Edina approves grants for new French crepe shop on France Avenue
The Edina Housing and Redevelopment Authority approved grants to help O Crepe Coffee Shop and Bakery open at 4408 France Avenue, addressing accessibility and infrastructure improvements needed for the new business.
The city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority greenlit funding for O Crepe, a new French crepe shop and bakery coming to the 44th and France intersection. The grants will support front entrance remodeling to meet accessibility requirements, installation of energy-efficient storefront glass, and reconstruction of the rear parking lot. Funding comes from the SPARK capital fund, a state program created in 2021 to attract small business investment and create jobs.
The O Crepe owner told the council about his motivation for opening the business. "I moved to Minnesota and I'm really passionate about my roots and where I'm from—Brittany, France, which is the region of France where crepes originated," he said. "When I came to Minnesota I couldn't find a good crepe, and I thought I need to show these people what it's how it's done and what it tastes like." The shop is scheduled to open in summer 2024, though the rear parking lot work may extend into fall.
An HRA official explained the broader purpose of the grant program. "This grant program is specifically intended to help that small business owner leap over a hurdle that they didn't expect to encounter," the official said. "Almost every small business owner faces that type of hurdle, and we're hoping that with this grant we can attract more small businesses to let them locate here, expand here, and thrive here."
The council also heard updates on mosquito control operations across the seven-county metro area and recognized HouseNovel.com with the 2024 Edina Heritage Award. The website, created by Edina native Amanda Zelki and her husband David Decker, documents home histories through crowdsourced contributions and contains approximately 600 Edina homes in its database of over 24,000 U.S. properties.
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Votes (3)
O Crepe Coffee Shop and Bakery Development - HRA Grant Approval
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority approved grants to support opening of O Crepe at 4408 France Avenue. The project addresses accessibility requirements through front entrance remodeling, incorporates energy-efficient storefront glass, and requires rear parking lot reconstruction. Funding is sourced from the SPARK capital fund. The owner emphasized passion for authentic crepe preparation from Brittany, France. Grant program is designed to help small business owners overcome unexpected hurdles and attract additional small business investment to Edina. O Crepe is scheduled to open summer 2024, with rear parking lot completion potentially delayed until fall.
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District Larval Surveillance and Treatment Operations
The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District operates a comprehensive mosquito prevention program across the seven-county metro area. Operations include water sampling to detect larvae in ponds and wetlands, drone-based delivery of spinosad pellets (a bacterium derivative lethal to mosquitoes but safe for wildlife), and community outreach for standing water removal. The program emphasizes disease vector control, particularly West Nile virus transmission prevention. Drone delivery is more efficient and environmentally conscious than hand application or adult mosquito spraying, avoiding non-target effects. The district conducts door-to-door inspections and offers free tire removal for residents. Treatment cycles repeat every 30 days. An interactive map on mmc.org shows inspection and treatment history for local wetlands.
2024 Edina Heritage Award - HouseNovel.com
HouseNovel.com received the 2024 Edina Heritage Award in recognition of its contribution to local historical preservation. The platform, designed by Edina native Amanda Zelki and husband David Decker, launched in 2020 and provides free crowdsourced home history documentation. The database contains over 24,000 U.S. homes, including approximately 600 in Edina. Data sourcing includes public records from the Minnesota Historical Society, Hennepin County History Museum, and Minneapolis Star Tribune. The platform allows free user uploads and offers optional paid research assistance. The Heritage Award is presented annually during preservation month to showcase local historical preservation activity.
Notable Quotes (6)
I moved to Minn and I'm just I'm really passionate about my roots and where I'm from and I'm from Britany France which is the region of France where creps originated um and so when I came to Minnesota I couldn't find a good CP and I thought I need to show these people what it's what it's how it's done and what it tastes like
this grant program is specifically intended to help that small business owner leap over a hurdle that they didn't expect to encounter um almost every small business owner faces that type of hurdle and we're hoping that with this grant we can attract more small businesses to let them locate here expand here and Thrive here
Vector mosquitoes are mosquitoes that can transmit disease so either they they pick it up from uh like the bird population for instance with West Nile and then they transmit that to uh or potentially could transmit that to humans when they bite a human
it's much more environmentally conscious if you're just applying the material to the wetlands
some of our sites can be quite uh muddy easy to get stuck in full of trees and logs and you know things that you can trip on
we're super grateful for the award it's just been an incredible opportunity to help preserve the history of all the homes right so the big idea behind our platform is to be able to answer what's the story with that house and capture the real moments that make a house a home so we just love the idea of everyone coming together and crowdsourcing home history it's the real magic when everyone is contributing that together
Ordinances & Resolutions (2)
State-established fund created in 2021 to create jobs and attract brick-and-mortar investment; provides up to $24,000 in streamlined grants for building shell improvements
Grants approved for O Crepe business and property owner to fund front entrance remodeling, energy-efficient storefront glass, and rear parking lot reconstruction
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Other Topics from This Document
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District Operations
2024 Edina Heritage Award Recognition
Pride Month Acknowledgment
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