Creating a vibrant and inclusive Downtown Minneapolis

Chameleon Shops is an initiative that helps connect local small businesses with retail space in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.

Love the way you shop with Chameleon!

Our Chameleon program fosters an inclusive and vital downtown by supporting BIPOC/women-owned entrepreneurs. Chameleon provides a downtown retail platform where inclusive communities are fostered, diverse entrepreneurs can thrive, and small businesses are celebrated.  

  • Networking and training 
  • Pop-ups and events 
  • Retail Cohort and Shops:

     

    • We host an 8-week intensive cohort designed with NEON and Something Great for entrepreneurs to network with experts, understand their goals, and refine business plans. Afterwards, participants can apply for additional business preparation along with the chance to open a brick-and-mortar location downtown. 

Read more here: Minneapolis Downtown Council entrepreneur program gets reboot after stores close 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN MAY 28: Moon & Stars on May 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Credit: Tony Nelson
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN MAY 28: Lovely’s Sewing on May 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Credit: Tony Nelson
MINNEAPOLIS, MARCH 18: MPLS Downtown Council Chameleon Retail Cohort on March 18, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Credit: Tony Nelson
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Shop Local & Support Small Business Owners

 From 2019-2025, Chameleon hosted 15 pop ups, 8 events, and launched 13 unique shops in downtown spaces including approximately 350 vendors and generating nearly $980K in sales. In response to the massive disruptions in retail post-Covid, Chameleon seeks to improve socioeconomic accessibility and equity from the bottom-up by supporting entrepreneurs.

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