Restaurants – I’m talking the high-end, “acclaimed” places that vie for foodie critics’ affirmation – are dropping like, er, flies lately.
At the risk of sounding dramatic, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl is asking if we’re in the midst of an independent-restaurant massacre in the core of downtown Minneapolis.
Brasserie Zentral. Foreign Legion. Vincent. Masa. Solera. Workshop at Union.
The list of critically acclaimed eateries that have closed up shop in the state’s biggest city continues to grow.
Wonder why that is?
Two years ago, we had Governor Dayton’s sons asking a return of the old “tip credit”, to offset the effect of the hike in the minimum wage. They are certainly not the only ones hurting.
And I’ve heard – very, very off the record – that as restaurants get big and successful enough, and edge closer and closer to that magic “50 employee” mark, whereupon they are considered big businesses, required to provide Obamacare for their employees, the amount of money it’ll take to actually keep the business running becomes utterly untenable.
In the link above…:
Moskowitz Grumdahl, a senior editor for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, joined MPR News host Steven John to talk more about what’s behind this trend, how St. Paul is benefiting from it and what downtown Minneapolitans can do about it.
Saint Paul isn’t benefitting. Restaurants are closing here, too.
Expect to see a DFL proposal to prop up restaurants that are “too tasty to fail”.
I would be very curious to see data comparing pre-Obamacare startups vs. post-Ocare startups. Right now we know that small business formation is down mightily and it would be curious how much of it is due to the size limitations imposed on companies through Ocare.
Isn’t this the same thing you posted on the 15th?
http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=58402
It bears repeating, of course, but just sayin’. :^)
I just got home from St. Paul, and I was surprised at all the activity on W 7th. I couldn’t find parking in DiGidios on a Monday! And there is a brewpub across the street that was pretty lively. There is also a new joint across from the saints field.
Of course, the leftist scum that run the show will suck the life out of everything eventually, but for now it looks pretty good.
University\Midway on the other hand……
swiftee wrote:
I just got home from St. Paul, and I was surprised at all the activity on W 7th. I couldn’t find parking in DiGidios on a Monday! And there is a brewpub across the street that was pretty lively. There is also a new joint across from the saints field.
New York, Paris, London, St.Paul . . .
Swiftee,
The bread and circuses that the past couple of administrations have ginned together have made Uppertown (west of, say, Wabasha ) and Lowertown (east of Jackson or Wacouta) pretty relatively busy. Hockey, concerts and the Ordway keep people coming to West Seventh, while the heavily-subsidized hipster ‘n artist scene in Lowertown is certainly thriving at the moment.
We really like The Liffey and Burger Moe’s over on 7th – just not when there’s a hockey game!
Fair number of restaurants in Rochester are closing, including two which notified their employees with a sign on the door, and by email. For some odd reason, a friend of mine who knows one of the owners hasn’t seen the owners for a while. I’d skip out of town after pulling a stunt like that, too.
But salt of the earth or scumbags, political moves make a difference.
Two years ago, we had Governor Dayton’s sons asking a return of the old “tip credit”, to offset the effect of the hike in the minimum wage. They are certainly not the only ones hurting.
I wonder if they’re still in business, and if/what sort of perks they’re receiving as a benefit from their last name.
Moskowitz Grumdahl
This sounds like a name that would appear in one of your Avery Librelle posts 🙂
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