The booming esports industry now has an in-person presence at the Mall of America.

Driving the news: Wisdom Gaming's new 18,000-square-foot broadcast studio and gaming lounge opened on the mall's fourth level over the weekend.

Why it matters: The opening gives the esports company — which includes leagues, teams and merch — prime real estate at one of the country's biggest and most prominent shopping and entertainment destinations.

• Events have the potential to expand the mall's reach to attract more fans from the $1 billion global esports industry.

What to expect: The tw0-story venue includes a retail space, a studio that can house a live audience, booths players can use to livestream and a lounge to serve food and drinks during watch parties.

• It'll also serve as a home base for Torrent, Wisdom's professional esports organization, and the high-school level Minnesota Varsity League.

Between the lines: While the space could make the mall an in-person destination for gamers, streamers and fans, it will also serve as a production studio for streaming tournaments and play-by-play-style commentary via Twitch and other platforms.

State of play: The Wisdom Gaming Studios launch is the latest example of esports gaining fans and visibility, including here in the Twin Cities.

• Other local gaming teams are backed by the owners of the Timberwolves, Loons and Vikings and Wisdom is partnering with the Twins to host pop-up "gaming dugouts" at Target Field this summer.

💭 Our thought bubble: Esports organizers are perpetually trying to prove that their field can be as mainstream as traditional sports, Axios Gaming author Stephen Totilo tells us.

• Establishing an esports space in America's biggest mall is another attempt to reach that destination, if not yet proof that they've arrived.

What's next: The venue will host an 80's-themed competition involving the game "Gold Rush" in front of a live audience in late August.

Go deeper: Read the full story and check out more photos via the Axios Twin Cities Instagram.

Popular Korean fried chicken restaurant Abang Yoli is opening at 38th and Nicollet in Minneapolis, reports Southwest Voices.

State of play: Abang will take the former space of Boludo, which moved its Argentinian pizzeria across the street.

• Also on the Kingfield neighborhood corner are Petite León, Kyatchi, Cocina Latina, Nighthawks and Don Oishi Kitchen.

Southwest Voices dubbed the 38th and Nic as the "best food corner in the city."

• Are they right, or is there a better food corner in the Twin Cities? Reply to this email with your response.

😖 Grumpy's will close its Roseville restaurant, leaving just the Northeast Minneapolis location. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)

• "When the folks holding your mortgage say, 'Sell or we call the note.' Well, you sell," Grumpy's wrote on Facebook.

🐶 Twenty-three dogs and 21 cats were adopted from Minneapolis Animal Care & Control during last weekend's drive, a city spokesperson tells Axios.

🛍️ The Old Village in Afton is attracting a flurry of new businesses, including a retreat center and a revamped garden store.

• Plus: Burger joint Lerk's Bar has a new owner and is being revamped and the founder of local beanie brand Love Your Melon recently purchased a property. (Pioneer Press)

Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District remains the state's only tossup U.S. House race with just over three months to go until Election Day, per one prominent political handicapper.

The big picture: The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter updated its U.S. House midterm outlook from a GOP gain of 20-35 seats to 15-30 seats, Mike Allen writes in Axios AM.

• Republicans need just four net pickups to gain the majority

State of play: Cook rates the rematch between DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Republican Tyler Kistner in the suburban swing district as one of 26 "tossup" seats held by Democrats.

• That means their analysts think "either party has a good chance of winning" the race.

Catch up fast: Here are some recent headlines from the battleground race:

• The Star Tribune fact-checked Craig's claim that her opponent is "100% pro-life" and found that while Kistner opposes legal abortion, his campaign says he does currently support exceptions for rape, incest and health of the mother.
• Kistner, meanwhile, filed a financial disclosure form showing $67,500 in consulting income after Craig's campaign called him out for missing the deadline by two months.

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A luxurious and secluded cabin with an adjacent guest house hit the market this month for $5.1 million.

• Designed by Twin Cities architecture firm Christian Dean, both of the northern Minnesota homes have floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of Twin Lakes.
• Plus: It sits on 62 acres of land in Bovey and includes 1.5 miles of private shoreline.

Features: The two homes are a combined 4,785 square feet and include a rooftop deck, wood burning fireplaces, heated floors and a screened porch.

• Fun fact: The front door handle was designed by Lenny Kravitz, Realtor Michelle Markuson told Axios.

Check out more photos and the listing.