On Feb. 7, May Day Cafe reopened as a worker-cooperative with the help of Nexus Community Partners and Platform CRE!
With five worker-owners, the May Day Cafe Workers Cooperative is Minneapolis’ newest worker co-op. The new owners are excited to welcome you back into this beloved and longstanding neighborhood establishment with a new vision of intentionally deepening the space as a community resource. You will see lots of familiar faces, as most of the employees have stayed on and are on their way to becoming worker-owners. While sustaining a commitment to affordability and the bakery staples that regulars have come to know and love, over time you will also see some new menu items and fresh ideas.
“The last 12 months of work to make this cooperative transition have been exhausting, but an experience that I feel profoundly grateful for and changed by,” said Mira Klein, a worker-owner and barista entering her third year at the Cafe. “I have so much appreciation for being part of creating something that felt like a real community effort. There has been so much in this process that was totally new to me, and having the support of Nexus and Platform at our backs was essential to seeing this dream come to life.”
The deal was made possible by a set of public programs aimed at helping small businesses buy their real estate and become employee-owned. The Cooperative was also supported by over $100,000 in donations from more than 800 community members. The loan was funded by our partners at the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD), Shared Capital, and the City of Minneapolis. In addition to Nexus Community Partners, the Cafe also received technical assistance from Platform CRE and Next Stage.
Erin Heelan, Co-founder of Platform CRE, said, “Selling your business or real estate to your workers or tenants is an excellent way to get a fair price for what you have built AND to ensure it continues to be an asset for the community. Small businesses like May Day are crucial to the local economy and the well-being of our communities. There has been an overwhelming amount of community support for the workers to buy the business and keep May Day Cafe open. Platform represented the workers to purchase the real estate. Nexus was instrumental in ensuring the workers were prepared for the acquisition by providing cooperative governance and small business Technical Assistance.”
Employee-owned businesses, such as co-ops, have been shown to create a 92% increase in household net worth, a 33% higher hourly wage, and 53% longer job tenure (NCEO 2018). Real estate co-ops have been shown to revitalize commercial corridors by offering stable and affordable properties to businesses while giving community members a voice in development decisions and a share of the profits.
Patty Viafara, Director of the Worker Ownership Initiative at Nexus, said, “We are so excited for the new owners as they take ownership of their labor. This deal is a great example of what can be achieved when we work together for the benefit of our community.”
About May Day Cafe Workers Cooperative
The May Day Cafe Workers Cooperative was founded in June 2024, and officially bought the business and building in January 2025. Their mission is to be a home for dignified and meaningful labor, affordable food, and community connection in the heart of the Powderhorn neighborhood. Visit mayday@maydaycafe.coop for more information.
About the Shared Ownership Center @ Nexus
Since 2019, the Shared Ownership Center at Nexus, (formerly the Worker Ownership Initiative), has worked with over 50 companies to explore models of shared ownership and supported the development of eight cooperatives across the Twin Cities. From assessing fit and feasibility to becoming cooperatively owned and operated, the Shared Ownership Center at Nexus brings expertise and an equity lens to all steps of cooperative development.
About Platform CRE, SBC
Platform CRE is a Social Benefit Commercial Real Estate Brokerage and Development Consulting Firm based in Saint Paul, MN. Platform represents small businesses and nonprofits in commercial estate transactions.