Dark Horse Bar & Eatery to Close in Lowertown | Eater Twin Cities

"Owners announced the bar’s final day of operation would be Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14, and they shared the news on Thursday, January 30 on social media. “This business is not for the weak-hearted and we gave it our absolute best, like (owner) Paddy (Whelen) would say— ‘a good ole college try,’” the post reads. Opened in spring 2015 during a development boom in Lowertown, the venture was launched by Sarah Schrantz and Paddy Whelan, who also ran the Minneapolis institution Muddy Waters (a coffee shop turned gastropub that closed in 2020). From the start it promised an ambitious, globally inspired menu served at affordable prices, and the space featured a rustic industrial vibe, late-night happy hours, a massive draft beer selection, a whiskey wall, and a popular sprawling patio. In recent years Lowertown’s restaurant tenants have struggled as the pandemic forced an exodus of the area’s restaurant workers who left the industry for remote employment; nearby longtime tequila bar Barrio closed its doors for good in September 2024 after 15 years of business, and other closures in the area over the past few years include Big Biscuit and Noyes & Cutler." - Serena Maria Daniels