People enjoy a drinks and conversations in downtown Anoka on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Anoka now allows bar patrons to take alcoholic drinks — in special cups — outside of the bars in a special area of the city called a social district. Patrons can sip and stroll throughout the area and even go into different shops — if the shop owners approve. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Shelly and Greg Peterson, of Nowthen, and Lori and Jason Troiden, of Andover, spent a recent Friday night walking through Anoka’s historic downtown and in Riverfront Memorial Park while sipping drinks from the 201 Tavern & Grill.
It was the couples’ third time taking advantage of the city’s new “social district,” which allows people to walk around and shop with alcoholic drinks in hand. They expected to walk a couple of miles and then eat wings — “the greatest wings in the state” — at Serum’s Good Time Emporium, Shelly Peterson said.
The success of Anoka’s drinking district bodes well for Stillwater, which is considering creating its own version in its historic downtown, according to the couples.
Greg and Shelly Peterson, left, and Lori and Jason Troiden, right, walk in Anoka’s Riverfront Memorial Park on Friday, June 20, 2025. (Mary Divine / Pioneer Press)
“This makes total sense for Stillwater,” Jason Troiden said. “It’s very much like Anoka. It’s right on the river. Good sidewalks. Lots of places to stop in and visit. If they talk to anybody from Anoka, I mean, it’s obviously gone well.”
Said Shelly Peterson: “I think it’s a no-brainer for Stillwater because it’s the bachelorette/bachelor party destination in the state. It’s an up-and-coming Nashville, I think, so why not? It makes total sense.”
The Minnesota Legislature gave Stillwater permission in 2024 to create and operate a social district in its downtown. Staff are investigating some steps that would need to be considered if the Stillwater City Council decides to move forward, said Jason Zimmerman, the city’s interim community development director.
Stillwater getting feedback from residents
The boundaries of the social district would likely be centered on the Stillwater’s historic downtown, stretching from the St. Croix River to a few blocks to the west. The north and south extents would need to be established, taking into account existing businesses and other factors, Zimmerman said.
City staff are in the process of collecting feedback from residents; an online survey on the subject closes July 21. An open house on the topic is planned for 4-6 p.m. July 16 at Stillwater Public Library’s Margaret Rivers Room.
The council could decide Aug. 5 to launch a short pilot period this fall, and, based on the evaluation, a full season could begin next spring, Zimmerman said.
“Some people … are picturing people coming downtown just to drink and getting rowdy and out of control,” Zimmerman said. “I think the evidence has shown that people who are using it in Anoka are already coming down to go to dinner or, you know, visit the park, so it’s just an add-on to what they’re already doing, not the reason they’re coming.”
Here’s how it would work: Licensed businesses would be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages using official “social district” cups. These drinks could be consumed on the sidewalk, in the park, or within retail locations that choose to participate in the program. Signs would mark the boundaries, and no drinks would be allowed outside of the district.
The city would set the days and hours of operation. Anoka’s social district season runs from May 1 to Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Patrons in Anoka who want to sip and stroll spend an extra 50 cents to get a clear plastic cup imprinted with the words “Downtown Anoka Social District” and “Be 21 – Drink Responsibly.” The city sells the cups to bars and restaurants for 25 cents each with an extra 25-cent fee to help cover the cost of recycling bins and cleanup; Stillwater could possibly do something similar, Zimmerman said.
Visitors would not be allowed to bring their own alcohol to the district, and a drink from one drinking establishment can’t be brought into a different bar, he said. Window clings at the entrances of businesses within the social district would indicate if they are permitted to sell and if social-district beverages are allowed in their store/business, Zimmerman said.
City council member: Stillwater has its own draws
Stillwater City Council member Ryan Collins said he and his wife went to Anoka on a Saturday afternoon in late May to experience the social district. “The sun is shining. It’s 80 degrees,” he said. “I went into one of the local businesses, and I was asking the owner about her experience with it. She said, ‘Well, to be honest, you’re the first customers that have come in with a (social-district) cup all day.’ That was, like, at 4 in the afternoon.”
Collins said he expects things could be very different in Stillwater.
“You can’t compare Stillwater to Anoka,” he said. “Any nice weekend, people from all over the place flood to downtown. I think Stillwater kind of sells itself. … So I don’t know if having a social district is something that we need. People are going to come regardless.”
The Stillwater City Council during COVID changed city ordinance to allow visitors to bring alcohol in non-glass bottles to city parks, except for Teddy Bear Park, Collins said. “If I want to go down and have a drink along the river, I can bring my own from home,” he said. “If I wanted to get a beer from River Siren (Brewing), I could take it out and not open it until I get into the park.”
If a social district is approved, visitors who want to drink in city parks within the boundaries of the district would need to purchase a drink from a local licensed establishment and use a special cup, he said.
Anoka first social district in state
Anoka was the first city in Minnesota to pilot the initiative with a month-long trial in 2023 after getting legislative approval. It was brought back for a five-month run in 2024, and then started again in May, said Anoka Mayor Erik Skogquist.
Tyler Harlan, of Blaine, sips beer from a a special cup that, for a small surcharge, allows him go into participating establishments with “a beer in hand” in downtown Anoka on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
“We kind of just dipped our toes in at the beginning to be cautious,” he said. “During the first month (in 2023), about half of our bars and restaurants in our entertainment area participated, and the others just kind of took a wait-and-see approach. But the following year, all of them got their social-district licenses and have been part of this.”
The city largely modeled its rules after similar initiatives in Michigan and North Carolina, and there have been no major issues, Skogquist said. There are signs with maps of the district’s borders posted around the area.
“It’s kind of created a ‘sip-and-stroll atmosphere’ — that’s how we like to describe it,” he said. “It’s just another way for people to socialize and to go around and not be stuck at one particular bar or restaurant. … They can have something, wander around, enjoy the environment, enjoy the atmosphere. It’s brought a lot of new people to town.”
Anoka still allows alcohol in non-glass bottles in city parks that are not in the social district, he said.
Skogquist has this advice for Stillwater officials: “It’s a lot easier to build and expand than it is to contract, you know? So just do what they think is best for Stillwater, and just take it a little bit at a time and, hopefully, it’ll work out for them.”
Stillwater council member not convinced
Stillwater City Council member Larry Odebrecht isn’t convinced it would be a good idea for Stillwater.
“Several of us are skeptical of whether this is a fit for Stillwater,” he said. “At this point, I can’t find a lot of people who are interested in it. It’s that kind of thing that is difficult to crawl back from once you start them.”
Since people are already allowed to drink alcohol in non-glass bottles in most downtown parks, “I’m really struggling to understand what this adds,” Odebrecht said. “… When people learn the details of how it works, they’re probably going to recognize it as an expense to the city and not all that useful for us. Our park policy right now is really cool, really fun, and it hasn’t been any problem, so why mess with it?”
Shakopee will be the second city in Minnesota to offer social districts after getting legislative approval; its two social districts are expected to be operational in September.
Said Odebrecht: “I can see why it might be good for Shakopee or Anoka, but I really don’t think we’re in the same boat. We don’t need to drive additional tourists downtown. We’re already rocking and rolling downtown.”
Enthusiasm from Stillwater businesses
Stillwater businesswoman Sara Jespersen said she hopes the city council agrees to a trial run.
“I’m definitely in favor of it,” said Jespersen, whose family owns the Lumberjack Lodge, Mad Capper Saloon & Eatery and a vacation rental downtown. “However, I do believe that there’s a lot of fear of the unknown. … I think Stillwater is really good at working on always being vibrant, staying alive and growing, so this gives us the chance to try something.”
The owners of Smith + Trade Mercantile in Stillwater, Kelli and Paul Kaufer, also support creating a social district. “We can’t supply alcohol, so it would be nice if people maybe want a glass of wine while they are lingering and shopping or going to a class,” she said. “We have artisans (in the store) working their craft, and we want people to linger around a little bit longer.”
Related Articles
Afton readies for Fourth of July, names parade grand marshal
Woodbury mayor, city of Mounds View honored with state awards
Music in the Trees returning to Belwin Conservancy in Afton
Where to find Fourth of July fireworks, events in the east metro
Woodbury’s public safety campus is getting a $60 million renovation
Customers could put their name on a wait list at a nearby restaurant, grab a drink and then come back and shop until their name is called, Kelli Kaufer said. “I don’t think that there will be 21-year-olds running around with a whole bunch of beers in their hands,” she said. “I don’t have a concern about that.”
In Anoka, Theresa Jaeger, a third-generation owner of Jenson’s boutique clothing shop, said she loves when people taking advantage of the city’s social district come in to shop. She’s noticed more people in town, especially on weekends.
“It just makes it a fun activity to do,” she said. “Women groups, for sure, come in. Or if people come up on their boats, and they can dock and get a drink and then walk around.”
Spillage has not been an issue, she said. “We’re not open late, so it’s fine,” she said. “We haven’t had any problems. We would have the same issue with coffee.”
Leave a Reply