Saint Paul Council honors five local businesses with 2025 Business Awards, adopts resolution

The Saint Paul City Council held a special meeting to present the 2025 Saint Paul Business Awards and adopted a resolution honoring the recipients by a 4-0 vote.

Council President Nager opened the event by framing the ceremony as “all good news and all a celebration,” and explained the program began nine years ago to formally recognize local business owners who wanted to feel appreciated by the city. He told attendees the awards process started with online nominations, more than 94 submissions this year, of which 22 businesses were eligible for consideration and were reviewed by a selection committee of past winners.

Council Member Sarah Jones (Ward 3) presented the Traditions Award to the Italian Pie Shop (1670 Grand Avenue), praising the restaurant’s decades-long community presence and inviting owner Katie Wan to accept. Wan said she bought the restaurant from the Bastas after Jimmy Basta retired, described surviving the challenges of COVID with the help of staff and neighbors, and thanked the city for the recognition: “My staff is just amazing. I’m just so proud of everyone.”

Council Member Annika Buoy (Ward 1) presented the People’s Choice Award to Life Juices, noting the business’s focus on healthy options and customer welcome. Owner and CEO Cali Terrier accepted the award and described Life Juices’ neighborhood-focused mission and innovations such as a garden and a self-service kiosk: “It’s our first piece of recognition from community,” he said, adding that the retail location has been open about two years while the founders have worked on the concept for roughly six to seven years.

Council President Nager announced Lost Fox as the New Kid on the Block Award recipient for Ward 2, praising the restaurant’s quick rise in Lowertown. One owner, Annie Rose, accepted the award, introduced her daughter Mala (the business’s first employee) and credited community support for the establishment’s growth over three-and-a-half years.

A Ward 4 presenter awarded the Alice O’Brien Award — which honors women-owned businesses focused on equity — to Vikings and Goddesses Pie. Owner Rachel Anderson accepted the honor and described growing the bakery since moving from New York City more than a decade ago. Anderson said she launched the business with a small personal investment and reported that the bakery now exceeds $1,000,000 in annual revenue and employs more than a dozen people, many of whom are women and non–English speakers.

Ward 4 also recognized Roots Wellness Center as the Good Neighbor Award recipient. Katie, representing Roots Wellness Center, described the organization’s trauma-informed, culturally grounded care, sliding-scale services, and community gatherings; she said the center is launching an alternative response to police work with Ramsey County and emphasized that the staff provide wraparound services beyond clinical care.

Council President Nager thanked the selection committee, city staff (including library and planning staff), and partners Matt Wieland and Ari Newman of Clear Channel Outdoor for showcasing winners on digital billboards. The council then played an awards video that will be posted with the meeting recording and moved to formalize the honors. Council President Nager moved approval of the resolution; with no discussion, the clerk recorded the vote as “4 in favor, none opposed,” and the resolution was adopted. The council adjourned and invited attendees to a reception in the hallway.

Action and next steps: the council adopted a resolution formally recognizing the 2025 Saint Paul Business Awards recipients; the awards video and the meeting recording will be posted on the city’s business awards website.