Chicago’s Taste Authority, a south Minneapolis staple for Chicago dogs, chili dogs, and Italian beef sandwiches, made good on its summertime announcement that it would not renew its lease: The restaurant will officially close September 21, per a post on its Facebook page. In July, owner Rob Dubnecay told Minnesota Monthly that rent increases had driven the business out — when he opened 20 years ago, his rent was $1800, but these days, he’s staring down $6000 per month, he claims. Or, as it was phrased in the Facebook post: “Our rent soared higher than a foul ball at Wrigley Field.” Dubnecay told Minnesota Monthly that the closure he’s actively looking for a new space to rent, so there’s a chance that CTA will rise again. “Our leaving does not have anything to do with South Minneapolis,” he said at the time. “We have enjoyed and grown up here. The neighborhood has always supported the business, just as we have supported the neighborhood.”

Travail schemes up new Northeast plans

Travail Kitchen and Amusements is opening a cocktail bar in Northeast Minneapolis, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine reports, at the same burgeoning intersection that’s home to Young Joni, Vinai, Oro by Nixta, and Anchor Fish & Chips. Stargazer, as the new spot is named, is nestled into the narrow space that was once Dangerous Man’s growler pick-up bar, right next to Vinai — it’ll seat 40, with a horseshoe bar, a handful of booths, and a midnight-black interior, plus a ceiling studded with stars. Travail brought Meteor’s Robb Jones as beverage director: At Stargazer, he’s eschewing batched drinks, emphasizing instead a made-to-order cocktail experience. There will be snacks, too. Look for an opening sometime in October.

Federal labor complaint filed against Kim’s

Unite Here Local 17, the hospitality union that represents former workers at Minneapolis restaurant Kim’s, which closed in August, has filed federal unfair labor practice charges against the restaurant and chef Ann Kim’s restaurant group, Vestalia Hospitality. The charges will be investigated by the National Labor Relations Board. Unite Here alleges that Vestalia failed to give workers the opportunity to bargain about the closure, as businesses are typically required to do according to federal labor law. The union also alleges that it has submitted requests for financial information about the restaurant, given that Vestalia cited “ongoing financial losses” as the reason for the closure, but that the restaurant has not fulfilled those requests. The charges include “issues” during the workers’ election period when Kim and Vestalia management “repeatedly expressed their anti-union position within and outside the workplace,” Unite Here alleges. Vestalia did not respond to a request for comment.

Vellee Deli navigates a new path

Vellee Deli — the food truck-turned-full service restaurant and skyway hit known for its Mexican and Asian fusion tacos, burritos, and banh mi — has had a hell of a week. On September 8, owners Will Xiong and Joyce Truong announced on Instagram that they are facing eviction at their Northeast restaurant, temporarily closing all three Vellee Deli locations (in Northeast, the downtown Minneapolis skyway, and Brooklyn Park), and launching a fundraiser to keep the business open. On September 12, the owners announced that they would reopen the downtown Minneapolis skyway location. “We can either take the easy path — sign the papers, close our Vellee journey, and start fresh — or we can choose the hard road: grind every day and fight until they knock on our door and say it’s over,” they wrote. Per the updates on their fundraiser, however, it seems that negotiations for the Northeast location are not going well. Keep an eye on Instagram for the latest.

A motivated Minneapolis group is trying again to establish a community-controlled police commission.

Organized by ‘Minneapolis for Community Control of Police,’ their goal is to create a ballot question asking voters to approve what would be called the ‘Civilian Police Accountability Commission,’ or CPAC for short. 

The ballot question, if approved, would change the city charter to require the city to establish this — the group first needs to gather thousands of signatures from Minneapolis residents. 

In short, the elected commission would oversee the police department — controlling policy, investigating misconduct and having the ability to fire police officers… including the chief. 

This is now the second time this group has made this push. 

“On behalf of all of us, I am thrilled to announce the relaunch of our campaign for community control the police,” Jae Yates, with Minneapolis for Community Control of Police, said at a Thursday rally outside the burned down former Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct. 

“We will not stop, we will fight until we win and until we have community control of the police,” Yates added. 

Earlier this year, this same group brought more than 10,000 signatures to get the question on this November’s ballot to the City of Minneapolis, but the city said thousands of signatures were not valid, and the group failed to regather enough signatures. 

This time around, the group hopes to get more than 20,000 people to sign on and get it on the ballot in 2026. While a set salary isn’t set for these possible commissioners, the group has suggested they make the similar six-figure salary as city council members make. 

In a statement, a spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sent the following:

“Mayor Frey does not support diluting accountability by inserting 13 bosses in the chain of command for the police department. The proposal did not make sense in 2021 and still does not make sense today. The mayor continues to support the build-out of the existing Community Commission on Police Oversight and the Chief’s development of a more accountable and transparent department through adherence to the settlement agreement, a new police contract, enhanced community engagement, and ongoing training initiatives.”

City council member Michael Rainville — who sits on the council’s Public Health & Safety Committee — does not support the push either, adding he has confidence in the work current city leaders have put in surrounding improving policing. 

Council member Linea Palmisano, who also sits on the safety committee, wrote 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, “If a petition is filed and found to be sufficient, then it becomes a question for the voters to decide. I respect that legal process.”