MINNEAPOLIS — A Dinkytown staple has reopened after four long years. Lines have been out the door to grab a seat and get a shake at Annie's Parlour.
"It's very humbling when I see the excitement from people," Tony Rimarcik said.
The neighborhood has seen incredible change over the years as buildings have been torn down to make way for apartments.
But Annie's has cemented itself into the University of Minnesota landscape as its reputation stretches across generations. Many students went on a date there, celebrated after a big test, or took their parents to dinner while they visited.
"I have heard so much about it from my parents. Both were alumni at the University here and used to talk about going on dates at Annie's when they were students," U of M student Netanya Sadoff said.
The restaurant slowly opened at the beginning of February doing take-out as they got new staff up to speed. They fully opened the dining room a few weeks later.
"It's a different sense of ownership and responsibility. All of those things were there before but not as much emotionally," Tony said. "I know Tom feels it too."
The second-generation co-owner runs a handful of historic restaurants with his brother Tom including Pracna on Main, Runyon's, The Monte Carlo, and Convention Grill.
The patriarch of the family, their father John Rimarcik, passed away in December following a fight with brain cancer. John is remembered as one of the first visionaries for the North Loop development and is revered for his restaurant and real estate investments across the metro.
Tony said his dad was looking forward to the revival of Annie's and would be impressed with the remodeled kitchen.
The Rimarciks upgraded and remodeled a number of their restaurants during the last few years. Other projects took precedence over Annie's and the owners said they ran into supply chain issues, leading to delays.
But despite the four-year delay, memories will continue to be made in this Minneapolis restaurant.
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