For 20 years, Christos Greek Restaurant has hosted events and served lunch to St. Paul's business community in the elegant, echoing Head House of Union Depot.
That run will come to an end May 31 when the company's lease expires. Christos owner Gus Parpas said he could not come to an agreement with the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, which owns the building, on renewing the lease.
The authority voted this week to solicit proposals for a new vendor. The request for proposals states that the new restaurant would be open every day of the week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and that it would provide catering at events. It also needs to offer "grab-and-go" food and drinks. The new restaurant is expected to open around Jan. 1, 2017.
Why the expanded hours and services? "It's just listening to your customers," said Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega, who is chairman of the authority. He said he has heard from neighbors in the area who want the venue to have a full range of services.
The authority is trying to attract more businesses and customers at Union Depot, which reopened as a transportation center in 2012 after a $243 million renovation. Parpas said the reopening also factored into his decision to leave.
"The venue is changing dramatically. It's now a public place. There's all sorts of people walking through," he said, and that hubbub is hurting his ability to attract banquet events — a key piece of the company's business at the site. Christos has previously held political events, book awards and upscale wedding receptions, Parpas said, but "with all that interference we simply cannot bring them in."
Christos has two other locations, in Minneapolis and Minnetonka, that will remain open.
Jessie Van Berkel • 612-673-4649
