This time of summer is a special one in the lakes areas of northern Minnesota: long sunsets, waning mosquito clouds, and the 4th of July all make these weeks memorable. To get a sense of how this time of year impacts the local economies of the Brainerd Lakes area, the Brainerd Chamber of Commerce President Matt Kilian took some time to chat with Heidi.
Predictably, the uptick of people in the area has been noticeable. "Brainerd is absolutely packed with visitors. I'm looking at Highway 371 and seeing that people are getting an early start of the 4th," Kilian said on Wednesday morning. "Tourism has come roaring back; it never really left us. Tourism is back and better than ever."
The roar of tourism has given Brainerd's small businesses a leg-up, especially the ones that are part of Downtown Brainerd's "renaissance." Often, when people think of Brainerd Lakes area, you think of the lake communities. But Kilian is hyped about the downtown area. "Over the past few years, we've focused on the revitalization of downtown Brainerd," he said. "We were able to take 20 empty storefronts and turn it into zero empty storefronts."
Kilian mentioned three shops in particular that are part of that renaissance: Knotty Pine Bakery, Purple Fern Bath Company, and the Crow Wing Food Coop. "Don't overlook downtown Brainerd," he said. "It's making an epic comeback."
With the 4th of July upcoming, there're lots of events that will bring people together to celebrate. "Every community has a 4th of July celebration. Pequot Lakes has their Stars and Stripes Days. Nisswa has a series of events down there. Brainerd has had a 4th of July parade just about forever. It's great for families, it's great to reflect on our independence, and it's one of my favorite times of the year."
