtown
Minneapolis
#3
Seven Corners
#4
Seward
#5
Stadium Village
#6
West Bank
#7
Average %
Table 2 of 2
1
0.5%
1
1.6%
3
5.9%
11
3.2%
6
1.6%
3
2.2%
4
2.2%
4
2.5%
#0
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
5
14.6%
27
17.6%
33
3.7%
7
6.5%
12
10.8%
20
6.5%
12
11.4%
21
10.2%
4
45.9%
85
63.6%
119
30.5%
57
46.5%
86
34.9%
65
53.0%
98
56.8%
105
47.3%
NA
19.5%
36
2.1%
4
2.7%
5
19.5%
36
29.0%
54
11.9%
22
7.6%
14
13.2%
3
17.3%
32
11.8%
22
29.4%
55
20.5%
38
20.4%
38
23.2%
43
20.5%
38
20.5%
2
2.2%
4
3.2%
6
27.8%
52
3.8%
7
3.2%
6
3.2%
6
1.6%
3
6.5%
Average
Total
3.1
185
3.9
187
2.9
187
2.9
185
2.6
186
3.2
185
3.5
185
3.2
1,300.0
Page 17 of 43
164
17. It is convenient for me to go to . . .
Table 1 of 2
Item
#0
Cedar-Riverside
#1
Dinkytown
#2
Downtown
Minneapolis
#3
Seven Corners
#4
Seward
#5
Stadium Village
#6
West Bank
#7
Average %
Table 2 of 2
1
4.9%
9
3.8%
7
6.0%
11
3.9%
7
4.4%
8
4.4%
8
2.7%
5
4.3%
#0
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
5
18.0%
33
32.4%
60
14.3%
26
12.2%
22
12.6%
23
12.6%
23
21.9%
40
17.7%
4
26.8%
49
33.0%
61
40.7%
74
31.5%
57
20.2%
37
32.4%
59
38.8%
71
31.9%
NA
13.7%
25
1.1%
2
1.6%
3
11.0%
20
22.4%
41
7.1%
13
2.2%
4
8.4%
3
16.4%
30
13.0%
24
20.3%
37
16.6%
30
18.0%
33
23.6%
43
16.4%
30
17.7%
2
20.2%
37
16.8%
31
17.0%
31
24.9%
45
22.4%
41
19.8%
36
18.0%
33
19.9%
Average
Total
2.9
183
3.7
185
3.4
182
2.9
181
2.5
183
3.1
182
3.5
183
3.1
1,279.0
Page 18 of 43
165
18. How important are each of these factors in choosing a venue for shopping, dining, or socializing?
Table 1 of 2
#0
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
Table 2 of 2
#0
Item
Accessibility
(transportation,
parking, etc.)
5
4
3
2
49.5%
93
42.0%
79
6.4%
12
2.1%
4
51.3%
96
36.6%
Good food/drinks
68
Location (proximity to 37.4%
work, home, school) 70
New experience/
17.0%
cultural experience
32
24.2%
Safety
45
Specials/student
11.7%
specials
22
Welcoming
27.7%
atmosphere
52
31.9%
Average %
46.0%
86
55.4%
103
50.3%
94
49.5%
93
47.3%
88
31.4%
59
55.3%
104
47.1%
2.7%
5
6.5%
12
8.6%
16
21.3%
40
21.5%
40
38.3%
72
13.8%
26
14.9%
1.6%
3
3.7%
7
9.6%
18
4.3%
8
15.4%
29
2.7%
5
4.9%
Affordability
Average
4.4
Total
188
#1
4.5
187
#2
4.3
186
#3
4.2
187
3.7
188
3.9
186
3.3
188
4.1
188
4.0
1,498.0
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
1
2.7%
5
2.2%
4
2.7%
5
0.5%
1
1.0%
NA
0.5%
1
0.5%
1
0.1%
Page 19 of 43
166
19. My friends or others I know are or would be comfortable in neighborhoods with . . .
Table 1 of 2
#0
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
Item
High Muslim
population
High percentage of
the population that
are people of color
5
10.1%
19
4
45.7%
86
3
22.9%
43
2
19.1%
36
12.8%
24
47.9%
90
18.1%
34
18.6%
35
High poverty rates
6.9%
13
18.6%
35
20.7%
39
48.4%
91
11.7%
22
41.5%
78
26.6%
50
17.0%
32
12.9%
24
46.8%
87
24.2%
45
14.0%
26
12.3%
23
38.0%
71
30.5%
57
16.6%
31
9.5%
11.2%
21
35.6%
7.4%
14
21.5%
33.0%
62
23.8%
Many establishments
that market to
immigrant
populations
Many immigrant
residents, business
owners, or workers
Many residents,
business owners, or
workers who are not
native English
speakers
Reputation of high
crime rates
#7
Average %
Table 2 of 2
1
2.1%
4
2.7%
5
5.3%
10
3.2%
6
2.2%
4
2.7%
5
47.9%
90
9.4%
#0
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
NA
0.5%
1
0.1%
Average
Total
3.4
188
3.5
188
2.7
188
3.4
188
3.5
186
3.4
187
1.8
188
3.1
1,313.0
Page 20 of 43
167
20. Select which, if any, of the following online resources you've accessed.
Item
www.dinkytownminneapolis.com
www.marcyholmes.org
www.thewestbank.org
www.stadiumvillage.com
www.sewardbusiness.org
www.cedarriverside.com
Count
34
13
8
5
4
2
Percent %
68.00%
26.00%
16.00%
10.00%
8.00%
4.00%
Page 21 of 43
168
21. I would be interested in checking out a venue advertising itself as "Real. Different."
Item
3
4
2
5
1
NA
Count
68
67
35
10
6
1
Percent %
36.36%
35.83%
18.72%
5.35%
3.21%
0.53%
Average: 3.20
Page 22 of 43
169
22. Are you familiar with any advertising campaigns using the slogan "Real. Different."?
Item
No
Yes
Count
174
13
Percent %
93.05%
6.95%
Page 23 of 43
170
23. What organization, product, or service have you seen using the slogan "Real. Different."?
Item
West Bank
The West Bank
cedar-riverside
Nomad...Palmers?
WBBA
WBBA campaign
website
West Bank Business Association
West Bank businesses (from Gabe's research project)
Count
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent %
25.00%
16.67%
8.33%
8.33%
8.33%
8.33%
8.33%
8.33%
8.33%
Page 24 of 43
171
24. Which Minneapolis neighborhood best fits the descriptor "Real. Different."?
Item
Don't Know
Cedar-Riverside
Dinkytown
Seward
West Bank
Seven Corners
Stadium Village
Como
Cedar-Riverside or Seward
Eat Street, Lake and Lyndale area
i don't think of any of these as all that "different"
Northeast
Northeast Minneapolis
Uptown
Warehouse District
Count
86
46
14
12
6
5
5
4
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent %
45.99%
24.60%
7.49%
6.42%
3.21%
2.67%
2.67%
2.14%
1.07%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
Page 25 of 43
172
25. Art and Performing Arts Venues
Item
Ted Mann Concert Hall
University Theater/Rarig Center
Mixed Blood Theater
Cedar Cultural Center (The Cedar)
None of the above
Bedlam Theater
West Bank Arts Quarter
West Bank School of Music
Theater in the Round
Southern Theater
Barbara Barker Center for Dance
University of Minnesota Nash Gallery
People's Center Theater
Count
87
63
48
41
41
39
39
30
29
19
16
14
3
Percent %
47.54%
34.43%
26.23%
22.40%
22.40%
21.31%
21.31%
16.39%
15.85%
10.38%
8.74%
7.65%
1.64%
Page 26 of 43
173
26. Restaurants/Coffee Shops
Item
Chipotle (229 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis)
Noodles & Co. (233 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis)
Acadia Cafe
Jimmy John's Sandwiches (2037 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis)
Town Hall Grill & Brewery
Maaps Coffee & Tea
Hard Times Cafe
Bruegger's Bagels (2515 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis)
Quiznos (1851 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis)
Starbucks (2515 Riverside Ave. S., Minneapolis)
Davanni's Pizza & Hoagies (2500 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis)
Red Sea Bar & Restaurant
Jewel of India
Chai's Thai Restaurant
The Wienery
Lucky Dragon
St. Martin's Table
K-Wok
Keefer Court Bakery and Cafe
Kilimanjaro Cafe
Mediterranean Deli
None of the above
Sahara Restaurant
The Grill Room at the Holiday Inn (1500 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis)
Cedar Coffee
Maashaa'Allah Restaurant
Alleaamin Coffee Shop
Bruck's Espresso Bar
Sagal Restaurant and Coffee
Count
100
89
83
76
75
73
70
66
55
53
45
36
31
29
27
26
26
25
23
18
16
16
11
7
3
2
2
1
1
1
Percent %
53.19%
47.34%
44.15%
40.43%
39.89%
38.83%
37.23%
35.11%
29.26%
28.19%
23.94%
19.15%
16.49%
15.43%
14.36%
13.83%
13.83%
13.30%
12.23%
9.57%
8.51%
8.51%
5.85%
3.72%
1.60%
1.06%
1.06%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
Page 27 of 43
174
27. Bars
Item
None of the above
Preston's Urban Pub
Nomad World Pub
Triple Rock Social Club
The Corner Bar
400 Bar
Bullwinkle's Saloon
Palmer's Bar
Count
69
65
54
45
39
33
33
26
Percent %
38.12%
35.91%
29.83%
24.86%
21.55%
18.23%
18.23%
14.36%
Page 28 of 43
175
28. Grocery/Markets
Item
None of the above
Kuik-E Mart
West Bank Grocery
African Grocery
Wadajir Grocery and Halal Meats
Count
130
27
12
9
2
Percent %
78.31%
16.27%
7.23%
5.42%
1.20%
Page 29 of 43
176
29. Shops/Malls
Item
None of the above
Thrifty Outfitters
The Hub Bicycle Co-op
Freewheel Bike
Mayday Books
Cedar Riverside Liquor Store
Winner Gas (2517 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis)
Depth of Field Futons and Yarnery
Al Maqdis African International Mall
Alkarama Mall
Grease Pit Bike Shop
Ross West Bank Pharmacy
Riverside Imports
World Beat Music & Video
Cedar Tobacco and AAA Home Health Care
Riverside Floral
Samiya Clothing Store
Super Bazaar
Intercontinental Video
Count
77
70
46
44
28
20
14
12
11
5
5
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
Percent %
44.25%
40.23%
26.44%
25.29%
16.09%
11.49%
8.05%
6.90%
6.32%
2.87%
2.87%
2.87%
2.87%
2.30%
2.30%
1.72%
1.72%
1.15%
1.15%
0.57%
Page 30 of 43
177
30. Service Providers
Item
None of the above
University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview
Holiday Inn Hotel Minneapolis-Metrodome (1500 Washington Ave. S.,
Minneapolis)
Associated Bank (1801 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis)
People's Center Medical Clinic
Taj Salon (formerly Accent Salon)
West Bank Dry Cleaning and Alteration
Riverside Holistic Health Clinic
Amal Money Wire
Beauty Secret 1 Hair Design
Campus Travel Center
Shalom Alterations
University Travel Services
Count
97
41
Percent %
61.78%
26.11%
20
12.74%
6
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
3.82%
1.91%
1.91%
1.91%
1.27%
0.64%
0.64%
0.64%
0.64%
0.64%
Page 31 of 43
178
31. Do you have a favorite establishment in Cedar-Riverside/West Bank?
Item
No
Yes
Count
111
75
Percent %
59.68%
40.32%
Page 32 of 43
179
32. What do you think is missing from or underrepresented in the business mix in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood?
(select all that apply)
Item
Don't know
Ice cream store
standard grocery/market
co-op
pizza by the slice
movie theater
To-go food
Drive-thru coffee
Hardware store
Laundromat
Bakery
Bread/bakery
Breakfast Diner
friendlier ethnic restaurants
i really miss the co-op!
Parking - there is hardly a place to park to go to the stores
parking so i can go to the establishments already there!
pharmacy
There are always ploice in the area, particularly at night which tells me it's not
safe. Also, when you walk around in the area, you feel like an outsider because
people stare at you like you don't belong, and no one really greets you while you
are walking down the street.
Walgreens/CVS type store
Count
65
62
47
45
39
37
29
15
7
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent %
34.95%
33.33%
25.27%
24.19%
20.97%
19.89%
15.59%
8.06%
3.76%
1.08%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
0.54%
1
0.54%
1
0.54%
Page 33 of 43
180
33. Select the number or numbers marking Cedar-Riverside on this map. (select all that apply)
Item
8
7
9
don't know
10
6
1
4
2
3
5
Count
123
82
69
27
17
11
10
10
7
3
1
Percent %
65.78%
43.85%
36.90%
14.44%
9.09%
5.88%
5.35%
5.35%
3.74%
1.60%
0.53%
Average: 13.33
Page 34 of 43
181
34. Select the number or numbers marking West Bank on this map. (select all that apply)
Item
9
8
7
10
6
don't know
2
1
4
5
3
Count
147
91
53
35
12
11
7
5
5
3
1
Percent %
78.61%
48.66%
28.34%
18.72%
6.42%
5.88%
3.74%
2.67%
2.67%
1.60%
0.53%
Average: 15.51
Page 35 of 43
182
35. Age
Item
21-24
25-29
18-20
30-34
35-39
40-44
45+
Count
72
57
39
15
3
1
1
Percent %
38.30%
30.32%
20.74%
7.98%
1.60%
0.53%
0.53%
Page 36 of 43
183
36. Gender
Item
Female
Male
Count
141
43
Percent %
76.63%
23.37%
Page 37 of 43
184
37. Race (select all that apply)
Item
White, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
Asian
Black or African American
White, of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
Eastern European
Latino
Norwegian/Sweedish
Count
165
16
5
3
1
1
1
Percent %
88.24%
8.56%
2.67%
1.60%
0.53%
0.53%
0.53%
Page 38 of 43
185
38. Education level (mark highest level attained)
Item
Bachelor's degree
Some college or associate degree
Master's degree
Doctorate degree
Professional degree
Count
85
64
32
1
1
Percent %
46.45%
34.97%
17.49%
0.55%
0.55%
Page 39 of 43
186
Appendix 2: What do you think of when you read the slogan "Real. Different."?
Open Text Responses:
A cultural specific place that is not a chain or Americanized.
Not much unless I saw something which I also felt/believed was one or the other (or both).
sounds weird
I guess it means you're original and real is code for not too fancy (ie actually people are poor.)
It is not really appealing
it is OK
Nothing
a new experience
A place that is down to earth, inviting, diverse and affordable.
Bad grammar. How about really different?
interesting.
interesting.
something that offers are real, true-life experience that is diverse and unique
being yourself (real) which is different (b/c we're all unique)
Something that is real, but different from the norms.
Someone or something trying to convince another that they're trying to implement a change for the better. An attempt to
convey realism yet individuality.
It doesn't sound positive.
seems kind of dull and generic
It means something out of the ordinary.
Probably not interesting
What does that even mean??
A place that shows the true side of things, but is a new experience.
Generic tagline with a standard format
I think of there possibly being a typo
True and unique
outside of the normative
An authentic and unique location
a beverage
not fake, not american
It makes me a little curious to know what exactly is different.
It sounds like an advertisement for something that is the way it is but it's something noticeably different from other things. i
don't really like it or wouldn't be able to tell what it's talking about just by looking at the two words.
It could possibly be a restaurant ad for maybe a different culture's foods that are real, but different than the food we would
"normally" eat in America.
never seen it before
That it probably has to do with something new and exciting.
i think of brett favre.
Unique
Interesting
New
not different in a good way
Innovation; trying to change an image.
A place or experience that is genuine and unique - something that is wholesome and has a history attached to it. Yet, it
also has a modern flare
odd or out of the ordinary
I guess I would think that they're trying to say that they're not trying to make an image of themselves, that they are true to
what they say they are. Whatever that is, it's different from the norm. I think it's trying to say that they're doing something
unusual, but it's worth trusting.
I think of something that may be different than the stereotype and actually the way it exists in the day to day world
That what you're talking about actually exists and that it's different
A fresh idea.
I'm intrigued
true, down to earth, new experience
I'm just curious as to what it actually means. What is being referred to?
Page 40 of 43
187
It piques my interest. It's intriguing.
Hipsters
I don't understand exactly what it means.
Boring
New, change, down to earth
culturally or socially different than the average minneapolis neighborhood, but open to new people and new ideas
It would catch my eye I suppose. I think I would be kind of confused as to what they offer and that would draw me in.
I want reality and something that isn't there to fool me. And change is nice so I hope that means it is different.
an alternative establishment
I haven't read it
It's vague and not very creative.
A "starving artist" type of lifestyle
I'm not quite sure of what it would mean, and what the context of the slogan is referring to. But something to do with
different cultures maybe.
People who are not ashamed of who they are. People who are very assertive and independent.
Not your stereotype... Not fake... new and unique.
The 1990-2000 Apple computer ad compaign "Think Different"
sarcasm
Love it!!!!
New entertainment experiences
at first: strange.
but then: unique, an experience, etc.
Alternative, hip (typically clothes)
I have never heard of this slogan before.
Don't use the slogan Real.Different for Cedar-Riverside
Um?
i think it dependson what it's used for. a product- maybe cool
to describe a location or destination? hmmm not so much
It makes me really uncomfortable to attach that slogan to a neighborhood where people live. it seems to highlight them as
the 'other'
Different is hiding something.
Putting it out there that they are not trying to cover anything up, showing that what you see is what you get. But you would
be getting a unique experience. It is unlike anything you have witnessed/experienced thus far.
Something that is unique to the people/experiences of that location
I don't think it stands out on the WB logo. Not something I really think about.
I do think this survey is quite leading.
Skepticism. It seems as though this type of slogan has been used as a marketing strategy that I have seen of many
occasions.
I think that these ideas appeal to students, who seek unique and authentic experiences. If unique authenticity is not
perceived by whatever is marketed by this slogan, however, young people will quickly judge it as a marketing ploy and turn
against it.
I have not heard this slogan before.
Reminds me of a dating service for some reason, or some fake experience being advertised at the Mall of America. This
slogan doesn't really click with me. It's not really clear what's being communicated about the neighborhood.
It doesn't click with my husband either because in his head he reads it as "Really Different"
different, unique offerings that are set apart
I feel like it sends the impression that it is strange and awkward
something that is different or not mainstream, but down to earth.
sounds like a coca cola add or something
Real and different? Or, real different (with emphasis)? Slightly cheesy, but not more so than most slogans.
Page 41 of 43
188
I have some reservations. I really really love the west bank/cedar riverside. Part of what I like about it is the huge variety of
different sorts of people. I guess my first impression is that this is trying to get richer, whiter people to come there, which I
understand is good for business, but I worry that it will further gentrify things in a way that will hurt that community. That
being said, I understand that that doesnt have to happen in that way and have faith that business can be brought to the
area ina responsible, positive way. I like the real, different thing in and of itself, it is true about that area. Makes it sound
down to earth and fun.
I think of the Wrangler commercials with Brett Favre; Real.Comfortable.Jeans
Since I am assuming that this is a neighborhood slogan, I don't think the connection is a positive one. However, I don't
know of any other neighborhood slogans at all, and I believe that simply trying to cover-up the public perception problems
that the Cedar-Riverside neighbor has with fancy advertising lingo is a bit superficial.
Slogans tend to be upper-class, so I would assume it meant something wanted to be 'different' but not so different that the
mainstream wouldn't feel comfortable.
I think of a place that markets an authentic product and that tries to be different by not letting the product be influenced by
the setting of the venue.
Sounds like some place is trying way too hard. Also with a tinge of someone trying to escape suburban myopia.
what?
diversity is a reality... and how challenging reality can be sometimes
can mean "real different" as in very different, or real (authentic) and different. i like it. it's intriguing.
advertisement
A unique venue that is independent of a higher entity and for one reason or another has a perspective to offer that is
different than the cultural norms of people that would perhaps access it.
Not much...
No idea?
Something that offers a unique product, possible related to cultural or ethnic factors.
Something I would never expect.
A place that wants to be thought of as accessible and unique
Expression of social issues through "real" and non-white/traditional through "different".
diversity
diversity
Weird
It's trying too hard.
An experience that is authentic but different to me as an individual.
I am not sure what it means? Maybe in context it would be good.
Authentic, genuine. New experience.
That it is not very real or very different.
A place that is not like any other place you have been to.
different from what you would normally experience but at the same time reality
It simply says to me that whatever the slogan is referring to, is different than what is popular.
authentic, not touristic or pretentious. unique, foreign.
I think that this is not a great slogan. I don't really know what it is trying to emphasize, and it could be more differentiating
than it is intending.
I think that it is creative, but the punctuation throws me off a bit
I don't know what it means or refers to. It's very business-speaky and lacks any flavor or character. Kind of boring.
Something that's very different than what I'm used to, or very different from mainstream
It depends on what it's referring to. It's not very descriptive, but it's sounds intriguing. Although it leaves to question
whether or not different is good and why something is different.
nerd. milk. choppy, disjointed.
(It really depends on the context.)
?
That it's a slogan attempting to get me to buy something.
That is stating it's real as in down to earth and different as in a new experience.
Isn't everywhere "real"? And then there's the negative Minnesota version of "different" meaning not appealing. I think it is a
little odd to define one kind of "difference" as the "real" difference. I guess I'm not a big fan of the slogan.
Vague
That it's real life and different from the norm.
I like it.
Page 42 of 43
189
I don't understand what it is trying to say
A new experience. Depending on the context, it come across as a challenge.
Something is different than you might normally think of. I like it.
Another attempt to be unique.
It seems to me that by emphasizing the "difference" of one thing, the slogan makes it seem as if the other thing is not "real"
or is "different" in a bad way. Overall, I have a negative reaction to the slogan, but would have to see it in context to be
sure.
Do not really understand this question.
I am not sure what it means, It doesn't speak to me.
that something is different from normal
someone trying to put a spin on somewhere people think is "real different (sic)" it's different but in a good way, not the bad
way you think it is.
it is vague. I suppose it implies that the experience would be genuine and unique.
Both words can take on a wide range of perspective
don't know exactly what it's supposed to refer to, but i guess it's ok although it's not that "different" when you're there
everyday.
Not much, I'm not sure hat the slogan gives any sort of picture of what the atmosphere is like. Different from what?
That stupid magazine, "Real Simple". Come on. Duh.
Something new and exciting.
I think of something creative and that I haven't seen before. Something live.
I wonder what the slogan is advertising - what type of business?
really bad. what are they getting at?
Handicapped people, mentally or physically.
Sounds a little cheesy, it would depend what it is referencing.
Really different
Something that represents how the world really is and is different from other things that may represent an ideal world
Who thought this up? Were they paid? Next, I'm curious what they are talking about.
Sounds "hood" "processed"
nottin
I think of something that is "real different" than other things.
Questionable? What does that even mean? How different? Uncomfortably different?
I think of a nice organic bowl of treedle.
Change.
nothing comes to mind
It's cool
Edgy.
Page 43 of 43
190
E6—Survey Response Data
See accompanying CSV file: complete survey data.csv
191

An Untapped Market for West Bank Businesses

Transcription

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