With each evolution of Flavor World, it gets a little bit harder for founder Drew Kinkaid to explain his creative brand.

“The latest way I've been boiling it down is arts and entertainment services and experiences,” Kinkaid told Downtown Voices. “It’s a collective of artists that all contribute in different ways.”

Flavor World started with doodles in Kinkaid’s notebook when he was a student at the University of Minnesota in 2018. He decided to learn how to screenprint so he could put his drawings on shirts, then Kinkaid figured he might as well turn it into a clothing brand, and later, a screen printing business.

But he didn’t stop there. Kinkaid wanted to do more than just clothing, so he added hosting events and recording music to Flavor World’s repertoire. 

“Seven years later, we're doing all sorts of stuff,” Kinkaid said. “We’ve got the magazine, we're opening this shop up, we're hosting all kinds of events and offering a ton of services.”

Flavor World’s latest iteration has brought it to Loring Park’s historic Harmon Place district, where the City of Minneapolis is subsidizing rent for local groups through its Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts pilot. Flavor World is one of five awardees that will receive about $50,000 annually for the next two years to help cover rent.

“We're very excited to be doing this,” Kinkaid said. “This is a huge opportunity, and we're learning lots. I think we are a perfect fit for what the grant and program was looking for, and we're gonna be bringing a lot of people downtown and adding a lot of vibrancy – or flavor – to downtown Minneapolis, which is awesome. I’m excited to see how it ripples.”

The storefront assigned to Flavor World was in rough shape after sitting vacant for five years. Along with many friends and collaborators, Kinkaid has been working nearly around the clock since he got the keys to 1218 Harmon Place late last year, from demolishing a dropped ceiling to building a railing.

Once work is complete, Flavor World's new digs will feature areas for screenprinting, photo and video shoots, playing and recording music, coworking, purchasing art, and gathering, in general.

The space features a loft, which will be equipped with free WiFi and be accessible to the public when the print shop is open, as well as a basement, where two bathrooms are tucked away.

Kinkaid is looking forward to hosting all kinds of events in the space, including movie screenings, album releases, and fashion shows, hosted both by Flavor World and outside groups.

Local bands can rehearse or record in a dedicated space in Flavor World’s basement. Photo by Brianna Kelly

Some of Flavor World’s hallmark events are Flavor Jam, an open jam and musician meetup, and Flavor Fest, held annually at Indeed Brewing Co. A fundraiser Flavor Jam benefitting the ongoing move is happening Wednesday from 7-10 p.m. at Green Room.

A grand opening at 1218 Harmon Place is planned for April 25 from 6-10 p.m., with live music and art. Regular hours for the shop will be set and recurring events will be scheduled sometime after that. Kinkaid expects to be open every Friday, at least, to start.

“We're gonna kind of ease into it a bit, because we haven't done this before, and there's still more renovation to be done after the grand opening, honestly,” he said. 

Keep tabs on Flavor World and its progress at the new space via its Instagram page.