Jamie and Casey Carl, owners of Serge + Jane
What do you love about living and/or working in Edina?
We have lived in Edina for close to 18 years and knew we wanted to build and run our business here. We love being able to run home or to school events quickly and being within walking or biking distance from all of the things we enjoy doing, such as hitting the restaurants, sitting on patios, grabbing coffee, walking the lakes, and even getting our hair cuts or buying running shoes.
What are some of your favorite places to visit in Edina?
We love our neighborhood and supporting all the small businesses around the 44th and France area. We frequently visit all of the restaurants and the newly updated Edina Theatre. When our boys were younger, we spent a lot of time at the Edina Aquatic Center and still do at Centennial Lakes. We love strolling through the Edina Art Fair and the Fall into the Arts Festival.
Is there a favorite memory you have about the community?
We have so many great memories, but we’d say a favorite tradition is the annual Fourth of July parade. We stay in town for the fourth and have great memories of biking up to the parade and watching with our friends, neighbors and family every year.
Are there any local charities that you like to support?
We contribute to a number of local charitable organizations through the shop with donation baskets and raffle items. We also support the school fundraisers, including The Edina Ed Fund, Edina A Better Chance, The Morningside Women's Club and many Edina High School athletic teams. Go Hornets!
Erin Zosel, owner of Sloane's Beauty Bar
What do you love about living and/or working in Edina?
I love that every day I see familiar faces; co-workers, friends, my kids’ coaches and teammates, and other small business owners. Edina has a small-town feel with access to everything you need.
What are some of your favorite places to visit in Edina?
I love to walk around Bredesen Park, 50th and France, and 44th and France. Also shopping at the Galleria is always fabulous.
Is there a favorite memory you have about the community?
The Edina Art Fair is something I look forward to every year to see the community come together and support local artists. Everywhere you turn it is friends and neighbors, and it reminds you of how tight-knit our neighborhoods are.
Gary and Susan Wahman, Edina Realty
What do you love about living and/or working in Edina?
Edina has been a wonderful place to raise our family, enjoy a sense of community and feel fortunate to be able to continue to make a difference. It’s a central location with good access to the airport. We like walking to [the local] restaurants, the shopping [area] and the re-opened Edina Theatre.
Are there any local charities that you like to support?
Our children were recently in the Edina public schools and Sue became an active volunteer including a stint as PTA president and board member of Edina Education Fund. We are maintaining our connection with the schools through sponsorships with the Edina Community Foundation Leadership Breakfast and the Edina Give organization that makes it possible for kids to get the help they need for academics and extracurricular activities. Also, of course, we support hockey in Edina and have sponsored many teams over the years.
Dr. Richard Anderson, owner of Anderson Dental
What do you love about living and/or working in Edina?
We love Edina because of the energy and friendliness of the city, its residents, and businesses. There is a positive energy and optimism in this city that we have found and new residents we meet say they are attracted to these same traits. Even though Edina is a first-tier suburb, its history goes back 100 years and has transformed from farms and rural life to a vibrant and inclusive modern city. The city is well-maintained, progressive and updated.
But it is the school system that we value highly. All three of our children have benefitted from their Edina education which has sent them off to college and prepared them for successful lives. Now three of our grandchildren are experiencing the same excellent school system which benefits from the support of the community with the passage of financial and volunteer aid. Athletic programs are also very successful, offering many levels of involvement in many sports and involving many children in athletic activity. Our children were involved in basketball, softball, baseball, swimming, soccer and track. Now we have grandchildren involved in basketball, swimming, softball, cheer and soccer. All of them have been positively impacted by coaches and players, parents and teachers. One of our sons swam for legendary coach Art Downey for four years, which launched him into a successful college swimming experience that helped shape his life. Coach Downey has had a positive impact on so many young people over his long and successful career. We are thankful for all the coaches and teachers in Edina who have worked to create such a stellar program.
What are some of your favorite places to visit in Edina?
Some of our favorite places in Edina are the History Center, Braemar Golf Course, and all the neighborhoods that we like to explore, looking for new and remodeling construction. We also like walking the many beautiful streets and parks, and of course, the 50th and France district. It is fun to explore and shop.
Are there any local charities that you like to support?
We have and continue to support the girl’s traveling basketball program, the French immersion school program, school music programs and our church, Normandale Lutheran, which is very active in the community.
