A changing landscape as immigrants transform Main Streets

Downtown sections of many towns are not very busy, new immigrants are starting businesses and bringing life and customers to the areas.   - - Donna Poisl

Article by: ALLIE SHAH

Somalis flocking to southern Minnesota towns are the latest immigrants opening new businesses and transforming downtowns in outstate cities.

Once the henna artist arrives, business will really take off, Yonis Hajisaid said.
One of downtown Willmar's newest entrepreneurs, he owns the Nuura Shop, the latest Somali-owned business to open in downtown Willmar in the past five years.

The change from a barber shop to a henna and perfume parlor is a sign of how new immigrants are transforming business districts outstate just as they have along some main streets in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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