Big L's Soul Food & Steakhouse has traded in its food truck for a full-fledged restaurant at 805 E. 28th Street, right across from George Floyd Square in south Minneapolis. Owner Larry Robinson says the move into a permanent space will let him feed neighbors all year long and build out the kind of community programming that is tough to run from a seasonal truck. The restaurant mixes classic soul-food plates with steaks and is aiming to serve as a neighborhood hangout on a corner with a lot of emotional and symbolic weight.
From Food Truck To Full-Service Restaurant
Robinson grew Big L's from a food truck that hit the streets nearly four years ago, then moved into 805 E. 28th St. when the space opened up, according to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. The paper reports that the truck was bursting at the seams as demand climbed, and Minnesota winters did not exactly help with consistency. A permanent kitchen is expected to mean steadier hours and more reliable service. Menu staples include greens, macaroni and cheese, yams, dressing, fried and smothered chicken, along with steak options, as detailed by the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Why the Location Matters
The new address sits at the intersection widely known as George Floyd Square at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, the same corner that has become a site of memorials and ongoing community organizing since George Floyd's murder in May 2020. The area has functioned both as a space of remembrance and a flashpoint for debates over preservation, redevelopment and how nearby businesses recover. Reporting from NPR has highlighted how residents, activists and entrepreneurs do not always agree on what the future of the intersection should look like, and how those differing visions influence openings like Big L's.
Owner's Community Focus
Robinson told the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder he wants the restaurant to "change the narrative" around the corner and to be "here for a community base." He described the move indoors as a practical fix for the limits of the truck and the long Minnesota winter, and said that having four walls and more space gives him room to expand programming and offer the kind of consistency regulars look for.
What To Expect
Diners can expect familiar soul-food comforts like slow-cooked greens, macaroni and cheese, yams and fried or smothered chicken, alongside steak options, with an emphasis on reliable hours and a steady neighborhood presence. The initial coverage did not list a full menu or set hours, so details may roll out on site or through local listings as the restaurant settles in. For now, Big L's is being talked about as both a new spot to eat and a local business leaning into a clear sense of community purpose.
