Takk for Maten closing

David Beard Jan 04, 2013 17 Comments

From the Takk for Maten Cafe Facebook page:

It is with great disappointment that I am closing Takk for Maten Cafe. It has been 4 1/2 years since I opened the cafe in the Sons of Norway building and 3 1/2 years since we opened in the Tech Village. The exact date has yet to be determined, but I should know within a day or two.

Many friends have walked through our doors and we leave with so many wonderful memories. We will truly miss all of you. Thank you for your kindness, support and patronage. If we don’t see you again before we close, we hope our paths will cross again soon. If you have any questions or comments, please send us a message.

Klem, Sandy, Bente and all the Trolls ♥

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R.I.P., Restaurants

17 Comments

Tomasz

about 11 years ago 

Does anyone have a count of how many restaurants have come and gone through that exact spot?

[email protected]

about 11 years ago 

Yes. One, unless you count Kippis, which shared space with Takk.

Starfire

about 11 years ago 

1. Nutty Meg's. 
2. Deli Deli

Bret

about 11 years ago 

I miss Nutty Meg's.

[email protected]

about 11 years ago 

I stand corrected!

Paul Lundgren

about 11 years ago 

Starfire has the right answer, but with a typo -- the DAC Deli (or Duluth Athletic Club Deli East) was there between the Nutty Meg's era and the Takk for Maten era. 

Nutty Meg's -- Oct. 2003 to Jan. 2005
DAC Deli -- June 2005 to ?
Takk for Maten -- June 2009 to pretty soon

Takk for Maten will be missed. I love it there.

hbh1

about 11 years ago 

As usual, my low income life leaves me with one chief regret: I cannot support my favorite restaurants in the manner in which I'd like. 

This one will be missed more than most. I loved me some lefse wraps.

in.dog.neato

about 11 years ago 

If memory serves, the owner of Nutty Meg's went on to open the Dunn Bros over on London Road.

Paul Lundgren

about 11 years ago 

Sara Kavajecz and Lisa Olson owned Nutty Megs. I don't think either of them are owners of Dunn Bros, but I could be wrong.

in.dog.neato

about 11 years ago 

Could be right ... that was a while ago and the memory fails sometimes. I think there was some sort of connection between the two. But I could be wrong (and often am).

emmadogs

about 11 years ago 

hbh1, I totally agree.  We have so many terrific restaurants here, but it can get expensive.  With the implementation of the House of Emmadogs Austerity Meaures--2013, we'll be out very seldom this year.

Claire

about 11 years ago 

We moved six blocks down the hill away from Chester Creek Cafe -- which used to be half a block from our house -- and have subsequently discovered that we eat out a lot less often and are saving tons of money.

I thought one of the Nutty Meg's owners was operating a food truck for a while there?

lrgamble

about 11 years ago 

I guess I'm disappointed but not too surprised. I have only been to Takk For Maten once -- last week. I have been wanting to visit for a long time, and last week I was with my 6-year-old daughter after her doctor appointment. We go off the bus hungry and looking for a good lunch. I talked her into trying out this spot and when we got in I found out it was a seat-yourself, write-your-own-order type of place. After a few minutes I still wasn't sure if this place offered food or just coffee drinks. No one offered to help us. It was a horrible experience. So we ended up at Pizza Luce. Thankfully they were close as there can be nothing worse to deal with than a very hungry 6 year old.

[email protected]

about 11 years ago 

We ate there ("that space") several times -- most times as Kippis, and we loved it -- they were attentive and amazing and the food was beyond anything Minnesota deserves.  Guests from Minneapolis and from London both fondly ask about Kippis. 

When we went to Takk for Maten, it was a little let down, especially because we went twice, and when the cash register did not match the price on the menu, we were apologized to and charged the higher price on the register, being promised that the menus were recently changed and that our out-of-date menu should have been adjusted.  The first time, I smiled.  The second time, I regret I adjusted my tip downward the amount of the price difference and didn't go back.  Which was rough -- I loved the piano player who played there once in a while, and it was the kind of place you want to stay in business, for the culture of the town if nothing else.  But I have blood pressure to watch, you know?

Conrad

about 11 years ago 

That's very sad.  They had a very unique menu.  I stopped going after being vegan but it as one of the places I missed most.  I use to go there weekly for the first year or so at the tech building.  Nice people, nice atmosphere and nice eats.  Will be missed.

The Big E

about 11 years ago 

My wayward daughters are bereft at the looming absence of lefse from local restaurant menu options.

[email protected]

about 11 years ago 

Recent email:

Hello.
I recently read your blog post about the closing of Takk for Maten and was very sad to hear that it is closing.  I wished them well but was doubtful of any independent restaurant success in that location.

I was the co-owner of Nutty Meg's Cafe with Sara Kavajecz.  I saw some speculation in the comments about what we went on to do and we're associated with after we closed, and thought I would clear up the questions.

I was the opening store manager for Starbucks Coffee downtown after we closed Nutty Meg's.

Sara owned Habaneros food truck with her brother Paul Kaz until recently and now works with her family owned Canal Park Brewing that opened in November.

I currently work for Starbucks in Grand Forks, ND.

Neither of us has any association to the Dunn Bros in Duluth, but I did manage for Dunn Bros in St. Paul in 2000.

Hope this helps clear up some confusion.  Thanks for the post.  I like to keep up on Duluth food news.

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