It’s almost hard to believe the the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns happened five years ago. During the height of mask mandates and social distancing small business owners fought tooth and nail to make a profit. In that time since, how have businesses recovered in the Duluth area?

Several Spirit Valley neighborhood shops shuttered their doors when pandemic lockdowns began. Although five years later, there’s been some growth with new small businesses. Russ Salgy is the West Duluth Business Club President and says there’s room for new entrepreneurs looking to set up shop in Spirit Valley.

“We have to go in and really get some renovation dollars to help these building owners and then their storefronts become more turnkey and operable. There’s opportunity out here,” Salgy said. “The closure of the high bridge will bring 33,000 more cars right to our back door. So we’re trying to figure how do we encapsulate that to then drive them into the businesses that we have and make it a bigger success out here.”

While there’s still potential changes in the Spirit Valley Neighborhood, wow have businesses recovered in Lincoln Park? Corktown Deli is proud of their changes made over the years. From starting out as a small sandwich shop in the heart of Lincoln Park, they’ve now tripled their dining space at their new location. Co-Owner Jeff Petcoff says not all of their spaces have seen success.

“We’re not shy to admit that not everything was working before the pandemic. We had Taco Arcada, which was our pinball taco location, we just kind of found that wasn’t working,” Petcoff said. “We also had our cocktail bar. It was right next to OMC called the Noble Cork. We were able to knock down a wall between the two buildings and make it one building. So OMC was able to expand at that time as well.”

At the pandemic’s peak, businesses battled staff shortages, lack of customers, and a laundry list of other challenges. But owners like Petcoff say their relationships with the community and persistence goes a long way in running a restaurant.

“Showing some tenacity and still having love for the business and people that come in and have supported us throughout the way. I come to work excited every day, so that’s the biggest thing. The team’s excited, and we’re just pumped up for what the future holds for us.”

For any aspiring entrepreneurs looking to get their foot in the small business door, the West Duluth Business Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month in Mr. D’s banquet room.