Here in Albert Lea we are thankful to be home to many small businesses, many of which are located in our historic downtown district.

We here at Ahlahasa pride ourselves with being in touch with our community and want you to help be a part of it too. One way you can do that is by supporting small businesses, so come with us as we introduce you to them, we know you’ll find something you’ll like.

We can’t start talking about downtown without talking about the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. It’s the first building you see on Broadway and trust me when I say you won’t be disappointed if you ever go in and grab a ticket to one of their shows. When you do end up going to watch one of their performances don’t be surprised at the talent radiating from the stage and behind the scenes .

If you’re less into performing arts and more of the Van Gogh type, check out the Albert Lea Art Center where you can view and buy original works from southern Minnesota artists. Another place you should check out is the Freeborn County Arts Initiative, an art gallery that again focuses on artists from our area.

There’s not only art here though. If you need some new clothes, a new look or some room decor I recommend you check out some of these places. Between Friends Boutique is an adorable little shop that offers unique clothes, accessories and home decor. If you’re looking for some new back-to-school shoes look no other place than our own Plymouth Shoes store. They’ve got kids’ shoes, work boots and everything in between.

With everything that happens downtown, you’re bound to get hungry but don’t worry because we got everything from pizza to fine dining. Let’s start with the former, Jake’s Pizza has been a staple in our diets here for as long as most of us can remember, which makes sense since it opened in 1964 and they still use the same recipes today. But let’s say you’re not in the mood for pizza. Well, you’re in luck because there are more options just down the street. Badder’s Cafe is a great option if you want the nostalgic American diner feel and the people at Taco King aren’t lying when they say king. They truly are the best at what they do.

This is just a fraction of what downtown Albert Lea has to offer. I hope that you give places like these a chance.