Restaurant News: In St. Paul, parking problems pester Cupcake owner
The owner of Cupcake in Minneapolis is frustrated. Kevin Vanderaa signed a lease in July to open another branch in the former Wonderment Toy Store on St. Paul's Grand Avenue between Lexington Parkway and Dale Street. Unlike the Minneapolis location, this one would have a wine bar along with a bakery and cafe.
The plan was to be open by Nov. 1, but now Vanderaa is twiddling his thumbs until a business license comes through. The hitch? Not enough parking. The city either has to approve a shared parking arrangement or allow a parking variance for seven spaces.
According to St. Paul zoning manager Wendy Lane, the parking variance for seven spaces is needed only because Vanderaa wants to serve beer and wine. Vanderaa had an agreement to share a lot at Victoria Street and Grand Avenue, but the landlord, Exeter Realty, hasn't provided all the information the city requested.
"We don't know if there are really extra spaces or not," says Lane. "A lot of businesses use that ramp."