Benchwarmer Bob’s Sports Cafe in Burnsville, MN is now closed after several of the owners won a lawsuit against Nick Grammas over the handling of loan funds (see here for more information).
Benchwarmer Bob’s was the location of our after-wedding breakfast brunch as well as a WeekNIGHT Caching outing and we have eaten there numerous times always thinking it was fairly good food and service wise.
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February 1st, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Bob’s was always great food!! Much better than Sensor’s which is over-priced, with slow service and cold entree’s!!
February 1st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Yeah, Kim and I had eaten there a couple of times and even had them cater a breakfast for the morning after our wedding. We always thought that the food was decent and the prices reasonable.
It’s unfortunate that the owner had the problems he did and that the restaurant had to close :(
June 13th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Will there be a chance of it opening again?
June 14th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Applelady,
I assume it might, but only if someone assumes the debt… It’ll probably never open as the same Benchwarmer Bob’s again.
June 14th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Darn, it was a good place.
October 12th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
[...] Benchwarmer Bob’s has been closed since at least February 2007 but yet, they are still listed right there on the first page of listings of the Verizon Yellow Pages. How odd. [...]
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:36 am
Benchwarmer Bob’s building was just sold. Anybody know who is going in there next?
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:49 am
My prediction is some wannabe entrepreneureal restauranteur who will open a sports bar, El Loro knockoff or “restaurant emphasizing pizzas, steaks, pasta, burgers, panini sandwiches and a full bar”.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:52 am
Mike, the county hasn’t updated any last sale information :(
LAST QUALIFIED SALE:
DATE: 9/92
AMOUNT: $280,000
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:55 am
MSPD,
The estimated market value for the property was over $1.1 million. While I’m sure the bank cut the new owners a deal being that it’s been vacant as long as it has, we can expect this location (especially if it’s exactly what you describe) will close sooner rather than later.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:36 am
Maybe Ansaris Mediterreanean??? Bwahahahahahahahahaha
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
A purchase agreement has been written but its based on many contingencies..ie.. financing, inspection, etc. And the owner is a well established restaurant owner with experience.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Mike, you seem to know. Why are you asking us? Spill it.
And I’ve heard that “well established restaurant owner” bit before. Based on the location and nature of the building, that “well established restaurant owner” smells like the Joe Senser’s group.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Mike – Give us a hint! Now I am going to be wondering all day (or for weeks even!) wondering who it is. Come on, you can tell us! Just give us some sort of sign. If its a certain mediterreanean restaurant, just type a comment with a questionmark for the shape of the infamous golden cane.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Whit, it’s not the Cruise Cafe. They are going in right next to the PAC.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
How about a big ass Dunkin Donuts, with a full bar so you can get Bailey’s, Kaluaha, or Amaretto in your coffee? That is far enough from the Heart of the City that they can even get a drive thru…..
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
TL,
The lot former known as Benchwarmer Bobs is zoned HOC-2 (slow loading PDF). However I am not clear whether or not they’d be banned from having a driving through lane. HOC-2 has limited use for drive-through lanes but they are only allowed for businesses that are “Candy, ice cream, popcorn, nuts, frozen dessert and soft drink shop, without drive-in or drive-through lanes”.
Restaurants of any kind are not permitted to have drive-through lanes in any area of the HOC.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
How about a tiny little drive-through-only Dunkin’ Donuts booth with 27 drive through stalls. They should be configured in the shape of a giant middle finger pointed towards the HOC that can only be seen by passing planes.
On 2nd review, I wonder if the “After Midnight Group” that bought the Brooklyn Park Benchwarmer Bob’s might be involved. They have a couple of ongoing ventures and this fits their M.O. It’ll either be a sports bar or a Cowboy themed place with food like the Roadhouse that was at 35 and County 42.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
This just makes me wonder how horrible whoever runs that space overlooking the park is to deal with. I cant believe this old run down building is a better location for a restraunt than that corner by the park, esp if they actually start having events at the PAC.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Bill – I’m thinking of Ansaris moving from Eagan into HOC and giving the brother or cousin at MCC a run for their money.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I wonder if “Hungry Eyes” would use her cane as she hobbled across the street (in a sidewalk with a traffic light of course) between the two restaurants?!
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Chad: good point – I was thinking the same thing. I heard that Ciatti’s had also looked at that space in HOC long ago but instead decided to build a stand alone (Chianti Grill) on CR 42 instead. I wonder what is up with that space? Maybe an experienced restauranteur could join in and let us know what the scoop is.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Bill: Maybe if she got double billing at both places she could make enough money in wages that she would not be forced to accept tips in the hips of her costume and could then enrich the great unwashed of Burnsville with the pure form of her craft.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Speaking of the Roadhouse, anyone know what’s going in the new building that went up where it used to be? I’ve been wondering for a while but haven’t looked into it.
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Tim: Its going to be the business that Burnsville just can’t live without! Office Depot. *yawn*
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Its gonna be a Sports Bar/Restaurant. I have done a walk through with a realitor myself and it needs a lot of work but doable.
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:54 pm
OHMYGODASPORTSBAR!!!!!! Bestill my aching quads…now I can fire my sherpa team that I use to guide me ALL…..THE…..WAY…..TO……THE…..SPORTS BAR…..THAT’S…..200……YARDS……AWAY!!!!!!
(I hope the remodeling is LEED certified)
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:19 pm
A restaurant? They couldn’t just renovate the one that was already there?
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I’ve just waited for someone to clean that stinko place out with a fire hose and make something of it.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Tim, you are getting posts crossed. The old Benchwarmer Bobs is going to be a restraunt. The old roadhouse location is going to be a super exciting Office Depot or Office Max or some such useless thing.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Ah, thanks for the clarification. That makes a lot more sense.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Not sure if anone saw the Fox 9 news and the video, but apparently Burnville could benifit from a Popeye’s as we have residents taking cabs from Burnsville to get to Popeye’s on Lake Street in Minneapolis to get the $4.99 Chicken deal that was not honored by the only Popeye’s in the state of MN.
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Fracas_over_Popeyes_Fried_Chicken_Price_april_22_2009
November 21st, 2009 at 2:46 am
For those curious persons of the past Bench Warmer “Boobs” as I originally like to call it… The place is now Anthony’s Parkway Grille. The food is mediocre. As for the haunted basement, which is true by the way, Me and my boyfriend experienced
November 21st, 2009 at 9:08 am
Barb, I reviewed it here: http://www.lazylightning.org/anthonys-parkway-grille-burnsville-mn