News of a new Grumpy's in Roseville might prompt 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 [notion]," 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 this behemoth his own. While he loves much of the current design (the two-story ceilings are nice) some aspects are still a bit, oh, corporate. The dramatic front entrance "looks like a mausoleum," he said. After operating it for a month, Hazelmyer said he's ready to turn his focus to redecorating.
"We haven't had enough time in there to get it Grumpified," he said.
Hazelmyer plans to have stencil artist John Grider (of billy goat fame) plaster the bar's interior with some great pieces, including two 18-foot-high beer-can murals (Schmidt and Grain Belt). He'll also replace the bland framed art in the dining room with a taste of what made his old Ox-Op gallery so cool (look for pieces by Josh "Shag" Agle).
