The Depot in Hopkins reopens, bringing back youth hangout and event space

The Depot in Hopkins reopened this week, bringing a trailside snack shop, youth hangout space and events venue back to Excelsior Boulevard.

“It was emotional,” said Roxie Wolfe, rental and events manager for the Hopkins Center for the Arts, which is managing the building. “There was a lot of reminiscing and then happiness about the fact it reopened.”

The building operated for about 25 years as a coffeehouse, host for open mic nights and youth gathering space before officials last year shut it down amid financial challenges. It got a sprucing up before reopening, including fresh coats of paint.

Nick Bishop, Hopkins’ finance director, said the first phase of the remodeling project cost about $50,000, money the city covered using American Rescue Plan grants and the city’s capital improvement fund. He said Hopkins continues to work with other partners — including the city of Minnetonka, Hopkins school district and Three Rivers Park District — to contribute to the shop’s operations.

“I’m glad that people gave us the patience and trusted that we could bring this back and also keep the youth focus,” Bishop said. “It’s the most important part and it’s the whole reason we do it.”

The brick building, an old railroad stop, sits near Hwy. 169 along the intersection of multiple bike paths including the Cedar Lake and Minnesota River Bluffs LRT regional trails.

The shop menu is a little different. Instead of leaning into lattes, they’re now focused on drip coffee, tea and hot chocolate. They also offer healthier snacks, such as trail mixes. They don’t take cash, only cards. Restrooms are open to the public, and the whole building is dog friendly.

The shop will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. The space will once again serve as a meeting place for the city’s youth advisory board and can also be rented during additional hours for birthday parties, meetings, lectures and other events.

“I think it has great potential,” Wolfe said.