ASHLEY WILSON
GRACIE HYLAND
Sometimes timing is everything when you are a small business owner looking for a spot to open your business. Such was the case for Kat, owner of Duck Duck, a small coffee shop located in south Minneapolis. Working with the Neighborhood Development Center, a community development organization, Kat was thrilled to be able to find and purchase an existing coffee shop and take over the existing lease. Ashley Wilson assisted in the purchase of the business from the previous owner, and Gracie Hyland negotiated the new lease assignment. Kat built out a fun, quirky and welcoming space that had its opening in November 2019. It quickly became a hub in the neighborhood, offering coffee, food and a book club that discussed a wide range of issues and topics. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, it had to close, offering only drive-up service when allowed. However, shortly after opening and being only a few blocks from where the riots in Minneapolis occurred, Kat had to close once again. Because she was determined to keep her commitment to the community, Kat staged donation drives, using the space as a distribution center for the area in order to serve the displaced population. We are happy to report Duck Duck is open for business once again and has been voted Best Café in the Twin Cities by a local community newspaper. Erik Splett and paralegal Jacki Bernu assisted. “Working with Kat, it was clear from the beginning that she had an intimate sense of the impact her small business could have, not only on the local community financially, but also on the overall health of the community and its people. I was happy to have the opportunity to help her realize her dream.” – Gracie Hyland “It has been a pleasure to work with Kat and get to know her as she’s growing both personally and professionally. Her passion for her coffee shop and her community are unmatched and I’ve truly enjoyed working with her!” – Ashley Wilson 18
