Chipotle and Qdoba coming to Duluth


Chipotle Mexican Grill | Qdoba Mexican Grill

Apparently it’s really happening.

  • Chipotle will open at Miller Hill Mall.
  • Qdoba has announced it’s coming, but not when or where.
  • Big Burrito will be locating in the BlueStone Lofts area by UMD, according to the Statesman.

Update: The UMD Statesman report seems to have been in error. Numerous other sources have reported it is Qdoba that is locating in Bluestone Commons. Both Qdoba and Chipolte are expected to open in summer 2014.

So here’s one more post where folks can comment about how having chain burrito joints come to Duluth either completely fulfills us as people and as a city, or how everyone who gets excited about it is some kind of rube. Get it all out of your system now, if you haven’t already on Facebook.

Duluth News Tribune: Chipotle, Qdoba restaurant chains plan to open locations in Duluth
Fox 21 News: Qdoba and Chipotle both coming to Duluth
Eyewitness News: “Two burrito chains coming to Duluth”
Northland’s NewsCenter: Chipotle to open at Miller Hill Mall in March of 2014

RestaurantsBurritos

Perfect Asian Restaurant: Hanabi Japanese Cuisine

Duluth was a late adopter to sushi. Although sumptuous vinegared rice rolls showed up as a special menu item at a few places around town in prior decades, it wasn’t until 2006 that Zen House opened on the city’s border, technically in Hermantown, and became the first consistent, daily sushi source. Zen House added a second location in Downtown Duluth in 2009, but Hanabi Japanese Cuisine opened at the start of 2010, immediately becoming Duluth’s sushi king. It’s also the best Asian restaurant in town, having garnered 36.6 percent of the vote in Perfect Duluth Day’s poll.
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Polls, RestaurantsHanabi Japanese Cuisine, PDD Awards
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua
Vision Pro: Clear Vision

Duluth Woodworking Club

There is a small woodworking club here in town that started last fall. It had a good amount of interest and we had a handful of meetings and demos over the winter. There was a hiatus over the summer and now it’s time to get things going again.
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Recommendations

The Never-ending Duluth ISP Problem

Charter is getting nastier. I’m getting frustrated. In the vain hope that something has changed in the world of ISPs in Duluth, I did a web search from a link in a previous PDD post from a few years ago.

Surprise Surprise. Something has changed.

Does anybody have any experience dealing with Air Fiber? From their website they don’t seem to be as big of jerks as the other guys. And that they might actually give me what they say they will.

Thoughts?

RandomInternet Service Providers, Queries
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Sunday Fun Play
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

The Louie Show

Minnesota-born comedian Louie Anderson starred in a CBS sitcom in 1996 that was set in Duluth. It didn’t last long. Six episodes were produced; five were aired. None of the episodes were shot in Duluth, but the opening theme featured Louie in a sweatshirt with “Duluth” across the chest and some transition footage was shot in Duluth. The show is not available on DVD or streaming on Netflix, but thanks to old VHS copies floating around town we’ve been able to pull together excerpts from four episodes (see below).

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History, VideosLouie Anderson, References to Duluth in Film/TV or Other Media

Perfect Vegetarian Menu: Duluth Grill

Duluth doesn’t have an exclusively vegetarian restaurant, but there are a number of places that go out of their way to cater to the non-carniverous. Among them, At Sara’s Table / Chester Creek Café and Duluth Grill stood out in Perfect Duluth Day’s polling, and in the head-to-head matchup Duluth Grill came out on top with 64.2 percent of the vote. It is Duluth’s best restaurant among vegetarians. (more…)

Polls, RestaurantsDuluth Grill Family of Restaurants, PDD Awards
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Weis Eye Center

Recommendations for Duluth moving companies?

I’ll be leaving Duluth later this month, moving to Minneapolis, and next week will begin to get quotes from local companies. My plan is to have the movers pack and move everything from my small apartment. Can anyone recommend any particular company for me to look into?

Recommendations

Duluth-Superior Harbor Circa 1975

Duluth-Superior-Harbor-Circa-1975

This postcard image was published by Gallagher’s Studio of Photography. My great aunt Jennie mailed it to me in 1975, noting she had a “wonderful ride on a boat called the Vista Queen.” She specified that “there were 147 people on the boat” and “the trip took two hours.”

I was 3 years old at the time, and my family was living in Albuquerque, N.M., with plans to move back to Duluth. Jennie ended her message with, “Little Paul, can you count all the boats in the picture on this card?”

Well, I’m 40 years old now and I got the answer wrong. I counted 12 boats. How many do you see, little readers?

The printed info on the postcard reads: “Duluth-Superior Harbor: Foreign vessels are shown at the Arthur M. Clure Public Marine Terminal. The Duluth-Superior Harbor is the westerly terminus of the St. Lawrence Seaway.”

And that concludes today’s Show and Tell.

History, PhotosGallagher's Studio of Photography, Postcards
Weis Eye Center
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Duluth 2013 General Election Results

39 of 39 precincts reporting

Duluth At-large City Councilor
Top two candidates are elected
Zack Filipovich – 9,658 | 33%
Barb Russ – 9,364 | 32%
Ryan Stauber – 7,884 | 27%
Ray (Skip) Sandman – 2,490 | 8%
Write in – 115 | 0%

Duluth Second District City Councilor
Patrick Boyle – 2,195 | 97%
Write in – 61 | 3%

Duluth Fourth District City Councilor
Howie Hanson – 1,853 | 61%
Garry Krause – 1,153 | 38%
Write in – 44 | 1%
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News and Current Affairs, PoliticsElection Information

Perfect Mexican Restaurant: Mexico Lindo

PDDPerfectMexicanRestaurantAwardLogoDuluthians complain about their Mexican restaurants almost as much as they complain about the weather. The cuisinal affective disorder is prevalent enough that Perfect Duluth Day was compelled to include a “none are worthy” option in its poll to determine the best Mexican restaurant. When the voting was complete, however, one enterprise was worthy: Mexico Lindo. (more…)

Polls, RestaurantsMexico Lindo, PDD Awards
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

Voter’s Cheese

For years, I’ve noticed this sign when I go to vote at Pilgrim Congregational Church.

I assumed Voter’s Cheese was some sort of event, like an ice cream social, only with cheese, so I always just turned left and went to vote. Today I turned right and found a small room with tables displaying nuts, rosette cookies, felted hats, houseplants, frozen meatloaves, and several kinds of cheese.

The story I got from the nice church lady who was presiding was that the church holds its annual bazaar the weekend before Election Day and then sells whatever’s left over to voters. She said they sell more cheese on Election Day than they do at the bazaar.

News and Current Affairs, PhotosWeird

Superior Skydivers Crash footage

Hey, I can see my house from here.

(more…)

Media
Weis Eye Center
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

Duluth 2013 General Election Sample Ballot

Click to see it larger. Keep in mind some races will not appear on your ballot, depending on which part of town you reside in.


News and Current Affairs, PoliticsElection Information

Perfect Italian Restaurant: Va Bene Caffé

Mary Kay and Jim Berarducci run a tiny Italian restaurant overlooking a massive lake. The combination of cozy atmosphere, magnificent view and delicious cuisine is no accident; “va bene” is Italian for “it goes well.” Readers of Perfect Duluth Day agree it does, indeed, go well. In a poll they chose Va Bene Caffé as Duluth’s best Italian restaurant.

Mary Kay Berarducci - Va Bene

The menu includes antipasta appetizers, pizza, panini, gnocchi, pasta, fish, steak, soups and salads. Many items, such as the sauces, dressings and breads, are made from scratch with imported Italian products.
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Polls, RestaurantsPDD Awards, Va Bene Caffé
Pizza Luce: Dililio
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

This week: ballots, bullets and (nearly) naked runners

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Tuesday is Election Day with four City Council seats and four Duluth School Board seats up for grabs as well as two School District Questions. Find out where your poll is and, if you aren’t registered already, you can register at the poll.

Winter is coming! Get ready for cross country skiing with dryland training at Chester Bowl this Wednesday.

Lots of theater going on this week with Frozen opening at The Underground and Last Summer at Bluefish Cove opening at UMD this Thursday. Continuing their runs, An Ideal Husband is at CSS and Renegade‘s Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is at the Teatro Zuccone.

Feeling a need to run around without hardly any clothes on in a socially sanctioned event? Donate your clothes to Goodwill and then run around in your skivvies in the Nearly Naked Mile at UWS on Friday.

Starting next Saturday you can start asking people in blaze orange, “Got your deer yet?”

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

Events

Stone-Arch Bridge and Haines Road open

stewart-creek-bridge

The Stewart Creek Stone-Arch Bridge at Magney-Snively Natural Area (State Bridge Number L6007; built circa 1925) has been repaired from damage sustained during the Hideous Solstice Flood Calamity of 2012. The bridge had sustained significant flood damage and deterioration to the abutment walls, stone-arch underside, headwalls, wing walls, railing and guard stones. (We’re not sure when that sign was damaged or when it will be pulled upright.) (more…)

OutdoorsHaines Road, Hiking, Historic Summer Solstice Flood Disaster, Skyline Parkway, Snively Monument, Stewart Creek Stone-Arch Bridge, Superior Hiking Trail
Weis Eye Center
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Pascal Dupuis pulls out two teeth

Former Minnesota Wild forward Pascal Dupuis, now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, catches a high stick from his teammate Kris Letang, then pulls out two teeth on the bench without missing a shift.

Sports, Videos

Where to buy We Accept the Challenge?

Does anybody know where I can buy a copy of “We Accept the Challenge” either new or used?

Queries
Vision Pro: Clear Vision

Duck’s feet and bird’s nest soup in Duluth

Duluth News Tribune — Oct. 16, 1916:

History

Walking Down a Steep Hill in Slippery Boots

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0712sq0DwQ

Videos
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Stolen Chair From Chester Bowl’s Chairlift

Lost and Found

Three new Solomon Witherspoon videos

Former Duluthian Solomon Witherspoon has released three videos in the past three months. He has a show coming up at Clyde Iron Works on Nov. 8 in support of his new album Starlight.
(more…)

Music, VideosSolomon Witherspoon
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

Restaurants not honoring advertised prices

Twice in the past week I have gone to local Duluth restaurants due to specials I have seen posted on their websites or on Twin Ports Nightlife only to be told once I got to the restaurant that they were no longer honoring that price. When I explained that I specifically made the trip to that restaurant to get the advertised special, servers at both places have acted annoyed and refused to honor the price. No apologies, no offering to give me the discount since it is their mistake, nothing.
(more…)

RestaurantsBitching, happy hour

For Your Halloween Listening Pleasure

Listen to Wolf Blood

Wolf Blood rocked the CDs off the shelf on KUMD’s “The Local” last night. Listen to their performance/interview with DJ E on the Local podcast.

MusicHalloween, Wolf Blood
Pizza Luce: Dililio
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Band Practice Space in Duluth?

My new band is not able to practice anymore in the basement we were using. We are starting to look elsewhere for a place to practice. We already know about the Clubhouse. We are waiting to find out if there will be an opening. Does anyone know anywhere else we can ask? We are loud so we obviously need a place that doesn’t care about that or is soundproofed.

Music, RecommendationsQueries