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PAGE DO•STAR TRIBUNE**
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<br /> DINING from D1
<br /> Suburbs seeking their own
<br /> `local treasure'restaurants
<br /> It's a question being asked partnership between the sub-
<br /> in many suburbs, and the an- urb and the entrepreneurs, 13
<br /> swer seems to be that great res- Moons is serving creative
<br /> taurants are born—not cloned meals in an old building that
<br /> or recruited. used to house the municipal
<br /> Grones said that to get a tavern. With each new moon,
<br /> place as good as lax Cafe for a the Hermans present their cus-
<br /> suburban downtown, the city tourers with a new menu, and
<br /> must provide moral and finan- soon they'll put the finishing
<br /> cial support to talented chefs touches on a sushi bar in a
<br /> and determined proprietors, nonsmoking dining room off
<br /> such as the Hermans, rather the main bar and restaurant.
<br /> than trying to persuade city It wasn't so elegant a few
<br /> restaurateurs to open subur- years back. "This building was
<br /> ban outlets. really garbage," Brian Herman
<br /> "Restaurants like Jax are a said. "Dark-paneled, no win-
<br /> local treasure," Grones told dows, your traditional, old-
<br /> Brooklyn Park's Citizens Long- time, dive city bar where you
<br /> range Improvement Commit- don't want anybody to see that
<br /> tee. "Once they start du- you're in here."
<br /> • plicating, they are no longer a While working as a manager
<br /> local treasure." at the Radisson Hotel in down-
<br /> So Brooklyn Park and other town St. Paul, I-Ier►nan met a
<br /> suburbs and exurbs ought to developer who was looking for
<br /> think about using their re- restaurants to fill several prop-
<br /> sources to grow their own fine- erties. First, he showed the
<br /> dining firms,he said. Hermans some space in clown-
<br /> Fine dining is what Ann town St. Paul's Galtier Plaza—
<br /> Bateman, business developer "a bunch of empty restau-
<br /> for Brooklyn Park,wants in her rants," Brian 1-Ierman said.
<br /> community's town center. It How about Mankato? Too far.
<br /> will include office,retail,hous- Robbinsdale?
<br /> ing and restaurants in a main- "We lived in north Minne-
<br /> street environment similar to apolis at the time,and we knew
<br /> Arbor Lakes, Maple Grove's Robbinsdale," he said. "We
<br /> "new downtown," and similar also knew of the municipal bar
<br /> in some ways to the old clown- here. So when he mentioned
<br /> towns experiencing new life in that,it was like,'That would be
<br /> places such as Hopkins and good,and it's close enough.'"
<br /> Hastings. With the city providing de-
<br /> Bateman said restaurants mographic information for
<br /> are a priority because eating their business plan and a low-
<br /> places are "part of the weave interest loan to their developer,
<br /> that's necessary for economic the Hermans raised money by
<br /> development in the communi- taking out a second mortgage
<br /> ty." The new 610, which even- on their home and additional
<br /> wally will connect Interstate financing from the Small Busi-
<br /> Hwy.35W with Interstate I-Iwy. Hess Administration. They
<br /> 94 across the northern sub- added some sweat equity and,
<br /> urbs, is envisioned as an eco- in the fall of 1999', they opened
<br /> nomic engine for new industri- 13 Moons.
<br /> Sal,
<br /> commercial and residential "I think you have to find the
<br /> development.That means new right atmosphere that's close
<br /> workers who need lunch and to a downtown atmosphere,"
<br /> new residents eating out. Roxy Herman said, "so when
<br /> But Bateman, Kvame and people come in here they feel
<br /> Grones agreed that Brooklyn they are downtown — the
<br /> Park's downtown needs more lights and linens and a nicer
<br /> than the chains that have feel. A little dressy, but not
<br /> swarmed into Maple Grove. too."
<br /> "We'd like to have a restart- The hand-crafted wooden
<br /> rant where people go for their tables, low-hanging light fix-
<br /> anniversary," Bateman said "I tures and large windows onto
<br /> don't mean to say some of the the street lend a city ambience,
<br /> restaurants who are chains we but the suburban address
<br /> don't want, because we cer- means plenty of free parking,
<br /> Willy do. But we'd also like to lots of local workers and lents
<br /> have some independent,desti- that are half to a third of what
<br /> nation restaurants." they would pay in a mall or in
<br /> downtown or Uptown Minne-
<br /> 13 Moons apolis,Brian Ilerntan said.And
<br /> there is the advantage of hav-
<br /> The Hermans said Robbins- ing less competition for the
<br /> dale had a similar dream for its fine-dining dollar in the sub-
<br /> downtown. As a result of a urbs.
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