List of Businesses Closing for 'ICE Out of MN' Day: What's Shut Down — and What May Be Disrupted
A wave of nearly 500 businesses across Minnesota plan to shut down this Friday, 23 January, stepping into a movement leaders call the biggest joint economic strike the state has seen in recent years.The 'ICE Out of MN: Day of Truth and Freedom' marks a dramatic escalation in the standoff between local communities and federal immigration authorities. The action comes just over two weeks after ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot 37-year-old US citizen Renee Good on a Minneapolis street on 7 January, according to the ICE Out of MN coalition.Who Is Closing and WhereMost corners of Minnesota's small business world are closing. Restaurants close alongside breweries, while bookshops are shutting their doors, too. Fitness spots are stopping operations as are art spaces. These closings appear everywhere — Minneapolis feels it, St Paul notices, Duluth does as well. Suburbs, big and small, echo the same silence. Doors stay shut, signs go dark.The 50501 Movement, a grassroots organisation coordinating participation, posted the extensive list on Facebook with a pointed message: 'Tomorrow, January 23, 2026, these businesses are choosing people over profit and standing up for neighbours, dignity, and the right to live without fear.'Among the participating businesses are:Grocery Cooperatives: Wedge Community Co-ops (both Minneapolis locations), Seward Community Co-op (both locations), Eastside Food Co-op, Mississippi Market Co-op (three St. Paul stores), and River Market Co-op in StillwaterRestaurants and Bars: 112 Eatery, Martina, Broders' Cucina Italiana, World Street Kitchen, Meteor, and dozens of neighbourhood eateriesCoffee Shops: Angry Catfish Bicycle and Coffee, Quixotic Coffee, Metta Coffee, Dogwood Coffee (all three locations), and Spyhouse (six locations)Bookshops: Wild Rumpus Bookstore, Next Chapter Booksellers, Birchbark Books, Red Balloon Bookshop, and DreamHaven Books and ComicsBreweries and Distilleries: Vikre Distillery in Duluth, Utepils Brewing, Bauhaus Brew Labs, and Surly BrewingDuluth Businesses: Positively 3rd Street Bakery, Amity Coffee, Studio Cafe, and more than a dozen othersThe full list exceeds 480 establishments spanning from Rochester to Grand Marais.
'Choosing People Over Profit'The economic blackout was first announced on 13 January by a coalition of faith leaders and labour unions, including the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, the St Paul Federation of Educators, and SEIU Local 26.'As a cooperative, we believe our shared labour, time, and economic participation are powerful tools,' the participating grocery stores said in a joint statement. 'We are taking unified action with no work, no school, and no shopping to show we will not quietly endure fear and violence in our communities.'In Duluth, Positively 3rd Street Bakery employee Macie Orr told Northern News Now: 'The community is the main reason why we are able to be here. It feels very fitting and very important to ensure that we are making a stand for that community.' Bakery co-owner Teresa Whittet acknowledged the financial sacrifice: 'I won't lie, it's going to hurt.'Social Media Reactions: Praise and CriticismThe announcement sparked passionate responses on social media. 'Thank you all for being brave shop owners,' wrote Facebook user Annette Finley Ashton.TL Ande commented: 'Now THAT is how you protest! Thank you to all these many, many businesses for taking the hit as they stand up to the heinous and illegal acts occurring in their state and all across the country. I would love to see this become a movement.'Others offered criticism. Suzan Grumbley wrote: 'You mean [a] list of places that are grabbing onto the opportunity for a day off of work AND free media coverage for their business? Gotcha. Noted.'What Sparked the MovementThe protest directly responds to what organisers call the 'ICE surge' that resulted in Renee Good's death. The 37-year-old mother of three was fatally shot while serving as a community observer during immigration enforcement operations in south Minneapolis.Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissed federal claims that Good posed a threat, stating after reviewing video footage: 'I want to tell everybody directly that is bullshit.' Governor Tim Walz proclaimed 9 January as 'Renee Good Day.'What Happens on FridayA march is scheduled for 2 pm at The Commons in downtown Minneapolis, where organisers expect thousands to gather, demanding ICE's withdrawal from Minnesota.Several businesses remaining open are redirecting profits to immigrant support organisations. Senti in Edina will donate 100% of Friday's profits to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, while Wandering Leaf Brewing in St. Paul will donate $2 (£1.48) from every beer sold to Neighbourhood House.For the complete list of participating businesses, visit The 50501 Movement's Facebook page.
