The George Floyd riots happened nearly five years ago, but the owner of a once-successful business is speaking out about the horrors he’s witnessed in “George Floyd Square” ever since and why he’s suing the city of Minneapolis.
Edwin Reed told his story on Liz Collin Reports. He’s the owner of Sincere Detailing Pros at 37th and Chicago. Reed is part of another lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis, one of eight business owners suing the city for allowing activists and gangs to take over George Floyd Square.
Reed said at his peak he was averaging more than $390,000 a year. In 2024, his business made $9,700.
“I’ve had to get rid of employees, I couldn’t afford them. A lot of my employees are 1099. They were making $1,000 a week out of 13 guys that I had on staff. We were seeing roughly 25 cars a week. That has not happened. We’re only getting maybe even three to four cars a month. So it’s been pretty horrible,” Reed said.
“I’m a very hardworking individual. I grew up in this area. I grew up in Minnesota. I’ve been here since 1984. And I’m a graduate at Washburn High School, class of ‘98. And I’ve saved all my money to start this business. And I have lost everything. My house is in foreclosure … it hasn’t been the same, you know, since George Floyd died. Honestly, when George Floyd died, my company died right along with George Floyd.”
Reed detailed how businesses were “blocked in” for years in “George Floyd Square,” the name given to the intersection and area surrounding where Floyd died.
“We are barricaded on every side of every corner of the four corners that stretch down East 38th Street where we couldn’t receive commerce. They allowed gangs and different people who came up here to rob our community, and the police, they never came to our aid … there are business owners being extorted. I was extorted. Some of the business owners have been shot because they failed to make payment to these people who were claiming to protect our area from getting burned down. The city knew about all of this,” Reed claimed.
“I’ve seen six people get killed, two died in my arms. One morning at 8.30 a.m., I was checking in my client’s car … we heard gunshots in the alley. And I heard the shots and I was like, lay down, because I didn’t know where the gunfire was coming from. We saw a guy run right past us, shot in the arm, the bullet had lodged in his chest. He died on the other side of 40th and Elliott, which is a block down the street in the alley,” he continued.
According to Reed, the city turned its back on the business owners in George Floyd Square and ignored their cries for help.
“No one heard our cries. They totally turned their backs on us,” he said. “There’s eight businesses that lost everything and they’re grandfathered in, businesses that have been there more than 15 years. They’ve lost everything.”
“I stayed because I have a lot invested in that area. I have a lot invested in that building. It was a thriving location for all businesses. We were doing very well for ourselves until this happened,” Reed explained.
The city of Minneapolis has filed a motion to dismiss the case. A city spokesperson forwarded statements from the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) regarding the intersection in question.
“As with all areas of the city, MPD provides 24/7 emergency response to the 38th and Chicago area,” said the MPD. “Additionally, since Aug 27, 2023, Chief O’Hara has assigned two officers to a dedicated beat in this area, focusing on community engagement, relationship-building, and collaborating with local businesses and residents.”
“The city, they’ve been lying for a long time,” Reed said.
Among other things, the businesses are seeking attorneys fees, a court order compelling the city to restore police protection to the area, and damages in excess of $49 million.
“There’s still barricades out there. I mean, the place looks like a war zone,” Reed said. “None of my customers wanna drive down that street and see any of it. The city doesn’t care. Tim Walz has never came to visit us. Mayor Jacob Frey has never come to visit us. We’ve lost our businesses.”
Liz Collin
Liz Collin has been a truth-teller for 20 years as a multi-Emmy-Award-winning reporter and anchor. Liz is a Worthington, Minnesota native who lives in the suburbs with her husband, son and loyal lab.
