One of Grand Avenue’s most visible dining rooms is headed for a handoff. Restaurateur Todd Russell is putting his namesake spot’s building on the market and preparing to close Russell’s as he looks toward retirement, ending a roughly two-year run at the busy St. Paul corner. The property is listed at $3.85 million, which means a prime storefront on the avenue is about to be up for grabs.
Sale And Restaurant Closure
According to the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, Russell has put the Grand Avenue property on the market for $3.85 million and is preparing to wind down operations at Russell’s. The report notes that Russell is looking toward retirement and that the transaction would transfer ownership of the building that houses the restaurant.
Russell’s Roots On Grand Avenue
Russell bought the former Tavern on Grand building and opened Russell’s in late 2024 as a neighborhood steak-and-bar hangout. At the time, the Star Tribune profiled him and reported that he purchased the property in part to help “revitalize” the Grand Avenue corridor.
Why This Matters For Grand Avenue
Grand Avenue has been in a steady state of turnover in recent years, and losing a namesake restaurant adds one more entry to the list of changes along the strip. Local reporting on Tavern on Grand’s 2024 shutdown placed that closure in a broader pattern of businesses shuffling on and off the avenue. Eater Twin Cities has documented how longtime tenants have departed in the face of rising costs and shifting foot traffic, a backdrop that makes any big vacancy on Grand feel a little louder.
What Comes Next
Russell’s team has not announced a final closing date, and the Business Journal report did not name a buyer for the property. The Russell’s website lists the restaurant at 656 Grand Avenue, a high-visibility address that a new owner could retool or re-tenant for a new concept.
The sale sets up another shuffle in Grand Avenue’s lineup of shops and restaurants and puts a familiar corner back in play for the next wave of operators. We will keep an eye on public filings and local coverage for word on a buyer and a timeline for Russell’s final service.
