Locked on the outside, the Speedway on Snelling and Englewood poses an issue for customers aiming to enter.
For the past few months, the Speedway across from Hamline University has undergone issues with allowing customers to enter, as the main door remains locked on the outside. Customers are only allowed to enter, if a store employee or other customer opens the door for them.
Sophomores Dani Sihavong and Sara Jime, shared their ideas about what led to this decision.
“My thought behind it was, because whenever you go in there with some sort of backpack or in some stores, they tell you, you can't bring it in, they tell you just leave it either at the front of the door,” Sihavong said.“[I assumed] that it was so they could stop anyone from running out of the store and stealing. It's easier to have one door accessible for, like, in and out, than to have both, because you could just run out.”
Another cause for concern is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have lurked in locations of commerce, primarily in locations with a large population of immigrants and people of color.
“But I did wonder if it had anything to do with ICE, also. Because, you know, there's been sightings near the Speedway,” Sihavong said.
Jime noticed a connection between businesses in the area, and doors being locked.
“It might not be related, but I think it is, because what I've noticed is that, like, the Speedway started locking the doors after, around when the ice stuff was happening, and same thing with the coffee shop, Gingko’s. They were locking their doors, and they had a sign to ‘no ICE.’ But, yeah, they were locking their doors until I went there, like, two weeks ago, and the doors were open. So, I think they stopped doing that. But, yeah, the speedway, they do that,” Jime said.
Shops and stores across the city have taken collective measures to protect the safety of the St. Paul community.
“I went to a bakery, like, last month and they were also locking their doors. So, I think it's a lot of small businesses, especially 'cause that one was owned by a black woman. It was also, like, the door was locked, and then, when they see you, they open the door, you would have to knock. So, yeah, I think I've noticed this pattern,” Jime said.
A Speedway employee shared the connection between a shooting on Snelling and the locked doors.
“Snelling has just been really…violating, unfortunately. I think it was like three or four days ago, at the Holiday down the street. There was like a shooting or something and like, there was a homicide of two people, including an employee,” a Speedway employee said.
On March 18, a shooting occurred on Edmund Ave., near the Holiday Gas Station, resulting in the death of a man, and severe injuries to two others. A Holiday Gas Station employee was said to be shot at.
“So, ever since that, I think the manager, she been trying to keep us safe. That's the best she could do cause the company won't be throwing us no security. So, she said, go ahead, lock up the doors. But we kind of, unfortunately, have to do that behind, upper management's back,” the Speedway employee said.
The employee shared their undoubtable fears of previous violence near the Holiday Gas Station.
“In our minds, if they don't have it down there, and an employee got shot there, what’s to stop it from happening here, so that’s kind of like to prevent that from happening, in a sense,” the Speedway employee said.
The employee impliedthe sense of safety has increased with the recent changes.
“When it comes to business, I think it helps out, it helps out a lot, especially when the doors are locked, because it makes it a safer place for everybody. Like, right now, I don't know. It's been a good day so far, but that's a big part of us locking the door, because, people have to think twice now, like, oh is that door gonna be locked? Don’t try to steal something,” the Speedway employee said.
