A bar and restaurant specifically founded to help revitalize downtown Minneapolis and challenge public perception about the area’s safety is closing its doors indefinitely.
In a Thursday statement blaming “unforeseen circumstances,” Ties Lounge & Rooftop on Nicollet Mall announced its closure effective immediately.
“Bringing Minneapolis together is what we are all about,” the announcement begins. “We feel as though that resonates with a lot of you after years of struggle to bring people back to a safe, lively Minneapolis. We needed it. We needed to show that it could be done.”
“We would like to thank all of the guests that have walked through our doors,” the announcement continues. “It was a dream come true for us to see Ties Lounge & Rooftop bring many of you joy.”
In March, a bartender at Ties Lounge & Rooftop told Alpha News that downtown Minneapolis is “very, very safe,” even though the city had released data at the time showing increased thefts, gunshot victims, and assaults in the area compared to the previous year.
“Everything is coming back now after the pandemic and it is like this entire resurgence of downtown and it’s been incredible and it’s only going to go up from here,” the bartender said.
Two months later, Ties Lounge & Rooftop was hit with an overnight break-in. The bar’s cleaning crew had discovered the burglary and called police around 4:30 a.m.
The four-floor establishment was founded as a “place of healing for people,” one of the co-founders told Fox 9 in March shortly before it opened.
“We want people to walk through those doors, let their hands up and walk in with open arms to meet their next best friend,” he added. “We really wanted to grab every best thing about every bar, eatery, nightlife and tie it all under one roof.”
Ownership is now considering its next steps, according to the closure announcement.
“We look forward to sharing our plans on continuing to tie Minneapolis together with you in the very near future … Stay tuned, stay eager, and stay ready.”
Evan Stambaugh
Evan Stambaugh is a freelance writer who had previously been a sports blogger. He has a BA in theology and an MA in philosophy.
