Bordertown Coffee thrives in Dinkytown

With corporate coffee chains moving into the Dinkytown and Marcy-Holmes neighborhoods, Bordertown stands out as an alternative.

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By Hannah Reynolds  /  The Hubbard School

In a once-vacant fraternity house behind the University of Minnesota’s frat row, a business in Dinkytown offers a unique escape for those craving a cup of coffee, baked goods, or both. 

Bordertown Coffee, an independent coffee house located near the corner of 16th Avenue and 4th Street, has served the university and its surrounding neighborhoods for 20 years. Since its opening in 2004, Bordertown has provided reliable space for students, residents, and visitors to gather. 

Between a variety of on-and off-campus Starbucks and Caribou Coffee locations and a Dunn Brothers set to open in Stadium Village, Bordertown is one of the only independent coffee houses located near the university’s East Bank campus. 

Heather Jimenez, 24, a pharmacology student from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, visiting Minneapolis, said while searching for a coffee shop near her hotel, Bordertown stood out. 

“It's very cozy. I see a lot of university students and have also heard professors come to this cafe,” Jimenez said while finishing her chocolate muffin. “Being here, there are more secluded spaces, you don’t see what’s going on in the kitchen or at the counter and I love that aspect.” 

The interior of Bordertown is made up of several separate rooms each furnished with a variety of wooden tables and chairs, built-in bookshelves, art pieces and plants that line cushioned window seating. The addition of arm chairs around the building's fireplace and sofas make for a casual yet inviting atmosphere. 

Josh Silker, the general manager at Bordertown, said being a European-style coffeehouse that predominantly serves a college community, they have to be systematized, particularly when it comes to the drinks they serve. However, they aim to create a curated and personalized experience for their customers as much as possible. 

“I don't know how many other coffee shops serve ceramic cups with latte art, and that is something that we do,” Silker said. “With the amount of traffic that we have, we also do our best to try and really get to know our customers as much as possible, getting to know people's names and details about them.”

Kelly Jarrard, 21, a communications student at the university, said she typically goes to Bordertown once a week during the school year because it is close to where she lives in Dinkytown, but also because it provides an alternative, ambient and fun space. 

“I think the thing that keeps me going back is the fact that it is a very good environment for getting stuff done and I feel like I am very productive when I am there doing my homework,” Jarrard said. “It's a pretty respectful environment most of the time and I think it compares to other places because it feels more homey.” 

Silker said the building where Bordertown now resides used to be the Theta Chi fraternity before the chapter folded. The chapter house sat vacant for years before being bought by a developer for demolition. It was designated “historical,” ultimately preventing it from being torn down. 

Seg-Way Ministries, a nonprofit organization, owns and operates Bordertown in addition to the Christian fraternity and sorority, Kappa Pi Alpha, located directly above the coffee shop. 

The value of the coffee shop market in the United States grew by 8% and was valued at $49.5 billion in 2023, a 4% increase from pre-pandemic values, according to a report by Project Cafè USA 2024. This growth was largely driven by large chain coffee stores. 

While chain coffee stores have dominated the market, smaller and independent coffee shops are gaining popularity when it comes to customization and personalization, according to a report by Technavio. The market is estimated to grow by $39.2 billion from 2022 to 2027. 

Allison Cohen, 24, a political science doctoral student at the university, said she spends most of her time on the West Bank campus and wishes a place like Bordertown was nearby. 

“I don’t come here often, but I probably would if it was on West Bank because it's quiet,” Cohen said. “I also just don’t really like chains, and there is not one conveniently located where I am.”

Cohen said she is currently boycotting Starbucks as a part of a nonviolent Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments and economic sanctions against Israel as a result of the Israel-Hamas war. 

Starbucks has lost $11 billion dollars since boycotts started last fall, according to the Business  and Human Rights Resource Centre, a global organization that monitors companies' human rights practices. The movement, with the help of social media, encourages people to seek out local coffee shops instead. 

Sustainability and ethical coffee practices are a point of contention between larger coffee chains and consumers, with a majority of Gen Z coffee drinkers preferring coffee shops that prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing, according to a survey by the National Coffee Association. 

Bordertown uses True Stone Coffee Roasters, an independent, specialty coffee roaster located in St. Paul for all of their coffee drinks. True Stone sources coffee from small farms and cooperatives around the world and prioritizes transparency and quality in their supply chain. 

Concerning plastic use, Silker said, Bordertown uses compostable packaging and cups as much as possible and has tried to eliminate any plastics when it comes to their vendors to avoid recycling waste. 

“It can be hard to find suppliers who will provide better quality containers,” Silker said. “One of our bigger switches over the last few years is that we now get all of our dairy milks in glass bottles that can be swapped back to the vendor.” 

Silker said they try to find local suppliers as much as possible to limit transportation costs. 

Elly Harris, 22, a barista at Bordertown, said she has worked there nearly a year and finds the work rewarding. 

“It's so fun, especially during the school year. It's busy most of the time, which is exciting and makes the shifts go fast,” Harris said as she prepared a coffee using their traditional espresso maker. “I have super fun coworkers and the best regulars. It feels like just seeing friends all day at work and that’s super fun.” 

Harris said while Bordertown is quieter in the summer, business remains steady leading into the start of the school year. 

“This might be a little cliche, but it's a home away from home,” Harris said. “I think for a lot of students who come to the university and plenty of people from the cities, we make an effort to craft a homey and comfortable environment, and that's what it has become for me too.”