Biz briefs: Woody's Roadhouse in Woodbury is no more

Woody's Roadhouse, a family-oriented restaurant in Woodbury, has closed.

The restaurant at 1690 Woodland Drive served its last meal on Aug. 15. It had opened in April.

A posting on Woody's website confirmed the closing, as did a message on its answering machine, which said the establishment is no longer open for business and we "appreciate all the support."

It was not immediately clear why the restaurant closed. Calls seeking comment were not returned.

General manager David Harvey opened Woody's in April after he revamped and renamed the former Throwbacks Grille. He branded Woody's as the place to get "competitively priced" hand-cut steaks, rotisserie chicken, barbecue ribs, skewers, burgers and salads in an atmosphere that resembles a restaurant instead of a bar.

It also featured hamburger specials on Wednesdays, and 75 beers, including 26 drafts and 22 crafts. Live music was offered on Fridays and Saturdays.

New Italian restaurant sets job fair this week Look for chef Angelo Montes to open his new Sole Mio Ristorante in the Valley Creek Mall about Oct. 8 in the space formerly occupied by Mi Familia Mexican restaurant.

Sole Mio Ristorante will feature Italian cuisine along with steak, seafood and chops.

Family practice group has a new name Family HealthServices Minnesota has become Entira Family Clinics. The physician-owned health care provider operates 12 clinics in the east metro, including one at 8325 City Centre Drive in Woodbury, and two in White Bear Lake, 3220 Bellaire Av., and 4786 Banning Av.

The new name is meant to emphasize the group's focus on its range of health care for the entire family, officials said.

The name change was prompted by a branding process that centered on understanding patient needs and perceptions. A survey of patients conducted in the spring found that many found the former name impersonal and institutional sounding, clinic officials said.

Family HeathServices Minnesota had been the group's name since 2008 when East Metro Family Practice and MinnHealth Family Physicians merged.

Called exploreafton.com, the site has been created by the Afton Area Business Association (AABA) to promote business and tourism in Afton and its surrounding areas.

TIM HARLOW AND JOY POWELL