The place was clean the food came fast but the fact that there was a homeless person loitering around asking for money for the bus was kind of freaky...

Yes unfortunately there are homeless panhandlers everywhere not just in Minneapolis

They are usually pretty respectful and are ok with any answers you give them (not pushy) good luck

I guess I just don't go around these areas much and am inexperienced

The bright side is that your experience is a very limited occurrence. I live around the area and there's not much panhandling that happens.