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Hey Chanhassen! This week we have a spotlight about a grocery store owned by your neighbors, two fitness empires that call Chanhassen home, a historic building on Lotus Lake with a very colorful past, and a June 8 deadline that really matters. Market Boulevard construction kicks off Tuesday, so enjoy the smooth roads while they last. Here's what's chanhappenin'.
Chanhassen is home to the global headquarters of not one, but two major fitness companies. Life Time was founded here in 1992 by Bahram Akradi. What's the second fitness brand headquartered right here in Chanhassen?
Scroll down for the answer
Old St. Hubert Church — June 8 Deadline Approaching
The clock is ticking. The Save Old St. Hubert Committee has until June 8 to raise $29,000 for a feasibility study that would measure the funding available for a full restoration — and keep the conversation alive. One vision on the table: transforming the space into a community-wide Christian Ecumenical Center, welcoming Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Catholic communities under one roof.
The GoFundMe is currently at $14,000 — halfway there, with two weeks to go. Contributions are 100% tax-deductible through nonprofit partner Community Asset Foundation.
Lakewinds Food Co-op - www.lakewinds.coop
Lakewinds Food Co-op — The Grocery Store Owned by Us
It started in 1972 with a few neighbors in Minnetonka, pooling resources to buy natural and organic food before most grocery stores carried any. They called themselves the Minnetonka Buying Club. By 1975 they'd outgrown front porches and moved into a small storefront known as the "Red Shack" on the property of St. Luke's Church.
Fifty-three years later, that buying club has a Chanhassen address.
Lakewinds Food Co-op has been in Chanhassen since 2005 — and unlike any other grocery store in town, it's community-owned. The Chanhassen location was launched with the help of $700,000 in loans from the co-op's own members. No outside investors, no corporate parent. Just neighbors backing something they believed in.
That ownership model shapes everything about how the store operates. Produce is on average 95% organic and sourced as locally as possible. Meat is sustainably and locally raised. Every product on the shelf has been evaluated — no artificial colors or flavors, no high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils, no nitrates. The deli makes food from scratch every day. The hot bar opens at 8 AM.
And here's the part that surprises most people: you don't have to be a member to shop there. All are welcome.
Lakewinds also partners with PROP Food Shelf right here in Chanhassen, donating bakery, produce, and grocery surplus daily as part of its food rescue program.
If you've never stopped in, it's worth a look — especially if you've ever wanted to actually know where your food comes from.
Lakewinds Food Co-op — Chanhassen · 435 Pond Promenade · (952) 697-3366 · Mon–Sun 8AM–8PM · lakewinds.coop
Want Your Business Featured in What's Chanhappenin'?
Every week we spotlight a Chanhassen business and tell the story behind it — currently read by 780+ subscribers and growing fast, with new neighbors joining every single day.
If you're a locally owned business and want to be considered for a future issue, we'd love to hear from you. From business spotlights to sponsored placements, there are several ways to get in front of the Chanhassen community. Fill out our form at whatschanhappenin.com/get-featured and we'll be in touch.
Lake Ann Boardwalk - City of Chanhassen Website
Lake Ann Park Preserve Trail — Closed for Construction This Summer
The next phase of the Lake Ann Park Preserve Trail is underway, building the northern paved segment connecting Greenwood Shores to Lake Lucy. The trail and preserve will be closed through early September while heavy equipment operates on site. Limited temporary access for Greenwood Shores residents will be maintained where possible. Full project details
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum — Azaleas in Bloom Now
The Woodland Azalea Garden is glowing in shades of orange, yellow, and bright pink as the University of Minnesota-bred Lights series of azaleas burst into bloom, with the Azalea Trial Garden close behind. These varieties are the result of more than 60 years of breeding for cold-weather hardiness. Azaleas are available for sale at the Arboretum's Gift & Garden Store while supplies last — and while you're there, expect lilacs, iris, and peonies too. Plan your visit
Market Boulevard Improvement Project — Construction Begins May 26
Work kicks off Tuesday, May 26, with construction continuing in phases through the fall. The project covers roadway resurfacing, utility and stormwater improvements, trail and sidewalk enhancements, and railroad crossing upgrades. Business access will remain open throughout, with detour signage posted as work progresses. Phase 1 is expected to wrap in roughly four weeks — timed to ensure downtown streets are fully open for the Fourth of July. Full project details
Chanhassen Earns Clean Audit for 2025
The City Council was presented with the results of the 2025 audit this week — and the city's Finance Department earned a clean, unmodified audit report, the highest standard a city can achieve. It's an independent confirmation that taxpayer dollars are being managed with transparency and accuracy. Full details
Community Center Receives $2.5 Million in State Funding
State Senator Coleman and Representative Rehm have secured $2.5 million in bonding for Chanhassen's future Community Center. The funding is a significant boost for a project the city sees as a long-term investment in community spaces, recreation, and quality of life for Chanhassen and the surrounding region.
Chanhassen Memorial Day Ceremony · Monday May 25 · Ceremony at 12:00PM · Al Klingelhutz Memorial Pavilion, Lake Ann Park · Free · Join the community in honoring U.S. military personnel who gave their lives in service. Note: this year's ceremony has been moved to Lake Ann Park due to construction at the usual location in City Center Park. Cemetery services begin at 7:45AM at Leach Cemetery, 8:15AM at Chanhassen Pioneer Cemetery, and 10:15AM St. Hubert's Cemetery before the main ceremony.
Cars & Caves — May Edition · Saturday May 30 · 9:00AM–Noon · Chanhassen AutoPlex · Free · This month's show features Classics (25 years or older), benefitting the Alzheimer's Association of MN-ND. Over 400 vehicles on display indoors and outdoors across the 20-acre campus — Dandy Lion Coffee and Dog Park Gourmet on site. Collector car owners welcome on a first-come, first-served basis · chanhassenautoplex.com
May Markets at the Arboretum · Saturday–Sunday May 30–31 · Minnesota Landscape Arboretum · Shop unique items from 60+ local artisan vendors and enjoy live music — included with general daily admission. Learn more
Happenin’ Soon
Downtown Celebration at Market Square Shopping Center · Tuesday June 2 · 6:00–7:30PM · Market Square Shopping Center · Free · Help celebrate downtown Chanhassen and support local businesses at this summer kickoff event. Order food from local restaurants, enjoy live music from American Bootleg, and grab a balloon souvenir from The Baron of Bubble. Details & RSVP
Bubbles & Bites in the Azaleas · Wednesday June 3 or Thursday June 4 · Minnesota Landscape Arboretum · A limited-ticket evening in the Azalea Trial Garden featuring chef-crafted appetizers and beverages surrounded by azaleas in peak bloom. Get tickets
Co-Ed Pickleball Ladder League · Thursday Nights June 4–August 6 · 6:00–9:00PM · Chanhassen Recreation Center · $70/player · Ten weeks of co-ed competition offered in partnership with Minnesota Pickleball. Register here
Fishing with First Responders · Thursday June 11 · Group A 9:00–10:30AM or Group B 1:00–2:30PM · Lake Ann Fishing Pier · Free · Kids ages 5–15 can fish alongside local first responders from the Carver County Sheriff's Office, Chanhassen Fire Department, and MN DNR. Poles, bait, and tackle provided. Register here
Police & Fire Safety Camp · Monday–Thursday June 15–18 · 9:00AM–4:00PM · A 4-day camp for kids entering 2nd–5th grade packed with hands-on safety lessons from local first responders. Topics include fire safety, bike safety, water safety, basic first aid, calling 911, self-defense, internet safety, and more. Special visits from the LifeLink helicopter, police and fire drones, and squad car and fire engine tours. Kids should bring a nut-free bag lunch, water bottle, and sunscreen each day. Registration deadline: Sunday May 31 (refunds available minus $10 admin fee through that date). Register here
Pizza Nights at the Farm · Tuesdays June 23–Sept. 1 · 5:00–8:00PM · Minnesota Landscape Arboretum · Chef Beth Fisher crafts pre-ordered pizzas with farm-fresh vegetables, greens, and herbs while you relax on the Farm lawns or play yard games. Live music included. Get tickets
Scroll down for what’s “Happenin’ Every Week”
Milwaukee Road’s Chanhassen Depot
1896 — Long before Lotus Lake was known for its walking trails and quiet neighborhoods, the Railroad built a dance hall with a bar and piano on the lake's southeast corner — with four upstairs bedrooms dedicated to a brothel. It was a calculated move: railroads of the era frequently developed destinations along their routes to encourage passenger travel. The property eventually passed to the Muller family in the 1920s, who converted it into a farm. Decades later, during a 1970s remodel, ladies' nightwear and high heels were discovered stuffed inside the walls of the second floor.
Source: Chanhassen Historical Society
Snap Fitness. Founded in Chanhassen in 2003 by Peter Taunton, Snap Fitness has grown into one of the largest fitness franchises in the world — with locations across the U.S. and dozens of countries.
Trivia Mafia at Hackamore Brewing · Every Wednesday · 7:00PM · Hackamore Brewing — check triviamafia.com/hackamore for the current schedule and theme nights.
Two Pints & A Pizza Night · Every Monday · Hackamore Brewing · Good beer, good food, and a golf simulator · Check hackamorebrewing.com for current schedule.
Live Music at Moe's Char House · Every Saturday · 6:00–9:30PM · Great food, handcrafted drinks, and live acoustic music. A perfect low-key Saturday night.
Live Music at Brindisi's Pub · Every Tuesday · 6:00–8:30PM · Right next door to Chanhassen Dinner Theatres · Dog friendly patio when weather allows · Happy hour 2–6 PM.
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