News of a new Grumpy's in Roseville might inspire fans of the Minneapolis institution to ask: What's next -- a Liquor Lyle's in Lakeville?
Just kidding. But really, the new venture -- which last month took over a three-level spot that housed a Majors sports bar -- does come as a surprise in light of the two very urban Grumpy's in downtown and Northeast.
"On one hand, I completely understand that," owner Tom Hazelmyer said. "But people have to understand that the first Grumpy's was in the suburbs. We cut our teeth in the suburbs."
While the Coon Rapids Grumpy's was Hazelmyer's first, the two Minneapolis locations (which he owns with Pat Dwyer) have really come to exemplify the Grumpy's motif -- drinks, Tater Tots and attitude. While Hazelmyer sold the Coon Rapids bar last year, he's excited about once again competing out in "chain land," as he calls it.
First up: making the Roseville behemoth his own. While he loves much of its design (the two-story ceilings are nice), some aspects are still a bit, oh, corporate. Hazelmyer plans to have stencil artist John Grider plaster the bar's interior with some great pieces, including two 18-foot-high beer-can murals (Schmidt and Grain Belt, respectively). He'll also add a taste of what made his old Ox-Op gallery so cool -- look for art pieces by Josh "Shag" Agle.
He and his partner at this location, Bob Petersen, have added more pool tables and the same food menu as the Grumpy's downtown. They're making good use of their new kitchen, specifically the brick oven. Free pizza is offered after 11 p.m. Saturday through Thursday. I wonder how long that will last, because people were acting like starving vultures the night I was there (me included).
As for entertainment, the free Sunday-night comedy showcase with Joey I.L.O. is great. Plus there's Tuesday karaoke, and a Guitar Hero competition should start in March.
Can we expect more suburbs to get Grumpified? Hazelmyer says no -- three Grumpy's is enough for now.
