Downtown Winona Sees Growth Through Pandemic

Photo: Facebook/Winona Main Street Program

WINONA, Minn. (KWNO)-Downtown Winona has continued to grow despite the pandemic’s persistence. 

“COVID did not have as much of a hindrance in terms of downtown development and growth as one might have anticipated,” said Winona Main Street Program Manager Ben Strand. “We’ve seen more than a dozen new businesses open. We had hardly any of them close.”  

Strand says the Main Street Program is all about making rural downtowns a desirable area to work and play. He credits the community’s support for downtown’s continued growth.  

Strand said some of the events created by pandemic restrictions are here to stay. The month-long Shop Small Winter Edition begins later this month.  Stand says Dine out Downtown and the Parade of Trucks are also expected to come back this May.