Uptown Business News – 7/19/12
Business, Featured — By Thatcher Imboden on July 19, 2012 10:02 pmFirst things first…
FIGLIO IS COMING BACK. This time, to St. Louis Park, and not by Parasole but Kaskaid Hospitality, known best for Crave. Parasole has sold the rights to figlio and the new old restaurant will open in September in the Sopranos location at West End. Phil Roberts of Parasole was quoted as saying that “Closing Figlio was the biggest [expletive deleted] mistake I’ve ever made in my life.” I would tend agree that closing the restaurant was a terrible idea. My wife and I had our first date there and would often go back. Their pepperoni was probably the best I ever ate. Hopefully that will make a return, though I’m not terribly excited to go to St. Louis Park for it. But hey, if it fails in St. Louis Park, we’ll never know if it was because of the location, a new management company, or what. Smart move by Roberts at this point.
More at Star Tribune, MSP Mag
The tacos at Primebar in Calhoun Square
Primebar opens in old figlio Il Gatto space
After Parasole shuttered Il Gatto, it sat vacant for a few months until Calhoun Square announced that the prime Hennepin-Lake space would house Primebar, an American “ale house” restaurant with a handful of locations in the US run by Restaurants-America.
Origami to relocate from Minnetonka to Minneapolis
Award-winning Japanese restaurant, Origami, said it will move from Ridgedale to the MoZaic project in Uptown, locating at 1352 Lagoon Avenue. They plan to open by December 1 and will occupy approximately 3,600 square feet. The restaurant will have a patio as well.
H & M announces Calhoun Square location
The Swedish clothing company will open a 23,000 square foot store in Calhoun Square that will feature men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. The store, sources indicate, will be on the Hennepin side of the shopping center that is currently vacant and will be two stories. The Pioneer Press reported that H & M hopes to open in the fall.
Bar Louie to open in September
Also moving into MoZaic is the Chicago-based Bar Louie. Their American restaurant will open in September and will feature a large outdoor patio in the project’s Art Park.
The Gray House to open in Lyn-Lake
Ian Gray, formerly of Tosca in Linden Hills, will open up The Gray House in the former Rosotto space at Lyn-Lake. It will be a gastropub. More details are expected soon.
Thatcher Imboden
How cities work and change, how they are the product of their inhabitants and outside forces, and the resulting livability keep me thinking and dreaming about the future. I work in urban real estate development, am Past President of an Uptown business organization, grew up in Uptown, was on an Uptown neighborhood association Board, and am an Uptown and Lyn-Lake historian.
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2 Comments
I’m exited to hear from about the “The Gray House” Thats a great location and sounds like it will fit right in.
I’m not sure i’m as thrilled about Bar Louie. I’ve been to one in Chicago and Philly and wasn’t that impressed. With the Drink being rebranded, along with Williams, Stella’s, Cowboy Slims (not for long-got any info on that?), Cafeteria, Prime Bar, Social House and Bar Abeline.. I feel that “heart” of Uptown is getting to many “big show off bars” Is there a little competition between the Lake and Lynn stretch and the Henn Lake stretch? It’s interested how different that two spots are (I understand the building size and scope is different at each spot)
Also, I read in the StarTribune that a new restaurant/bar called the “Nightingale” (love the name) is going to open up (sept/nov) in the space sandwiched between the Bulldog and Treehouse. Great news!
Did you guys post anything about the food truck turned restaurant moving into the space below the Greenleaf building on Lyndale?
Is there any update on either A. Cowboy slims property B. The huge parcel across from Cheapo (or at least who the hell owns it and what is the wait?) C. Is there official word on groundbreaking for the apt units next to the VFW? I’ve seen renderings but haven’t seen any movement. D. The theater looking property next to Toppers on Lyndale – any news there? E. Can we please put a lightrail down lyndale or henn? and then have it go west down lake toward the burbs..purty please?
Mike,
Cowboy Slims redevelopment is supposed to start late summer or early fall. Have heard the plans were very slightly tweaked but nothing major.
I hadn’t heard about Nightingales. Will look into it.
The land across from Cheapo is owned by Calhoun Square. No plans right now but someday to be redeveloped. I believe they will have to landscape the edge at some point.
Streetcar on Hennepin may be possible but LRT unlikely. If SWLRT falls a part, I suppose an Uptown alignment may come back to life. Doubtful.
I don’t think I reported yet on the food truck turned restaurant. Or for that matter, the Five Guys going into the old Baja Sol space at 22nd/Hennepin.