Revival Mpls. Expands Next Door
We thought it was such a boon to Minneapolis eaters when Revival announced they’d be taking over the Cheeky Monkey spot to open a second location in St. Paul. That HAD to mean lighter wait times during peak hours for our favorite fried chicken, right?
Well if that put you in a good mood, I’m about to kick you into full-time giggling. The original Revival location in Kingfield has signed the lease for the building next door and will be annexing the spaces to double in size.
So within the above two spaces, we’re going from 40 seats, to around 120 with dining and bar seating. Walls will be knocked out so that it's one continuous space, and there will be a 360 degree bar that lives in the center of the whole thing. And that’s not all. There will be a whole new kitchen built in the back with a real pit smoker. “We’re going to change up the menu a bit and go for more legit barbecue,” chef and co-owner Thomas Boemer told me. “We’re going to start doing some of the stuff with the St. Paul location, but both Revivals will move toward more whole animal barbecue. We’ll be using a modern approach with temps and techniques, but really we’re going to be exploring what barbecue means at this time, in this place.”
And that’s not all. Because, with a whole new kitchen in the new space, the original kitchen will serve as a take-out kitchen. YES! Fried chicken and pit smoked meats by the pound! Your holidays will never be the same. And with whole animal barbecue, that also means you’ll be able to pick up pork jowl by the pound, briskets, smoky links, pig tails, all by the pound.
All of these glorious dreams of seating and eating will come very soon. As I left the space, the GC was coming in . Co-owner Nick Rancone said, “I think St. Paul will come first and then this will come shortly after. We’re really hoping to get it open by State Fair time.” Call me chicken giddy.
Photo by Caitlin Abrams
