2011 Annual Award Winners

The Lake Street Council is pleased to announce the recipients of 2011 Annual Meeting awards. Recipients received their honors during Lake Street Council's 43rd Annual Meeting at Safari Restaurant and Banquet Hall, 3010 4th Avenue South.

"Each of these businesses has shown exemplary innovation and community responsibility," Joyce Wisdom, LSC Executive Director, said. "They are committed to the betterment and economic vitality of Lake Street."

Best New Lake Street Business Start Up: Lake Wine & Spirits, Binh and Christina Le

Binh and Christina took the former G & L Furniture store, which had been looking a little shabby, and extensively remodeled it for Lake Wine & Spirits. The Le family has a background in food/beverage retail and restaurants, operating the Arby's and Ben and Jerry's outposts at MSP Airport and the Metro Liquor Warehouse in St. Paul, along with a few other businesses around the country. They bring a focus on customer service to this business.

Lake Wine & Spirits is a stylish concept, combining the liquor store with cheese shop/deli/gourmet foodstuff retail, operated by Ken Liss. Lake Wine and Cheese feels like a cozy, European-style market.


Best New Business Owner of Established Lake Street Business: Laura & David Hoenack, Hymie’s Vintage Records

Dave and Laura Hoenack, bought the iconic Hymie’s Records in 2009 when it was located in the unworkable Lake Street location it had called home for 23 years, with water leakage a constant problem. They found a new Lake Street location just a few blocks away at 39th Avenue. They made the move on Record Store Day 2010, but this year they will out-do themselves. For Record Store Day 2011, they’re putting up a stage and there will be a music festival. They’ve booked a really great collection of Minneapolis artists, plus puppet shows, jugglers and more.
The every day operation at Hymie’s is meticulous, thanks to Dave and Laura. This is also literally a “mom & pop” shop, as kids Nova and Gus and shopdog Irene are often around. (If you aren’t aware, this is one of the highlights of many Lake Street businesses: you can meet the whole family!) They live just 10 blocks from the store.



Best Business Investment in Lake Street: Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel

The Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown has been a part of the Lake Street community for the past five years. This 136 room, full service, hotel is connected by skyway to the Midtown Exchange and Global Market as well as Abbott Northwestern and Children’s Hospital.

The hotel mainly employs individuals from the surrounding neighborhood. All employees are trained in their specific job classifications as well as excellent customer service training where they learn to spot the key customer service interactions they take part in every day.
The Sheraton Midtown encourages participation in the betterment of our neighborhood. They are currently partners with not only Lake Street Council, but Nice Ride Minnesota, Minnesota Bicycle Summit, Midtown Business Association, Starwood Sustainability, Allina Frequent Fitness Program, Midtown Greenway Coalition, Cristo Rey, Rotary and Meet Minneapolis.