Communities

TBS Mart International Foods sits in the middle of an strip mall on Portland Avenue in Bloomington, alongside Kabob’s restaurant, the India Café, the Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, and the Pizza Gallery (also serving broaster chicken). While the strip mall is international, TBS Mart is not. The scent of spices—curry, cumin, cardamom, mustard, but especially the fenugreek with its unique and pleasant scent—hits you the minute you walk into the door and confirms it. This is a strictly Indian grocery store.

I was born and raised in St. Paul, and I still live here. I’m now 25 years old. I’m an activist, an artist, an organizer, and an educator. I work in different media, including hip-hop and spoken word; I organize and participate in different events around the Twin Cities. I’ve curated at least five different open mic series over the past seven years, and I also create my own art, which I produce and share through different media.

Soul Food Heaven is a classic soul food establishment, nestled next to a small supermarket in St. Paul’s North End. Having only been open since October of 2012 hasn’t stopped the restaurant from becoming known as the place to get soul food in the Twin Cities.