In Business: 1 Family Has Hopes of Revitalizing Paul Bunyan Mall in Bemidji

Once a popular hangout spot during the ’80s, ’90s, and even into the 2000s, malls across the United States have become a lot quieter over the years due to a number of factors. If you take a look at the relatively empty hallways of the Paul Bunyan Mall of Bemidji, you may assume that this mall is on its last legs.

One local family, though, is hoping to bring customers back, and they’ve started by opening two businesses. One of the new shops is called Sensories, a new store geared towards the neurodivergent community that offers not only sensory toys to buy, but a space for kids on the spectrum to play, too.

“I just want to provide space at this point to have fun,” said Sensories owner Jessica Sweazey.

“There’s not really anywhere in town that you can exactly get that, so we want to include that here and make a welcoming space where anyone can come and just play,” said Taylor Sweazey, manager of Sensories. “They don’t have to go home with anything; they can just come play.”

“Right now, the stuff on the shelves is to support the activities that I’d like to do in here, and the growth that I’d like to do within the mall,” added Jessica.

The other new shop is called L&J Café, the newest eatery to come to the Paul Bunyan Mall. The restaurant has a unique way of making ice cream, by rolling it up, that has become quite popular.

“It’s a process,” explained L&J Cafe operator Jay Gann. “It’s time-consuming, but people love it; it’s going over really good. Matter of fact, we ordered another one, it’s going over that good. It’s a big hit, and hopefully we can keep it that way.”

Both Sensories and L&J Café are owned and operated by the same family. The grandparents operate the café with the help of some of the grandkids, while Jessica runs Sensories along with her daughter. Seven grandchildren in total, some with physical and mental disabilities, are hoping to make these businesses a success and make the Paul Bunyan Mall a premier destination in Bemidji once again.

“It won’t work for everybody, but I know it’s going to work for us,” Jessica asserted. “Entrepreneurship and business ownership has been in my family. My mom’s been a business owner, you know, her whole life. They owned their coffee shop together when I was little. And I see it in my kids. They have that same drive and passion and creativity.”

“We’re a team,” added Gann. “We had the family help get this [the L&J Cafe Sign] all painted and cleaned up. We’re proud of the family, very proud.”

Sensories also has plans to extend part of their store into a sensory safe birthday-and-event center sometime in the future. No timetable has been given.

Correction November 18, 2025: a photo showing the L&J Cafe/Sensories staff and family was originally misattributed to the L&J Cafe Facebook page. The photo should have been credited to Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer.