A historic St. Anthony Main building that once poured drinks for one of Minneapolis’s oldest riverfront bars is finally getting new life this spring. Lonely’s Bar is moving into the former Pracna on Main space, pitching itself as a nostalgic neighborhood hangout with river views and plenty of game-day energy.
Design pedigree and local roots
Creative direction for the project comes from Erik Hamline, who has built a reputation on local retail and intimate hospitality work. He runs the design studio A1A Inner Peace and operates the menswear shop Equipment, along with the cafe-and-wine program that evolved into Bar Harmony. The Star Tribune has highlighted Hamline’s recent design projects across the Twin Cities.
What Lonely's will offer
The new bar is led by Eric Odness, the operator behind Zhora Darling, alongside Hamline. The partners say Lonely’s is targeting an early May opening and are going for “a traditional bar” feel with a “nostalgic” menu, a pool table, and Twins and Vikings game-day promotions, according to Bring Me The News. Riverfront patio seating is also in the plans, a clear perk as patio season returns to the Mississippi-side walkways.
Why this matters to St. Anthony Main
The Pracna building dates to the 1890s and served its final drink in 2015, so Lonely’s will be breathing life into a long-idle stretch of the riverfront that plenty of locals remember well. If the team follows through on the menu, design, and patio programming, the bar could help restore some spring and summer buzz to St. Anthony Main’s waterfront evenings.
