Woodbury Approves Lease for New Bielenberg Restaurant

The Woodbury City Council on Wednesday swiftly approved the lease for a new restaurant that will go in as part of the Bielenberg Sports Center expansion project.

The city has discussed the agreement at length in several workshops over the past few months as Woodbury looked to privatize food operations at the sports center.

See:

New Restaurant at Bielenberg: Woodbury Council Gets First Look

Woodbury Council Mulls Alcohol for Bielenberg Sports Center Restaurant

Bielenberg Restaurant: Lease Looks Likely, Liquor in Limbo

Gartner Restaurant Holdings will manage the restaurant, which will be sited on the second floor of a new lobby at Bielenberg. The company will also head up first-floor concessions.

The $21.8 million BSC expansion project, which includes a new field house, outdoor pleasure rink and upgrades to the existing ice arenas, is underway. It is expected to open in the spring of 2014.

For the restaurant, the lease will vary depending on whether a liquor license is granted. With a liquor license, the city will receive 12 percent of gross sales up to $1 million, and 10 percent for sales beyond that figure. Without a liquor license, rent will be 10 percent of all gross sales.

The city will likely take up the liquor discussion again next March.

Owner Greg Gartner has said he does plan to apply for a liquor license. If it’s not granted: “We’ll have the 15 best root beer taps in the world.”

The council on Wednesday unanimously approved the seven-year lease, and is expected to review interior plans at September meeting.

The restaurant will feature $800,000 in upgrades to the space, with Woodbury providing $500,000 of those costs (items deemed permanent improvements).

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