Two weeks, they said. No one thought it would be a year and several months before downtown workers returned to their towers.
If you're one of the people who have been away from downtown Minneapolis since the pandemic began, you might have some questions about what it's like now. I've been downtown several times a week since April 2020. Let me see if I can provide an update on the current state of the city.
Q: Are there people downtown?
A: Yes, and I'm one of them. It's not at pre-pandemic levels, of course. But it's much, much better than it was. For the past year, downtown has been depressingly underpopulated. You could've set up bowling pins in the skyway and played a few frames at high noon without hitting anyone.
Now, many buildings have something that's been sorely lacking: the sound of conversation. For a long time, it seemed that people moved silently and alone. These days, there are duos and trios laughing and chattering away. It's a small thing, and it's the most ordinary thing in the world, but when you hear it again, you realize how long it's been.
Q: Will it be weird if I wear a mask?
A: Not at all. Some do, most don't.
Q: Are the streets safe during the day?