Walgreens confirms plans for new Nicollet Mall store

Posted on December 10, 2014 by

MSPBJ reports that Walgreens has signed a lease for 37,000 square feet on Minneapolis’ Nicollet Mall where it plans to open a new store next year.

The lease was signed this week, but there aren’t may details to announce yet, said Phil Caruso, a spokesman for the Deerfield, Ill.-based company.

It is likely that the existing Walgreens at 815 Nicollet Mall will close when the new one opens. Construction will start early in 2015 and the store should be open sometime in the middle of the year, according to sources familiar with the deal who declined to be named because the deal hadn’t been formally announced.

Posted in Minneapolis

Chick-fil-A is planning a restaurant near Blaine’s Northtown Mall

Posted on December 10, 2014 by

MSPBJ reports that Chick-fil-A is planting another restaurant in the north metro area.

The Atlanta-based fast food chain is planning a 4,668-square-foot restaurant at 595 Northtown Drive. The site is currently a parking lot next to Blaine’s Northtown Mall.

The project is up for a vote by the City Council in early January. The company has told the city that construction will most likely start in spring, Blaine Community Development Director Bryan Schafer said. Schafer said that the restaurant would probably open in fall 2015.

Posted in Blaine

Salt Cellar Clears Final Hurdle, Readies a Real Opening

Posted on December 10, 2014 by

The restaurant was stocked, staffed and ready to open. There was just one problem facing Salt Cellar, the Cathedral Hill neighborhood restaurant at the corner of Western and Selby in St. Paul. There was no liquor license. The liquor license was contingent on a parking issue.

Eater reports that the neighborhood already boasts several eateries, including W.A. Frost, Moscow on the Hill and Red Cow near the same intersection. The on street parking is limited and actual parking lots for guests are in even shorter supply. Salt Cellar’s owners  ran into issues with the number of parking spots available for a 180 seat restaurant. Neighbors argued that there would not be enough to support the influx of traffic the restaurant will draw. The owners countered that they were “grandfathered” in from the parking allowed for the College of Visual Arts who last occupied the building.

In the end, the Board of Zoning Appeal sided with Salt Cellar. With the approval of the liquor license (and a plan for valet parking thanks to a nearby Boy Scouts parking lot) the restaurant announced that they will open for dinner service on December 20th.

Posted in St. Paul

Peace Coffee Opening at Capella Tower

Posted on December 10, 2014 by

MSPBJ reports that Peace Coffee is planning to open a retail location in the ground level of the Capella Tower in downtown Minneapolis.

CEO Lee Wallace confirmed Tuesday that the Minneapolis-based fair trade coffee company has chosen the newly-renovated tower as the site for its second stand-alone coffee shop. The bulk of Peace Coffee’s business is wholesale, though the company already has one retail shop in Minneapolis’ Longfellow neighborhood and an in-store outpost at Lakewinds Co-op’s Richfield store.

Wallace could not give further details about the project as of Tuesday. Workers training on-site said the shop would open in a few weeks.

Capella Tower, the 1.4-million-square-foot office tower at 225 South Sixth St., recently finished a $7 million renovation project.

Posted in Minneapolis

Korean BBQ opening soon in Uptown

Posted on December 10, 2014 by

Southwest Journal reports that Hoban Korean BBQ is opening a new location in the former Design within Reach space at 2939 Hennepin Ave.

The restaurant also has a location in Eagan.

The City Council’s Community Development and Regulatory Services Committee approved the restaurant’s liquor license application Tuesday.

The restaurant will have seating for 138 people. Hours will be 4 p.m.–2 a.m. daily.

Posted in Uptown

Jersey Mike’s takes over Dunn Bros spot at 1504 W. Lake

Posted on December 10, 2014 by

Southwest Journal reports that the East Coast sub shop Jersey Mike’s has filled Dunn Bros’ shoes at 1504 W. Lake St.

“All the meats and cheeses are sliced on the line right in front of you,” said Marco Ayuso, assistant operations manager.

He said the roast beef is trimmed, tied and cooked in-house, the bread is baked fresh daily, and they’re known for No. 13: the Original Italian, with five different meats including cappacuolo.

Posted in Uptown

Chipotle, Noodles plan Dec. 15 opening in Cottage Grove

Posted on December 4, 2014 by

According to the South Washington County Bulletin, two new restaurants are expected to open the same day in Cottage Grove’s Gateway North district next month: Chipotle Mexican Grill and Noodles & Company will open Monday, Dec. 15.Construction on the new three-tenant building, which used the Hollywood Video footprint, was completed this fall. The first tenant, AT&T, moved into the middle space in late October.

Noodles & Company announced last month that it plans for a Dec. 15 opening. But only recently did Chipotle set the same open date.

Posted in Cottage Grove