North Minneapolis' West Broadway bar scene is about to get a little louder, a little later, and a lot more brunchy.
River City Tavern is slated to open at 200 W Broadway Ave, on the high-traffic corner near Interstate 94 that most recently housed the Broadway Pub & Grille and, before that, the 200 Club. The new spot is set to bring brunch, live music, and late-night hours to a stretch of West Broadway that has quickly become a small-but-growing nightlife cluster.
According to the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, River City Tavern will operate as a full-service restaurant at the 200 W Broadway address. The outlet places the tavern among at least four other popular bars within walking distance along the corridor, underscoring how the area is turning into a go-to strip for an evening out.
In a City of Minneapolis licensing inspector report, the applicant is listed as PNM Group LLC, which has applied for an On Sale Liquor license and limited entertainment with Sunday sales. The report names partners Michael Bernard Oker II, Neil L. Rodrigue, and Paul W. Miller, with Mike Oker identified as manager.
The same document spells out the planned vibe: "brunch service with live music, open mic nights, and karaoke." The premises will be remodeled and configured to seat 128 patrons, setting the stage for a fairly lively room on busy weekends.
Location and building
Public property records on LoopNet list the parcel at 200 W Broadway Ave at roughly 0.28 acres, with commercial space of about 5,872 square feet. The listing gives the APN as 15-029-24-24-0088 and situates the property in the Town of North Minneapolis.
Sitting right on West Broadway, the building is positioned to draw walk-up traffic from surrounding blocks along with drivers hopping off I-94. For a place that plans to lean into brunch, late nights and music, the corner checks a lot of boxes.
Neighborhood momentum
The Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal notes that River City Tavern will join at least four established bars within walking distance on West Broadway near Interstate 94, a stretch that has been steadily drawing more evening foot traffic.
Programming at the block is already underway. Meet Minneapolis lists events at 200 W Broadway, including the River North Music Festival, signaling that the address has been pulling double duty as an entertainment hub even before the new tavern comes to life.
On the regulatory side, the city inspector's report states that Police Licensing reviewed the applicants' finances and completed background checks, ultimately recommending approval. With those signoffs, River City Tavern now only needs to clear the remaining licensing steps before operating at full capacity.
For now, neighbors and nightlife regulars will have to keep an eye out for city notices and a formal opening announcement as the paperwork winds its way through Minneapolis' licensing process.
