Tower Cafe

07/20/2026

This past week with all the wildfires here in northern MN it has reminded us just how special this community truly is.

To everyone who stopped into the our little Tower MN cafe whether you joined us for breakfast or lunch, grabbed a coffee or iced coffee, treated yourself to a cinnamon roll, or took home one of our T-shirts, mugs, keychains, or stickers—thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Every visit, every purchase, and every encouraging conversation meant so much to our family. Your kindness and support have been felt more than you know.

We would also encourage everyone, if you're able, to continue supporting the many wonderful small businesses throughout Tower, Ely, and our surrounding communities. Summer is such an important season for local businesses, and every meal, every cup of coffee, every gift purchased, and every stop along the way makes a difference.

If you'd like to support the Tower Cafe from afar, our merchandise is also available in our online store (link in the comments).

Most importantly, thank you to the firefighters, EMS crews, law enforcement, dispatchers, public works employees, and the many support personnel who have been working tirelessly during this challenging week. We are so grateful for your dedication, and it has been an honor to welcome many of you into the cafe.

Our community is resilient, generous, and strong. We are incredibly thankful to be a small part of it. ❤️

07/19/2026

What a difference a few days makes. ❤️

After a long week of smoky skies, it feels so good to step outside and breathe cleaner air here in Tower, Minnesota. A lot of the haze has lifted, the fresh air is back, and it's amazing how quickly we forget what clean air smells like until it's gone.

Today is one of those days to soak it all in. Whether you're heading to the beach, spending time on the lake, taking a walk, or simply sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee, I hope you have a chance to enjoy this beautiful Northwoods afternoon.

Please continue to keep everyone impacted by the wildland fires in your thoughts—especially the firefighters, emergency responders, dispatchers, law enforcement, and support crews who are still working tirelessly to protect our communities.

Today, we're especially grateful for a little blue sky, some fresh air, and the beauty that makes Northern Minnesota such a special place.🌲
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Open
Wednesday - Friday 7am - 1pm
Saturday and Sundays 8am - noon

Video taken at 8am on Sunday 7/19/26

07/17/2026

Friday, 7/17/26 7am

What a huge blessing and relief to wake up to the sound of beautiful rain coming down this morning here in Tower, Mn. 🙏🌧️

We are also grateful to get the power turned back on so quickly as it was out for about 30 minutes this morning. (Was out between Tower, Babbitt, Ely and Winton from what we heard)

Here's hoping it helps our firefighters and everyone working so hard on the wildland fires.

Stay safe, everyone!

07/16/2026

5:30pm 7/16/26 update from Downtown Tower, Minnesota

It's still pretty smoky here on Main Street this evening (although seems better than yesterday morning). Throughout the day, we've watched a steady stream of wildland fire resources head through Tower toward the Ely area, and we've been grateful to have many of those firefighters and support personnel stop into the cafe along the way.

The haze remains noticeable, but we're thankful that temperatures have dropped into the mid-70s today, giving crews a bit of a break from the extreme heat.

Please continue to keep all of the firefighters, emergency responders, law enforcement, dispatchers, and support teams in your thoughts and prayers as they continue working long hours to protect our communities.

Stay safe, everyone.

(Link in comment section that has some good resources associated with the wildfire updates)

07/15/2026

❤️ When an Emergency Call Comes In...

Today, with the wildfire smoke hanging over northern Minnesota, it reminded us of something that often goes unseen in small-town America...

Giving a little grace especially those who wear many hats in rural America who serve our communities in of emergency responder type roles.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch. And if it resonates with you, I'd be honored if you'd share it.

07/15/2026

Tower MN - wildland fire air quality as of 7am 7/15/26.

See link to resources about wildland fire updates in the comments below.

07/14/2026

🔥 Wildland Fire Resources for Northern Minnesota 🔥 (feel free to share)

With the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) currently closed as of 7/14/26 due to wildfire activity, conditions can change quickly.

Stay informed. Stay safe. Stay alert.

Here are some trusted resources to help you stay updated:

📱 Wildfire Tracking App
Watch Duty – Real-Time Wildland Fire Info
https://www.watchduty.org/

📘 pages to Follow
• Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS)
https://www.facebook.com/MNICS

• U.S. Forest Service – Superior National Forest
https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF

• St. Louis County Sheriff's Office - MN
https://www.facebook.com/StLouisCountySheriffMN

🚨 St. Louis County Wildfire Information & Evacuation Page
https://sheriff-slcgis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/wildfire

🎧 Live Radio Scanner
Broadcastify – Scanner Radio
https://www.broadcastify.com/

✅ Evacuation Checklist
Living With Fire – One-Page Evacuation Checklist (PDF)
https://www.livingwithfire.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Evacuation-Checklist-2020-one-page.pdf

🚑 PulsePoint
A great app for staying informed about fire, EMS, and law enforcement activity.
https://www.pulsepoint.org/

🔥 Friends of the Northland FireWire does an outstanding job sharing updates on fire activity throughout the Northland and are another great page to follow.

A heartfelt thank you to the wildland firefighters, local fire departments, EMS crews, law enforcement officers, dispatchers, forestry personnel, emergency managers, public works crews, and the many volunteers working tirelessly to protect our communities, forests, and the people who call this beautiful region home. We are incredibly grateful for your dedication, professionalism, and sacrifice.

Please continue to follow all evacuation notices, fire restrictions, and area closures issued by local officials.

❤️ Feel free to share this post so others have these resources if they're needed. Stay safe, everyone.

07/13/2026

May be a good bucket list thing to do for those in and around the area this fall

The North American Bear Center in Ely will be welcoming two orphaned bear cubs this September.

07/12/2026

When you have the coolest friends who also happen to be incredibly talented artisans. ❤️

A huge thank you to our friend Terry at Pike River Products for creating this absolutely stunning custom computer bag for us!

And yes Diana was kind enough to model it with Jen, as we couldn't wait to show it off.

What makes it even more special? Each bag takes 6–10 hours to handcraft. That's the kind of time, skill, and attention to detail you just can't find in mass-produced products. This isn't just a computer bag—it's a piece of craftsmanship that's built to last a lifetime.

We're so fortunate to have Pike River Products as one of our wonderful Main Street neighbors here in Tower.

If you're looking for a unique, handcrafted gift or something special for yourself, be sure to stop in and check out their amazing work. Supporting local artisans means supporting the heart of our community.

Thanks again, Terry and Diana—we absolutely love it! ❤️🇺🇸