A James Beard Award-nominated pastry chef is stepping out on her own in South Minneapolis, taking over the shuttered Sun Street Breads space near Nicollet Avenue and 46th Street to open Evergreen Cafe, her first solo restaurant. Shawn McKenzie expects to have the counter-service cafe with dine-in tables open before the end of 2026, bringing Pacific Northwest-inspired food and fresh-baked pastries to a corner of Kingfield that just lost a 15-year neighborhood fixture.
McKenzie's path to her own restaurant runs through some of the most recognizable names in Twin Cities dining. As reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune, she worked with Isaac Becker, worked at Penny's Coffee, and later partnered with DDP Restaurant Group on Café Cerés. In 2023, that body of work earned her a spot as a national finalist for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker, making her Minnesota's only finalist across all categories that year, according to Axios.
Café Cerés, the elevated coffee and pastry concept McKenzie co-founded with chef Daniel del Prado in 2020, operated four locations before shutting them all down in April 2025 amid steep operating costs, rising wages, and unviable economics, as detailed by Twin Cities Business. McKenzie has expressed interest in opening a place entirely her own.
A Space Steeped in Kingfield History
The building on Nicollet Avenue carries its own weight in the neighborhood. Sun Street Breads ran there for 15 years before officially closing its doors on March 22, 2026, after its co-owners chose not to renew their five-year lease amid rising costs, per Hoodline's earlier report on the bakery's closure. The Sun Street Breads storefront dates to 2011, and Tofte and Ouimet planned a Moon Cow Barbeque food trailer in Grand Marais, according to Boreal Community Media.
McKenzie has said she plans to honor Tofte and Sun Street Breads as she reshapes the space, a gesture that acknowledges the bakery's long standing in the neighborhood. Per the Minnesota Star Tribune, McKenzie said the opportunity to open her own place simply felt right, and that she wants to choose what Evergreen Cafe is and what it means to her.
Oysters, Doughnuts, and a Nod to Oregon Roots
The menu will lean heavily on McKenzie's Pacific Northwest childhood. She's planning sweet and savory dishes inspired by growing up eating oysters, salmon, crab, vegetables, and local fruits, the Star Tribune reports, with McKenzie crediting her father, also a chef, for teaching her to cook. She's recalled sharing simple meals with him that included oysters and pan-fried food.
Beyond the sit-down menu, Evergreen Cafe will offer pastries, breads, and freshly baked treats, including fresh doughnuts and McKenzie's own take on biscuits and gravy.
Juggling Rustica and a New Solo Venture
McKenzie isn't stepping away from her other kitchen work to launch Evergreen Cafe. McKenzie oversees the kitchen at Rustica Bakery & Cafe, whose owner is Greg Hoyt, according to Twin Cities Business.
The closures of Sun Street Breads and Café Cerés came amid financial pressures cited by the businesses. McKenzie is opening her first solo concept and betting that the neighborhood has room for one more.
