Opening a second Chatterbox location in St. Paul
Via Moe at East-Lake.net, I hear the fine folks at the Chatterbox bought a Perkins in Highland Park and are planning on opening up a second Chatterbox location there:
They’re shooting for a winter debut, but they’ll first have to gut the space and remodel it to look more like their other spot. In addition to television-lounge areas with Atari games, booths and high-top tables, the Millers also want to add a catering operation and private banquet space. ‘The great thing,’ says Steve Miller, ‘is we have more space now, so we can do stuff we couldn’t do before.’
One of those things is breakfast. A larger kitchen will allow the couple to expand the hours and the sandwich/burger menu. “It’s in the same vein as our menu now — classic pub food, but only the burgers come with parmesan curry mustard,” Steve Miller says.
You know how when a building that originally housed a Taco Bell gets converted to another restaurant or some other use, it’s still really obvious that it used to be a Taco Bell? I hope this isn’t the case with this Perkins building. I think I’ve been to Highland Park once in the dark, so I don’t know if they had a fancy non-Perkins-looking Perkins there.
Plus… it’s the Chatterbox. I don’t know if you can just make another one.
Related posts:
There was a scary place on Minnehaha and 37th called “Jimmy’s Steak House” that was purchased by new owners and remodelled. Part of the remodel was removing the old siding. During the demolition, they revealed an old sign that said “The Chatterbox II” and I got all excited thinking they were opening another location.
It turned out to be a very old sign, in no way related to the current Chatterbox. Cue disappointment. The location is now The Rail Station, and while cleaner and less scary, it still panders to the same Jimmy’s crowd.
I’d go to the new Chatterbox to try out their breakfast. I really like their food, and would be curious about their menu.
I’d go to the new Chatterbox to try out their breakfast. I really like their food, and would be curious about their menu.
I would, too. I really like their food, and I really like breakfast. I can’t see me making a trip all the way over there for the regular weekend evening thing, though. But maybe folks on that side of town will like it and not have to come all the way to Minneapolis for their Chatterbox fix.
The Highland Park Perkins isn’t a stand-alone building, which can help with the “this used to be a Perkins” effect. *That* Perkins didn’t even look like a Perkins.
I’ve never been to the Chatterbox (I know! Crazy.) but I sure am glad they’ll be serving breakfast in that location. The only other breakfast spots in that area are Brueggers (boring!) and the busy-but-good-though-I-wish-they’d-change-their-menu-sometimes Highland Grill. One morning I was in the neighborhood and needed breakfast, only to discover the Perkins was closed. Foiled!
Yet another reason why I’m still sad that I moved from Highland Park.
What’s weird is that the actual Chatterbox is only 15 minutes from HP. They should have bought something in Lowertown if they really wanted to penetrate St Paul.
But nothing will be as good as the real Chatterbox anyway.