Farm Fresh Shop and Quick Bite Spot “Shepherds Table” Prepares to open in Longfellow this June

The Minnesota based shop and snack spot Shepherds table has been preparing to open a location in the Longfellow neighborhood in June (the first of the month). In the words of the owners, ”this project has been in the works for a long time”, and “a long time coming.”

Their goal is “to bridge the gap between Minnesota Producers and their community via a storefront selling Minnesota-based cheeses, coffee, bread, vegetables, and as many other goods as we can. We endeavor to create a space where good food, community values, and cooperative support for farmers can intersect. By purchasing directly from producers, we’re able to cut out the middleman. This allows us to purchase the goods at a fair price from our local suppliers and pass the savings onto both them and our community.” In turn, they aim to provide the community with local and wholesome goods directly and therefore connecting the community with the source of fresh food, rather than relying on suppliers and their up-marked pricing.  

They’ll carry all kinds of goods, as they “started dreaming of a space that could be used as a space for food, art, community, and organizing.” They will be carrying “local cheesemakers, fresh milks/butter/eggs, Minnesota-Made fresh bread and pastries, pottery, art, fresh cut flowers, and of course – coffee!” On top of this, rather than being just a shop, they aim for Shepherd’s Table to become the “local spot to stop in for a quick bite or to entertain.” 

The two owners are South Minneapolis local as well, and are intertwined with the community and the residents that inhabit it. According to their website’s excerpt, “Elia & Aidan Read (the owners) are South Minneapolis residents, this store is the marrying of our family’s love of small Minnesota Producers and our love of the neighborhood.”

It’s a true family business for the Reads – an intergenerational endeavor from farm to storefront.  “The parents of our family, Steven Read & Jodi Ohlsen Read, are the folks behind Shepherds Way Farms, a small sustainable sheep dairy outside of Northfield. Jodi has been making cheese by hand for over twenty years, and is one of the most highly awarded individual cheesemakers in America. Our sheep are pasture raised, ethically cared for, and every wheel of cheese is made on our farm! Along with Jodi and Steven, there are four sons: Aidan, Elia, Isaiah, and Maitias Read. Despite some brothers having careers outside of the farm, they have all remained involved in the farm and passionate about local farmers.”

If you’re interested in local, farm fresh goods, handmade art, flowers, and other down-to-earth goods and eats; this will be a place to watch out for!

If you want to support the family’s initiative, there are several goods you can buy as well as various membership levels to subscribe to here: https://www.shepherdstablemn.com/store

Once it is open, it will be located at 3708 34th St E, Minneapolis MN 55406.

Hours are to be determined. 

They can be contacted via phone at 507-301-2340. 

For further reading, information, links to their social media pages, and more, their website is; https://www.shepherdstablemn.com/