The latest restaurateurs to try to make a go of it inside the historic railway depot in downtown Savage are asking to rewrite their lease.

Flavor @ the Depot owners Paul and Cindy Hurley, who opened last fall, have written to city officials saying the harsh winter has helped make it "extremely difficult for the restaurant financially."

They are asking to have a $1 per month rent deal extended to September.

The city's staff has responded with a memo to a citizen commission suggesting that with this third attempt now flagging, the building simply may not be able to make the kind of money previous leases have expected.

All three tenants have battled similar issues, some related to the historic integrity of the building itself, which is small and cannot be altered overmuch.

David Peterson | dapeterson@startribune.com