Following up from my column from last week, filled with barstool chatter and coffeehouse whispers, here are a few more hot tidbits about the St. Paul dining scene I have recently learned.
The Greeks have left the building — what would be the perfect name of the new restaurant replacing Christos in the Union Depot? What say you? Union? Yes, Union restaurant from the Kaskaid Hospitality group, most well known for the Crave restaurant empire, will be replacing the now-closed Christos restaurant. Crave Catering will be the exclusive caterer for events at the Depot.
Union currently has a location on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. Look for remodeling of the space and a fresh vibe for events and visitors to St. Paul’s Union Depot. And, yes, there will be a full bar — finally!!
Union Bar and Grill (that’s the working name) plans to be open for lunch and dinner. I, for one, welcome the first downtown St. Paul installment from these experienced restaurateurs. Look for a late 2016 opening date.
And Seventh Street is movin’ on up once again. Earlier this week, we were pleased to hear that the interesting building that once was home to Glockenspiel will once again be thriving with the experienced team of Stephan Hesse, of Libertine, and Tyge Nelson, most recently of Chino Latino. The approachable Mexican bistro concept called Pajarito with a food-focused menu will be a great addition to the neighborhood.
But the development doesn’t stop there. We all have been wondering when the long-awaited and promised redevelopment of the Keg House in the old Schmidt Brewery would finally come to be. The wait is over: Look for the keg house to be a thriving complex housing an indoor and outdoor year-round farmers market, a stage that will allow for performances, an ice cream shop, a coffee house, a chocolatier and two new restaurants. The groundbreaking could come in September.
