MINNEAPOLIS - A unique, new restaurant complete with retractable rooftop dining is being targeted for Shinders Corner in downtown Minneapolis.
Kaskaid Hospitality, parent company to CRAVE, Urban Eatery and Figlio restaurants, is planning to open a 6,000 square foot, two-level American restaurant.
UNION will boast the state's largest all-glass retractable roof. Each level of dining will have two separate kitchens, each with a unique menu.
The rooftop will be temperature controlled, so it will be functional during the winter months and air-conditioned during rainy, or hot and humid summer days when the rooftop is not retracted.
The menu at UNION will be chef-driven. The restaurant will also feature creative cocktails, craft beers and a diverse wine list.
The restaurant will be led by executive chef Jim Christiansen, who has worked at La Belle Vie and opened Sea Change. In addition to Christiansen, rmixologist Johnny Michaels will also be joining the UNION team. Michaels is one of the founders of the North Star Bartenders Guild and author of the book Northstar Cocktails.
"We have travelled around the country and even looked for inspiration worldwide in developing the concept for UNION," said Kam Talebi, owner and CEO of Kaskaid Hospitality, in a news release. "The vision behind this project was to take a very high-profile, yet extremely tired building on the corner of Hennepin Avenue and Eighth Street, and transform it to an iconic dining destination."
The four-season rooftop will also be made available for group and special events ranging from corporate events to weddings and other galas.
The Marquee Lounge will be located in the lower level of the building. Marquee Lounge, which will have a separate entrance from the restaurant, will feature unique and creative cocktails developed by Michaels and also feature some of the top DJs in the region.
"Kaskaid's creating UNION and the Marquee Lounge on this extremely important corner is a terrific step forward in making Hennepin Avenue even more vibrant," said Mayor R.T. Rybak in a news release. "These exciting establishments will be a great fit for a space that has been vacant for far too long, and will provide yet another entertainment option for people attending one of the avenue's many distinct cultural destinations."
Construction on the project is underway and UNION restaurant and Marquee Lounge is expected to open in November.
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