Casper and Runyon’s Nook — known widely as the maker of one of the area’s best Jucy Lucys — is “totaled” after a fire last night, reports the Star Tribune.
The Nook in St. Paul Burns Down
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Minneapolis-St. Paul and Upper Midwest Food Magazine // Feasting on the Bounty of the Upper Midwest
Totaled, but hope to reopen in a month or two? That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Any good pictures out there yet?
Moe, in my limited experience, the rebuild time post fire (or any disaster) is a) totally variable based on how much money and personal expertise the owners bring to bear, and b) almost totally unpredictable. It’s possible that they’ll put good people on it, work ’round the clock, and be serving Jucys again in early January… or that it’ll be six months. It’s a real crapshoot.
Makes sense I guess. Wasn’t the Nook talking about expanding? Or had they already done that? This might make that expansion a little easier if they have a blank space to work with.
Sitting with my back to the Nook at Kopplin’s all morning and didn’t even realize it until I got a text from a friend; now news cameras all over Hamline. They were expanding into the basement bowling alley next door. Very sad, but hopefully they’ll be back soon. BTW – best Juicy Lucy (Nookie) anywhere!!!
Based on the pictures in the Strib, not everything burned to a crisp. The question is how much smoke/soot/water damage was incurred in the stuff that didn’t burn. But a month? Including a remodel (best approached when the place is empty of customers)? Much as I’d like to see the Nook back, that’s doubtful.