ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A popular St. Louis Park bar-restaurant reopened its doors again on Wednesday, three days after a tragic event that claimed two lives and caused severe injuries for multiple others.
The Park Tavern had a "soft reopening" at noon that will last until 11 p.m. Before the doors opened to customers, Park Tavern held an all-staff meeting Wednesday morning, and then hosted a special event for employees of Methodist Hospital.
One of the people killed in the incident — Gabe Harvey — was a Health Unit Coordinator at Methodist. Three of Harvey's fellow ICU nurses are still in the hospital, two in serious condition and one in fair condition, according to a release from Methodist Hospital.
KARE 11's Morgan Wolfe spoke to Harvey's partner, Denzel, who said they were together for eight years and were in the midst of planning their wedding.
"There is such a heaviness in the hospital," said Beth Ericksen, who works at Methodist. "He touched so many lives."
There will be at least one permanent change to operations at Park Tavern — the extended patio area known as "The Green" will be taken down, and the establishment is working with a landscaper to create a permanent memorial for Harvey and Kristina Folkerts, the server who also lost her life in the incident.
"They're all very close over there and you can just see it and feel it," The Park Tavern owner, Phil Weber said. "There were so many people from Park Nicollet Methodist [hospital] that came by yesterday."
Weber says the phone has been ringing off the hook at Park Tavern. He calls the community support overwhelming and very kind.
Folkerts' father is in the process of making her funeral arrangements. He says the family has been overwhelmed by the amount of support they've received from the community, including a GoFundMe for Kristina's four children that has reached more than $150,000.
A memorial fund has also been set up for Harvey. His fellow nurses - Laura Knutsen, Tegan D'Albani and Theo Larson have funds for their long-recovery ahead.