Sports fans in Edina could soon have a new headquarters. The owners of Nolo’s Kitchen are looking to turn the former Salut Bar Americain space at 50th & France into a sports bar called The General Sports Bar, a TV-forward, team-focused hangout in the middle of the walkable shopping district. If it moves ahead, the project would mark yet another shakeup on a block that has already watched several longtime restaurants cycle out as leases wind down.
According to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, operators Marty Collins and Brett Johnson have filed plans to take over the former Salut footprint and run it as The General Sports Bar. The outlet reports that the name nods to a decades-old athletic-equipment retailer that once operated in the neighborhood, and that the owners are aiming to open later this year, pending approvals. The filing identifies the high-profile corner at 50th & France as the location for the buildout.
Site history and neighborhood churn
Bring Me The News previously noted that Salut planned to close at the end of 2025, clearing the way for landlords to start marketing the 50th & France space to new tenants. That looming vacancy is part of a broader run of lease expirations and tenant turnover in the district, even as the block remains tightly packed with dining rooms and storefronts. The official 50th & France business directory still lists a long roster of restaurants and shops in the immediate area, suggesting the strip continues to attract both operators and customers.
Owners' track record and what to expect
Collins and Johnson are familiar names in the Twin Cities dining scene, already tied to Nolo’s Kitchen and smaller concepts around Minneapolis, and a TripAdvisor listing highlights the partners and their North Loop presence. The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that the pair hope to leverage that experience into a game-night destination built around live screens and communal seating. If permits and construction stay on track, The General would arrive alongside several other newcomers vying for a piece of the action on 50th & France this year.
