Smack Shack Founders Buy The 1029 Bar in Northeast Minneapolis
What happened at The 1029 Bar in Northeast Minneapolis?
The founders of Smack Shack, Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald, purchased The 1029 Bar at 1029 Marshall St. NE in Minneapolis from longtime owners Troy Olson and Scott Fossland in April 2026.
Northeast Minneapolis has a way of producing the kind of full circle moments that make you stop and pay attention. The acquisition of The 1029 Bar by Smack Shack founders Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald is one of those moments.
Thoma and Fitzgerald purchased the dive bar at 1029 Marshall St. NE from Troy Olson and Scott Fossland, who had owned the Marshall Street institution for 24 years. Operating partner Nick Sparrow will run the bar going forward. Terms were not disclosed. Hennepin County assesses the building at $801,000, though it remains unclear whether the real estate was part of the transaction.
Where the Smack Shack Story Really Began
Smack Shack launched as a food truck and found its first winter home at The 1029 in December 2010. Thoma and Fitzgerald were looking for somewhere to operate through the cold months, and Olson and Fossland gave them the space. Two years later, Smack Shack had been featured on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," and the brand's trajectory changed permanently.
The first standalone Smack Shack restaurant opened in Minneapolis's North Loop in February 2013. The brand has since expanded to Bloomington and Rosedale Center's Potluck food hall. Burger Dive, another concept from Thoma and Fitzgerald, operates at Rosedale Center and in St. Paul's West Seventh neighborhood.
In his announcement, Thoma called The 1029 the place where it all started and said returning to continue its legacy is a genuine honor.
What Stays the Same at The 1029
For regulars, the acquisition does not signal a pivot. Thoma has said the essence of the bar will remain intact. Weekly bingo, karaoke, and meat raffles are continuing. The lobster roll and lobster mac and cheese, which have been on the menu since 2010, are not leaving. Burger Dive items, added in early 2023, will stay as well.
What This Means for the Northeast Minneapolis Neighborhood
Northeast Minneapolis has consistently attracted operators who are genuinely invested in the neighborhood rather than chasing a trend. Stories like this one matter because they reflect a kind of stewardship that residents and longtime regulars actually value.
For anyone thinking about Northeast Minneapolis as a place to live, invest, or put down roots, the fact that established local operators are choosing to double down here rather than expand elsewhere is worth noting. Neighborhood confidence tends to build on itself, and Northeast has demonstrated that pattern steadily over the past decade.
Thinking about buying or selling in the Twin Cities? Let's talk. Text Darin Bjerknes at 612-702-5126 or DM on Instagram @darintheminnesotan.
