Finally Open

Yesterday on what looks like it might be the first real day of spring we are over 5 months into this project. We must send out a very heartfelt thanks to all of the support from friends, family, Longfellow residents,local businesses and the employees at the city who have gone very far out of their way to help us.  As of 4:00 pm yesterday, Zeke's Unchained Animal is officially open for business.

It was a great evening full of many familiar faces and many new ones.  The service was not only pretty efficient, but turned out to be pretty fun.  Our families have commented that since we've completed the construction and have moved into the kitchen, spirits have been much higher.  Long story short, we're excited to be cooking for the first time in a long time.

We're very proud to be a new addition to this neighborhood. We've been bundled together in conversation with the newly-opened Blue Door and Parka eateries in the area and couldn't be happier to be in such good company as the new kids on the block.  The owners of Merlin's Rest (directly across the street) also stopped in to meet and greet yesterday, offering their support.  We anticipate a lot of co-ordination between the two of us, especially in regards to live music and other events.

Our live music on opening night was provided by one of owner Sean Cooke's bands: Fuga, who will continue to provide live improvised funk, jazz and fusion every Thursday night from 7:00-10:00.  Visit http://www.facebook.com/lafugamusic for more info

Before you ask, we are supposed to receive our liquor license May 7th, at which time we will be adding some of our favorite taps from the small-time brewers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri.

We'd like to thank everyone for their time, especially Dan Callahan, Sonya Monzel and Julie Casey from the city of Minneapolis, Renee Spillum from ReDesign Inc, Joyce Wisdom from the Lake St Council, Andrew Sauter and Chris Chicoine from Apperts Foodservice, Rebecca Hanson from Bix Produce, Bryan Aaker who provided our photographs, Kevin Williams who provided our mural, Keith Huffman who helped us clean up, Frankie Jedneak our mentor, Scott Fultz for support, Karl our electrician, Simon and Dan our contractors and our friends and family that helped get us through the last few months.

Read what the local bloggers are saying about us at these links:
http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2013/04/zekes_unchained_animal_opens.php
http://www.thrillist.com/eat/minneapolis/longfellow/zekes-unchained-animal
http://www.my-broadsheet.com/2013/04/25/zekes-unchained-animal-opening/

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Sorry for taking so long to post, but we're now getting very close to opening.  We don't have an official open date yet, but it should be very soon.  We could be open as early as next week pending final inspections, so keep your eyes out for another post.  This weekend we're finishing up the drywall, painting and finishing touches.  Then we just need to put the pots, pans, plates and glasses, etc. back in its place and open the doors.  We'll be testing out our recipes and taking pictures this week as well.  Pictures will be posted soon.

We also have our liquor license processed and gone to to city council meeting for approval, so we may not have wine and beer when we open, but it should follow shortly.

Thanks to everyone for your patience.  This has been a long and stressful process, but we are very excited to get the doors open after a long winter.

~The Zeke's Team