Resources

Sarah Jane's Bakery

Taking Care of Business

Not everyone is willing to devote the time and energy it takes to help build a strong business climate in their community.

Sarah and Kevin Lovgren are the exception. Despite the demands of running Sarah Jane’s Bakery, a popular spot in Northeast Minneapolis, the Lovgrens have always found the time to get involved in helping make the neighborhood a positive place to make a living.

Having operated a successful bakery since 1975, the Lovgrens draw on their own business experience to offer the kind of leadership and vision that’s so vital for local economies to grow and thrive. "We all need a strong business community to succeed," said Kevin Lovgren.

Sarah Jane’s Bakery is located along a stretch of Johnson Street near I-35W–an area the locals have dubbed "Nordeast." Once heavily Scandinavian, the area has grown increasingly diverse. Over the years, both Kevin and Sarah have been active in a number of local organizations helping the local business to adapt and thrive through changing times.

They’ve both served on the board of the Johnson Street Shopping Association, Kevin as president, and Sarah as secretary and treasurer for many years. They’re also both active in the Audubon Neighborhood Association, a group that finds and disburses federal funds to beautify area streets and parks, and make other enhancements around town.

Taking a stand isn’t always easy, as the Lovegrens found out four years ago when they agreed to rent space in their building to a fellow business. The Silver Angel Thrift Store, which sells used clothing and other second-hand items, wanted to open next door to the bakery. Afraid that such commerce would bring more harm than good to the neighborhood, a group of citizens led a vocal campaign to try to stop the thrift store from moving in. They even sent editorials to the local newspaper calling for residents to boycott the bakery if it chose to rent to the proposed tenants.

"We were sticking our necks out," Lovgren said, "but we went ahead and did it anyway, because it was the right thing to do." Today, they’re glad they did. "Silver Angel has turned out to be a terrific neighbor–and a great asset to this community."

The Lovgrens’ spirit of giving goes beyond just giving of their time. They also give away as much as $20,000 worth of product each year. "We don’t throw anything away," Lovgren said. "We can’t always predict how much product we’ll need to meet demand, so anything that’s left at the end of the day goes to feed families in need. Nothing goes to waste."

For years, they contributed their day-olds to the Chapel of Hope Mission. Now they support another mission called Love Lines, a local nonprofit that provides a variety of help services for the community. Describing their business as a "small town bakery in the middle of the city," the Lovgrens say the opportunity to build a community-based business was a driving force behind why they opened their bakery in the first place.

"This neighborhood has given us a good living over the years," Lovgren said. "We couldn’t exist without the people who support us here. They take care of us, so we want to help take care of them."