Colonial Market is still seeing a decline of customers on Lake Street, but the Latino store’s owner says he is moving ahead with opening two new stores. One of the new stores will be in the vacant Aldi in north Minneapolis, and the other in an empty Bloomington storefront near the Mall of America. The north Minneapolis mercado, featuring a butcher, deli and Latin restaurant, represents a $2.5 million gamble in a neighborhood that is considered a food desert. Owner Daniel Hernandez hopes 500 to 1,000 people will turn out to celebrate on May 25 at the market, which will be at the corner of Lowry and Penn avenues. Read more at the link in our bio. Reporting by Dee DePass. Photo by Elizabeth Flores lizrflores/The Minnesota Star Tribune. #minnesota #northminneapolis #minneapolis