TikTok-famous chain Roni’s Mac Bar is bringing its build-your-own mac and cheese operation to the Twin Cities, with plans that could land it in both the Mall of America and Dinkytown. The brand is listed as “opening soon” at the mall, and a construction firm says a second Minneapolis location is already in design for the student-heavy neighborhood near the University of Minnesota.
Mall of America has confirmed that the Bloomington shop will fill the former Vitali’s Kitchen spot on the third-floor food court at 392 South Avenue. According to Mall of America, the restaurant is planned for Level 3, South and was announced last August as part of a batch of new dining additions. The mall’s public directory still lists Roni’s at that address.
Builder teases Dinkytown location
Strack Construction Co., the contractor handling the Mall of America buildout, says work at the mall is underway and that “we’re currently in the design phase for Roni’s second Minnesota location, slated for the Dinkytown neighborhood.” In a blog post, Strack Construction notes that the Mall of America project marks Roni’s first Minnesota opening and teases the Minneapolis plan without giving a timeline. For now, that keeps the Dinkytown site in the design-phase category.
Site specifics for Dinkytown
Industry chatter and development notes point to the Identity development at SE 14th Avenue and 5th Street SE as the likely Dinkytown address. That location appeared in a development update that was reposted on LinkedIn and other tracker accounts, though the posts stress that the project is in design rather than tied to a signed lease. If it lands there, Roni’s would sit in the middle of the dense student blocks just east of the University of Minnesota campus.
What Roni’s serves
Roni’s Mac Bar launched in Waco in 2022 and has since grown into a franchised fast-casual concept centered on customizable mac bowls and grilled cheese sandwiches. The chain highlights options that range across dozens of cheeses, proteins, sauces and offbeat add-ins that customers can mix and match at the counter. The company’s locations page lays out the build-your-own format and lists current franchise sites in several states, according to Roni’s Mac Bar.
What this could mean for Twin Cities diners
Local food watchers note that a two-stop rollout, with one shop at Mall of America and another in Dinkytown, would give Roni’s a presence with both tourist crowds and a steady flow of students. As reported by Bring Me The News, the mall listing and contractor update have already sparked online chatter about how the viral brand might tweak its menu to fit Minnesota tastes. For now, the mall directory and contractor notices are the firmest signals. Exact opening dates for the Mall of America shop and lease specifics for Dinkytown have not yet been announced.
We will update this story when Mall of America posts a confirmed opening date or when Roni’s and its local franchise partners formally announce the Dinkytown lease and construction schedule. Until then, Twin Cities mac-and-cheese fans can keep refreshing the Mall of America dining page and the brand’s social feeds while they wait for the carbs to arrive.
