This week in the Tap: Signs of life at the former East Lake Street Taco Bell and a craft beer fundraiser.
The Tap is a biweekly feature created by the Heavy Table and supported by Shepherd Song Farm. “We raise 100 percent grass-fed lambs & goats traditionally, humanely, and sustainably.”
The Tap is the metro area’s comprehensive restaurant buzz roundup, so if you see a new or newly shuttered restaurant, or anything that’s “coming soon,” email Tap editor James Norton at editor@heavytable.com.
Diner Project in East Lake Street Taco Bell Building (launching late summer to early autumn 2015)
4020 East Lake St, Minneapolis
New life is stirring at the long-vacant Taco Bell building at 4020 East Lake Street (memorably chronicled by writer Andy Sturdevant in his Field Guide to Vacant Storefronts on East Lake Street column). Brownsmith Restoration, the developer behind the Forage / Parka project that sits across the street, will be transforming the location into a diner. Demolition is well under way (see above).
An email from the Longfellow Community Council to a resident described the project as follows:
“Brownsmith Restoration ( Forage Modern / Parka / Dogwood developers ) is moving in an old diner they had hauled in from the east coast called Hi-Lo Diner. Summer / Fall opening planned.”
Brownsmith, for its part, doesn’t yet want to divulge the full details of the project, saying that the overall plan remains fluid. Partner Michael Smith wrote to us: “Yes, we bought the old Taco Bell, yes we bought a vintage diner and plan to bring it to the TB location. Everything else is still up in the air …”
Hops for Hunger III (Fundraiser on March 28 from 5-8 p.m. at the Solar Arts Building)
The Southern Anoka Community Assistance Food Shelf is hosting a craft beer fundraiser called Hops for Hunger III on Saturday, March 28 from 5-8 p.m. The event takes place at the Solar Arts Building at 711 15th Ave NE in Minneapolis.
As per the press release about the event:
“Featuring beer from 16 local craft brewers, a silent auction, music by The Brandon Projekt and Ash St John & the Family Groove and food from Chowgirls Killer Catering. Meghan Larsen, a certified cicerone will also be there. Boom Island, Indeed, Barley John’s, Lucid, Sociable Cider, 612, Northgate, Excelsior, Bad Weather, HammerHeart, Insight, Fair State, Dangerous Man, Bent Brewstillery, Bauhaus and Tin Whiskers will be pouring. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.hopsforhunger3.eventbrite.com.”
NOW OPEN
- Vellee Deli, Baker Center at 30 S 7th St, Minneapolis
- Wabasha Brewing Company, 429 Wabasha St, St. Paul
- Prairie Dogs, 610 West Lake St, Minneapolis | Our visit to the Prairie Dogs pop-up
- Shag Sushi, 730 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis
- Tinto Cocina + Cantina, 901 W Lake St, Minneapolis
- Red Cow (third location), 208 First Ave N, Minneapolis | Our review of the Edina location
- Voyageur Brewing Co., 233 W Hwy 61, Grand Marais
- Afro Deli, 7th Place Pedestrian Mall, St. Paul
- Mon Petit Chéri Bakery, 2401 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis
- New Bohemia, 8040 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley | Our review of the Northeast location
- Anelace Coffee, 2402 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis
- Sassy Spoon, 5011 34th Ave S, Minneapolis | As featured in the Hot Five
- Cold Front, 490 Hamline Ave S, St. Paul
- The Wedge Table, 2412 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis | As featured in the Tap
- Peace Coffee, Capella Tower, Minneapolis
- Peppers and Fries, 3900 E Lake Street, Minneapolis
- Salsa a la Salsa, 2841 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis
- Skaalvenn, 8601 73rd Ave N, Suite 28, Brooklyn Park
- Du Nord Cocktail Room, 2610 E 32nd St, Minneapolis | Our visit
CLOSED / CLOSING:
- Curry ‘n’ Noodles | Our review
- Modern Cafe
- Taste of Thailand
- Twisted Fork | Our review
- Spill the Wine
- Tryg’s
- Wuollet Bakery, Hennepin Ave location
- Pracna on Main
- Solera
- Nye’s Polanaise Room (closing 2015)
COMING UP:
Minneapolis
- Cafe Racer, 2929 E 25th Street, Minneapolis | March 2015
- La Ceiba Bistro, 3500 Bloomington Ave. S, Minneapolis | 2015
- Hi-Lo Diner (working name), 4020 East Lake St, Minneapolis | Summer or Autumn of 2015
- Tattersall Distilling | Summer 2015
- St. Genevieve, 5003 Bryant Ave S, Minneapolis | Mid-2015
- Il Foro, City Center, Minneapolis | June 2015
- Nighthawks, 3753 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis | End of April 2015
- Seward Co-op Friendship Store, 317 38th St E | Summer 2015
- Erick Harcey project TBD, 4312 Upton Ave, Minneapolis | Feb. 2015
- 56 Brewing, 3134 California St NE, Minneapolis | Spring 2015
- Urban Forage Winery and Cider House, East Lake St, Minneapolis | Fall 2015
- Lost Falls Distillery, 1915 E 22nd St, Minneapolis | Early 2015
- Bradstreet Neighborhood Crafthouse, 1930 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis | Early 2015
- The Herbivorous Butcher, Minneapolis | 2015
- Pizzeria Lola concept TBD, 165 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis | 2015
- Corner Table project: Revival mid-South / fried chicken restaurant | Early Summer 2015
- The Bachelor Farmer Cafe Project To Be Named, 200 N 1st St, Minneapolis | 2015
St. Paul
- Colossal Cafe (third location) 1342 Grand Ave, St. Paul | APril 2015
- Workhorse Coffee Bar, 2399 University Avenue Saint Paul | Early 2015
- Emmett’s Public House, 695 Grand Ave, St. Paul (former Dixie’s on Grand party room) | Early 2015
- Sidhe Brewing Company, 990 Payne Ave, St. Paul | Spring 2015
- 11 Wells Millwright Cocktail Room, Historic Hamm Building, St. Paul | Spring 2015
- Lexington (new ownership), 1096 Grand Ave, St. Paul | Spring 2015
- Saint Dinette, 280 E 5th St, St. Paul | Early 2015
Greater Twin Cities Area and Beyond
- Angry Inch Brewing, 20841 Holyoke Ave, Lakeville | July 2015
- Ruscello, Minnetonka | October 2015
- Tamarack Tap Room, 8418 Tamarack Village, Woodbury
- Crepe and Cake, Plymouth | March 2015
- Gator’s Grilled Cheese Emporium, 955 E Sheridan, Ely | Spring 2015
- The King and I Thai (reopening), 760 Highway 110, Mendota Heights | 2015
- Grand Rounds Brewing Company, 4 3rd St SW, Rochester | 2015
- Wicked Wort Brewing Co., 4165-4175 W Broadway, Robbinsdale | Fall 2015
- Belle Vinez Winery, River Falls, Wis. | April 2015
The Tap is the Heavy Table’s guide to area restaurant openings, closings, and other major events. The Tap is compiled and published biweekly by the Heavy Table. If you have tips for The Tap, please email James Norton at editor@heavytable.com.