Roseville businesses change hands, porcupine hitchhikers, and two stories about crime
Roseville in the news | April 2025
Roseville was featured in Twin Cities media in a variety of articles in April. Three stories featured Roseville businesses, including a story about the former Dairy Queen’s new owner, the Patina chain owners retiring and selling the stores, and Bent Brewstillery looking for a new owner. A heartwarming story about a mother and baby porcupine hitching a ride to the Twin Cities before getting transported back north by a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center volunteer. And two crime stories about child sexual abuse charges for a Roseville church volunteer and a guilty plea related to a baby’s fentanyl death in a Roseville hotel.
The following stories were all published in April 2025. The quotes are from the original articles and the headlines are linked to the original source. Some articles may be behind a paywall if you aren’t already a subscriber to that publication.
Historic Roseville Dairy Queen has a new owner, but it won’t be a DQ (Minnesota Star Tribune, April 3, 2025)
“'But Hughes said that if it can’t be a Dairy Queen, he’s setting his sights on the next best thing — an independently run operation called Dairy Cream with a menu that’s an ode to the space’s greatest hits.
‘I’d like to do a soft serve just like they had — cups and cones, malts and shakes. We’re going to do hot dogs and chili dogs,’ Hughes said. “I want it to be a vintage ice cream shop. I want it to feel like you’re stepping back in time when you go in and visit.’”
Patina founders sell local gift store chain after 32 years (MinnPost, April 8, 2025)
“The husband and wife business partners have sold their eight-store boutique chain to Teamshares, an employee ownership platform that buys small businesses from retiring owners and progressively grants ownership to employees with the goal of 80% within 20 years. Launched in 2019, Teamshares has acquired 100 businesses around the country, including several in Minnesota, like PlanForce, a Minneapolis commercial architecture firm, and Gardner Construction in Bloomington.”
Bent Brewstillery looking for a buyer as owners reveal plan to retire (Bring Me the News, April 15, 2025)
“‘So, fingers crossed that the place will change ownership and keep making great stuff," Bartley says. "Brena and I have enjoyed every aspect of this industry but feel the time is right to pass the torch or let it go out.’
The company was the first combination micro-brewery and micro-distillery in the state, combining Bent Brewstillery and Pour Decisions in 2014. It currently produces beer, spirits, THC beverages, and non-alcoholic drinks, served at its taproom in Roseville.”
Lost mother-and-baby porcupine duo get a ride home after accidental journey (MPR News, April 24, 2025)
“A lost mother-and-baby porcupine duo is heading back up north with wildlife rescuers, after an accidental trailer ride landed them more than a hundred miles from home.
Staff at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville took in the porcupines Wednesday night. Several residents in a North St. Paul neighborhood had called the center and reported seeing a porcupine over the last few weeks. That’s unusual for the Twin Cities — they typically prefer to live further north in heavily wooded areas.”
Twin Cities church volunteer charged with sexually assaulting four children has ‘lengthy history’ of accusations (Minnesota Star Tribune, April 24, 2025)
“A St. Paul man with a lengthy history of sexual assault accusations was charged last week with sexually assaulting four children under the age of 6 who attend King of Kings Lutheran Church and School in Roseville.”
Bemidji woman pleads guilty to baby’s fentanyl death in Roseville hotel room (Pioneer Press, April 25, 2025)
“The mother of an 8-month-old boy who died of a fentanyl overdose in a Roseville hotel room has admitted she is responsible for his death and will be put on probation as part of a plea deal with the prosecution, according to court records.
Wynona Ann Littlewolf, 30, of Bemidji, Minn., pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court last week to second-degree manslaughter in connection with the March 2022 death of Ashton Michael Littlewolf at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Cleveland Avenue.”