A small music venue with a full-service restaurant and bar is in progress along the North Loop's restaurant row.
Expected to open in early 2024, Berlin will occupy the first floor and basement level of a historic building, located at 204 N. First St., right next to Porzana and across from Spoon and Stable.
The building is owned by Rich Henriksen, who's also behind Berlin. He wasn't present for a Minneapolis City Council committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon, during which Berlin was discussed, but he did send a hospitality consultant as a representative.
Built in 1888, the three-story building at 204 N. First St. originally housed the Hennepin Hotel. It's one of five low-cost boarding houses dating back to the late 1800s still standing on First Street North, according to the North Loop Neighborhood Association.
The building most recently served as an Askov Finlayson store.
Henriksen's representative, Maggie Strom, said Berlin will offer "intimate, cabaret-style seating," with approximately 80 seats total. A business plan filed with the city indicates Berlin will focus on live jazz music.
Berlin's website reads: “Inspired by the experimental music culture of Berlin, we are an intimate bar and lounge bringing the energy of live music to North First Street. Centered around a high quality sound experience, expect to see vinyl nights, local acts, and national talent on the calendar, launching early 2024.”
Strom said Berlin will support local and regional musicians by "providing them a healthy pay structure, as well as a platform for them to share their work with our community." The business plan says Berlin will offer monthly residencies, as well as donate to and support music-related initiatives.
The Business, Inspections, Housing & Zoning Committee moved the Berlin item forward to City Council without recommendation on Tuesday. It will likely appear on the agenda for Dec. 7, the final City Council meeting of the year.
Berlin's proposed hours of operation are Wednesday through Monday from 4 p.m. until 1 a.m.
