Restaurateurs Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald to Open New Tequila-focused Restaurant in North Loop (2023)
Monday, June 13, 2022 at 10:55AM
The New Restaurant Is Slated To Open Summer 2023
Local restaurateurs Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald, the duo behind Burger Dive, Smack Shack, and The Lexington, are opening a new, yet to be named restaurant, in the North Loop in 2023. With an emphasis on tequila and Chef Nick O’Leary helming the kitchen, the new concept is slated to open next summer.
Located in the former Alliance Francaise space at 113 1st Street N in Minneapolis, the restaurant is three stories (including the basement) and approximately 10,000 square feet. The ownership team is working with the city to ensure the historical integrity of the building endures while local design firm, Shea, brings new life to the historic space.
“We’ve been wanting to open an elevated tequila bar for a long time,” said Josh Thoma. “While the pandemic may have put a pause on our progress, we’re thrilled to finally get the process started and can’t wait to share this exciting new concept with everyone.”
The new restaurant will be open for dinner and weekend brunch with a strong emphasis on tequila. A menu is still being developed.
Thoma and Fitzgerald are also bringing their new tequila concept to Lloyd Companies' The Steel District project in Sioux Falls announced last May. Located adjacent to Falls Park, the project will also include a Burger Dive and a new elevated seafood concept from the pair. That project is scheduled to open Spring 2023.
“We’re very excited to bring this new concept to the neighborhood,” said Kevin Fitzgerald. “When we first opened Smack Shack in 2013, the community embraced us immediately and they remain avid supporters to this day. That’s just one of the many reasons we chose to open another restaurant right here in our own neighborhood.”
To follow the project progress, sign up for updates on the website, and follow along on Facebook.
