When Pete Rifakes, co-owner of the growing Town Hall family of bars, discovered his next venue, a 1950's service station in Edina, he decided he wanted to honor as much of the original charm as possible.
Thus Town Hall Station was born.
The bar and restaurant housed in the former Wally's Service Station at 4500 Valley View Road debuted last week with a mechanical-inspired space, a menu full of "road food," and, of course, plenty of Town Hall's house brews.
"People living in the neighborhood, we've found they feel some nostalgia about the building," Rifakes said. "They told us they were glad we didn't tear it down because they owed a lot of memories to that place."
Rifakes – who also owns Town Hall Brewery in Seven Corners, Town Hall Tap on south Chicago Av. and Town Hall Lanes to the east of Lake Nokomis – is taking those memories into a new era.
In the renovated space that fits 140 people inside and out, gas station themes take the lead, with a vinyl "filling station" graphic featured along one wall. Lighting is reused from industrial warehouses in northeast Minneapolis. Tables are made from steel. And the booths are patterned after motorcycle seats – black leather with silver studs. Eventually, Town Hall Station will be adding some framed photos of the original Wally's, which closed in 2014, as well.
On the menu, patrons will find fare influenced by the travels of Rifakes and head brewer Mike Hoops when they've explored the country for conventions, beer festivals and to see new breweries.
"We love good food and when we travel, we look off the beaten path for places that are making good, scratch food," Rifakes said. "To us, that's what road food is. It's going to be affordable, local and high quality."
