Madison Maronde

Story by Madison Maronde / The Hubbard School

A new French- and Asian-inspired baker, Cafe Tous Les Jours, opened this June, with customers waiting in line for hours on opening day. A few months later, the bakery is still drawing crowds. 

"I think the food is really good. They use a lot of ingredients that are good and when they put them together it's great,” said customer Thomas Peterson.

The bakery has a French- and Asian-fused menu, with dozens of pastry and bread options. Customers can use tongs and trays to pick out most bakery items themselves.

"Last time we came we tried like 10 different ones and cut them up when we all got home and they were all good, it was fabulous,” said customer Jill Peterson.

Cafe Tous Les Jours is open every day, serving bakery items like curry croquettes, red bean bread and croissants. It's about $4 for a pastry, with a chocolate croissant costing about $3.75. 

"It's really good,.I got it last time and it's so good it's better than Starbucks,” said customer Adriana De Lambert.

In online reviews, customers seem to appreciate the bakery but long wait times deterred some from trying the new business. 

One customer wrote on Yelp, "The crowds during the first few weeks were insane. Had to come back several times as the crowds drew me away."

Cafe Tous Les Jours is actually a chain with more than 90 locations around the US, but this is the first one in Minnesota.

The cafe is located at the intersection of 66th Street and Nicollet in Richfield. Tous Les Jours is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

"I figured, let's just get rid of the grass, and put in plants, flowers. Just let things grow where they want to grow."

— MICHELE GERSICH, Como neighborhood resident

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Story by Madison Maronde / The Hubbard School

In the Como neighborhood of Minneapolis, other yards pale in comparison to one 19th Avenue Southeast vibrant garden, with over 25 different plants.

Michele Gersich and John Hartman have lived in their home for over 20 years, and in the Como neighborhood for over 40. 

"I figured, let's just get rid of the grass, and put in plants, flowers,” Gersich said. "Just let things grow where they want to grow."

When she started her garden, Gersich had help from a landscaper. Now she gardens every day, uses no fertilizer or pesticides, and gets help from her husband, John Hartman, in other ways.

"I do the bulk, no thinking things,” Hartman said.

Hartman will dig up plants and compost dead ones. He also enjoys neighborhood reactions to his wife's work.

"I also get to see the people who stop by when she's not here, just stop to look and sniff and take pictures and all that,” Hartman said.

"I think it's wonderful. You know, I love as you walk by, all of the textures. And then the bees as you walk by, just all of the life there,” said Hartman.

Despite many compliments from neighbors, Gersich has her own motivations for her gardening.

"If you're renting someplace, you don't have the time and you probably might not even have permission to put in a garden, and you're not gonna be here long enough to see it,” Gersich said. “But everyone needs something pretty to look at, everyone needs beauty, right so, I just like to do that. And then I think maybe, maybe when those people get houses or get settled, that will inspire them to plant something.”

See the video on YouTube.