Latest news with #PedroWolcott
CBS News
08-08-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Is the Twin Cities restaurant scene in crisis?
Some recent, big-name restaurant closures in Minneapolis have fueled concerns about the health of the Twin Cities dining scene. But is the perception that times are tough actually the reality? Or have the headlines about restaurant closures exaggerated the normal cycle of businesses coming and going? Near the corner of West 46th Street and Grand Avenue South in south Minneapolis, there's a tiny spot serving some hefty sandwiches with a heaping side of nostalgia. "The biggest problem with this sandwich is how do we wrap them," owner Pedro Wolcott said with glee. He is the brains and chef behind North Star Deli, a new grab-and-go restaurant that doubles as a shrine to the Minnesota North Stars, complete with chairs used at the Met Center. There's memorabilia adorning the walls not just for the state's first NHL team, but the Minnesota Fighting Saints and other pop culture references from the 1970s to the 1990s. "You could spend an hour or more here and never look at the same thing twice," said Wolcott. The trip down memory lane, coupled with a menu approachable for families, is a sharp pivot from his first venture. Earlier this year, Wolcott closed the doors on Guacaya Bistreaux, a flashy North Loop spot inspired by his roots in Latin America and New Orleans. His first dream was done after just three years in business. "We wake up doing the math, go to bed doing the math, and right now the people are not going out to eat like they used to," he said of the trying times near the end of Guacaya's run. What challenges stand out the most for restaurateurs? "Lack of skilled labor, rising wages, rising costs of goods. You need to have a lot of foot traffic to be able to pay the rent," he said. Guacaya's departure in April foreshadowed a rough summer as iconic names in Minneapolis like Young Joni, Palmer's Bar, Annie's Parlour and Café and Bar Lurcat all announced plans to close. Their owners cited various reasons including rising rent, a drop in alcohol sales and foot traffic, to simply deciding it was time to call it quits. Each closure grabbed headlines over their unfortunate ending, leading to a social media stir that the city's restaurant scene was falling apart. Some blamed crime, city policies and statewide politics. Is it just perception or is it reality that there are more closures than there are openings? "There's always going to be openings, restaurants opening all the time, but the amount of closures is unheard of. It's not normal," Wolcott said. Jason DeRusha is the Food Editor at Minnesota Monthly. While he acknowledges the rush of big-name closures, he also feels people miss what's opening. "The truth is we emotionally connect with closures. It's normal, it's natural. You mourn something that's gone. The openings kind of don't resonate as much," DeRusha said. "Every week I send out a newsletter that puts news of new openings and news of closings, and the closings get way more traffic." Articles about closures and openings grab attention, but they only provide a glimpse of the restaurant industry's health. WCCO wanted data. So, we asked the city of Minneapolis to send us records of restaurant licenses going back to 2017. Maybe that could show if what's happening at places like Young Joni is a trouble trend. According to a city spokesperson, the data for the years 2020-2022 "may also reflect pandemic impacts including staffing, manual data entry and emergency orders suspending license fee collection, especially for alcohol." TOTAL RESTAURANT LICENSES IN MINNEAPOLIS BY YEAR After reviewing the data, WCCO learned that in 2017 Minneapolis had just under 1,791 restaurant licenses, climbing to peak in the year 2019 with 2,019 licenses. There's a steep drop as the COVID-19 pandemic hits in 2020 with only 1,446 licenses on record. But the numbers quickly climbed in the following years. Even still, 2024's final tally was 1,844 licenses, or 175 short of 2019's total. That drop could be due to license renewals. TOTAL RESTAURANT LICENSE RENEWALS BY YEAR From 2017 to 2019, an average of 1,678 restaurant licenses were renewed each year. But from 2022 to 2024, it dropped to 1,600 per year, about 4.5% lower than pre-pandemic levels. It's potential evidence of more restaurants deciding to close. Is that a decline that should be concerning or is that just a slight symptom of the state of the economy? "I do think that this initial decline could certainly become a long-term trend," DeRusha said. "Rent has been going up and up and up, and I think a lot of small operators say high rent plus much higher minimum wage is an unsustainable course." A silver lining in the data is people like Wolcott who remain determined to succeed. TOTAL NEW RESTAURANT LICENSES BY YEAR From 2017 to 2019, there was an average of 261 new restaurant licenses per year in the city. From 2022 to 2024 the number increased ever so slightly to about 265 per year. "This is kind of what we dream of, having the opportunity to save up money, get a small place, give it our shot right," Wolcott said. What is it going to take for a restaurant to thrive or at least survive in the current climate? "You need to be a wealthy restauranter that's been settled for more than 10 years," Wolcott said. He feels restaurant groups with strong financial backings have the best shot at weathering the economic storm. "Mom and pop" shops should skip Minneapolis and St. Paul, he said, for the suburbs where rent and wages are lower. DeRusha has seen several restaurateurs go that route. "Now you see a lot of action in Woodbury, in Maple Grove, in Plymouth, in Shakopee. There's a lot of action happening in the suburbs," DeRusha said. Despite the potential migration to the suburbs, the data shows hundreds continue to put their faith in Minnesota's largest city. "There's so much talent in this city, that's why we want to make sure this industry survives," Wolcott said. WCCO reached out to St. Paul for restaurant license data. The State of Minnesota tracks that for the capital city, but they couldn't share it with WCCO for this story. DeRusha did a story in 2017 about what he called a "glut of restaurants" in Minneapolis and requested similar data from the city. He found an 85% increase in restaurants serving alcohol from 2001 to 2016. That shows the numbers were only trending upwards before the pandemic struck. Wolcott admits that opening a restaurant is a gamble, no matter the current economic Studies show 17% of restaurants fail in the first year, while 30% will fail over time.
Eater
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
11 Recent Twin Cities Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know in July
Summer is here, and with it comes a bunch of new restaurants. From a bar tucked away in a gas station to a sandwich shop that pays homage to Minnesota hockey, there's an exciting mix of newcomers to check out. Welcome to the Opening Report, a curated roundup of recent restaurant openings big and small across the Twin Cities. Did we miss a spot? Drop a note at the tipline or email twincities@ and we'll consider it for the next update. June KINGFIELD — Chef Pedro Wolcott recently opened a new hockey-tinged sandwich shop. North Star Deli offers an eclectic range of options, from muffaletta to smoked salmon BLT, while the space is decorated with vintage Minnesota North Stars memorabilia. Wolcott was previously behind the shuttered Guacaya Bistreaux in North Loop. 315 W. 46th Street in Minneapolis. POWDERHORN — After almost two years, Tiny Diner has reopened. The sustainability-focused restaurant, which has its own gardens that grow food, made a comeback in late June with longtime favorites like breakfast burritos alongside new creations such as a bulgogi Philly sandwich. During its closure, Tiny Diner's space was used by the Real Minneapolis nonprofit to prepare meals. The gardens were restored by its original designer, Koby Jeschkeit-Hagen, and returning chef Stephanie Portillo leads the kitchen. 1024 E. 38th Street in Minneapolis. DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL — Concertgoers headed to the Palace Theatre have a new spot for a pre- or post-show bite. Palace Pub offers approachable dishes like tavern-style pizzas, burgers, totchos, and wings, complemented by cocktails, THC beverages, and nonalcoholic options. It's open until 1 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, with the kitchen serving food as late as midnight on Friday and Saturday. 33 W. 7th Place in St. Paul. MERRIAM PARK — Donut Trap lovers can now get their fix straight from the source as the sweet treats specialist, which has doughnut vending machines around Twin Cities, has opened a retail location in the same building that houses its commercial kitchen. Operating Thursday through Sunday, the walk-up window sells a variety of doughnuts in flavors like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, churro tres leches, and double chocolate Oreo, plus ice cream and caffeinated beverages. There's a 40-seat patio for guests to sit and enjoy their sugary bites. 1350 Hague Avenue in St. Paul. EXCELSIOR — Enjoy dumplings, ramen, and sake at new noodle bar Shiki in Downtown Excelsior. It's the second of three restaurants planned for the building by Jester Concepts — the basement houses cocktail den Parlour while forthcoming American restaurant Mirabelle comes to the main level later this summer. The cocktails incorporate Asian flavors, including an ube piña colada and an Old Fashioned made with ramen syrup. 200 Water Street in Excelsior. SHAKOPEE — Canterbury Park, the horse racetrack, casino, and entertainment venue in Southwest suburb Shakopee, welcomed a new restaurant to its lineup in June. Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar serves American fare like wings, oysters, and steaks, and features a massive 18,000-square-foot patio, reports the Star Tribune. Overlooking the track, the outdoor area has its own bar, fire pits, lawn games, and front-row seats to all of the racing action. 1125 Shenandoah Drive in Shakopee. May NORTHEAST — One of Minneapolis's best pizzerias can now be found at Indeed Brewing's taproom. Pizzeria Lola, the acclaimed restaurant by chef Ann Kim, is now serving pies out of a trailer parked next to the brewery. It's open every day of the week and the menu offers fan favorites as well as rotating specials. Kim recently announced that her other restaurant, Young Joni, will close in September. 711 NE 15th Avenue in Minneapolis. NORTHEAST — Celio is a new spot for Italian fare in Northeast Minneapolis. There are staples like fried polenta and arancini, but the menu is centered on pastas, which include options like blueberry-ricotta-filled agnolotti and orecchiette with wild boar and beef meatballs. Celio replaced the Sonder Shaker and is by the same team. 130 E Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. NORTHEAST — The iconic Ferris wheel in Northeast Minneapolis spins again with the opening of Hey Y'all Tipsy Taco Bar. Replacing shuttered Betty Danger's, the Tex-Mex restaurant offers tried-and-true dishes like queso fundido, elote dip, and tacos. There's also a smash burger served in a crispy flour tortilla, and breakfast tacos and burritos during weekend brunch. The vibrant — lots of pink and red hues plus flowery wallpaper — space can accommodate up to 400 guests across the indoor and outdoor sections, and the dog-friendly mini-golf course returns as well. 2501 Marshall Street Northeast in Minneapolis. SPRING PARK — Located along the shores of Lake Minnetonka in the new Shoreline Hotel, Cabana Anna's is a self-described 'South Florida meets Minnesota' restaurant offering seafood, pizzas, pastries, and waterfront views, with greens and herbs grown on-site. It's open for breakfast through dinner, plus weekend brunch, and there's also a dock so guests can arrive by boat. Shoreline is the first hotel built on the lake in 100 years and the restaurant is named after property owner Kelly Olsen's grandmother. 4165 Shoreline Drive in Spring Park. April LAKEVILLE — Hidden away inside a gas station, new speakeasy the Farmer's Cellar is mixing drinks in an intimate, Prohibition-era-themed space. Guests can sip on a variety of classic and original cocktails and frozen drinks, as well as low ABV and nonalcoholic selections. There's also a food menu featuring items like pork belly BLT sliders, pickled deviled eggs, and Detroit-style pizza. The Farmer's Cellar is the latest opening from Eagan-based group Wondrous Collective. 8333 210th Street West in Lakeville. Eater Twin Cities All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
