Downtown Lake City

Police notify business community of increased downtown parking enforcement

Apr 17, 2024

The Lake City Police Department is planning to increase downtown parking enforcement in response to complaints, according to an email from the Lake City Chamber of Commerce. “[The police department] has asked the Chamber to communicate the following message,” the Chamber wrote. “There have been...

What makes Lake City so special? Surprises!

Apr 17, 2024

You never know what to expect when you take a stroll through Lake City. As I turned the corner onto Lakeshore Drive last Tuesday I came across this group of high school seniors carrying bouquets of yellow tulips. In my role as unofficial and unrecognized reporter for the Graphic I decided to...

First glimpse of Aurora Condominiums

Jan 24, 2024

An application for a density variance has provided what appear to be the first publicly available renderings of the Aurora Luxury Lakeside Condominiums planned for the downtown city block bounded by Lakeshore Drive, Marion Street, Washington Street, and McCahill Park. The Lake City Board of...

Chamber welcomes new member Lake City Floral

Jan 10, 2024

On Tuesday, Jan. 2, Lake City Chamber of Commerce staff and ambassadors joined at Lake City Floral to welcome this new business to our downtown community with a Ribbon Cutting event. “Located at 110 S. Lakeshore Dr. Lake City Floral provides full floral and gift services suitable for everyone....

El Barco Bar and Grill sails into Lake City

Dec 27, 2023

The management of a new bar and grill hopes to be open in just days at 209 S. Lakeshore Drive. Located at the former location of Resh Wok, El Barco Bar and Grill will be a Tex-Mex restaurant serving Mexican and American food, including some seafood, and offering a full bar, according to manager...

Striking sunrise over decorated downtown

Dec 20, 2023

Photographer Ben Threinen was out in search of a photo that said Christmas when he took this photo of the decorated and lit downtown Lake City streetscape beneath a sky filled with purples and pinks at sunrise on Dec. 19. Winter officially begins Thursday (today), and Christmas, Dec. 25, is on...

First downtown planter removed

Nov 15, 2023

Lake City Public Works Director Scott Jensen told the City Council at its Nov. 13 meeting that the city had removed a planter near the former Conoco station in the 300 block of South Lakeshore Drive. Businesses in the 100 and 200 blocks of South Lakeshore Drive came before the council at an...

Businesses to stay open later on second Thursday of each month

Nov 8, 2023

Inspired by other nearby communities having monthly evening shopping events with good customer participation, some Lake City businesses plan to do the same, according to a news release from business group Shops of Lake City. “By staying open until 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month we are...

City plans safety fix for downtown sidewalks

Oct 11, 2023

Changes are coming to the downtown sidewalks on South Lakeshore Drive. At the city council meeting on Oct. 9, City Public Works Director Scott Jensen asked for and received city council consensus to modify planters partially surrounded by raised curbs that business owners say have caused falls and...

Two legacies continue at Johnson Jewelers of Lake City

Feb 1, 2023

Longtime family-owned business Johnson Jewelers is expanding and adding a second location in Lake City, Minn., becoming the fifth jeweler to set up shop in the 145-year-old building on Center St. Karen Johnson-Leonard becomes the second female jewelry store owner to operate in this beautiful,...