A National Winery and Restaurant Chain Is Coming to Minnesota
A national winery and restaurant chain with a loyal following across the Midwest is officially eyeing the Twin Cities for its first Minnesota locations.
Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants is planning one restaurant near Ridgedale in Minnetonka and a second somewhere in Woodbury, according to a report from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
What Is Cooper's Hawk?
Cooper's Hawk is a Downers Grove, Illinois based chain that combines an upscale casual restaurant, a full service bar, a private dining room, and a Napa style tasting room with a retail gift shop, all under one roof.
Each location runs about 11,000 square feet.
The company currently operates 76 locations across 14 states, and its wine club boasts more than 850,000 members nationwide.
They produce over 60 wines sourced from regions including Italy, France, California, Chile, New Zealand, and Australia.
Every item on the menu is paired with a specific wine, from flatbreads and house made meatballs to steaks, seafood, and risottos.
Where Are the Twin Cities Locations Going?
The Minnetonka location is targeted near Ridgedale, though a specific site has not been finalized.
The Minnetonka City Council reviewed the concept at its June 8 meeting, and Cooper's Hawk still needs to return for formal approvals.
A Woodbury location was also mentioned during that council discussion, but no further details are available yet.
Until now, the nearest Cooper's Hawk has been in West Des Moines, Iowa, nearly four hours from the Twin Cities.
What This Means for the Twin Cities and East Metro
Cooper's Hawk choosing Woodbury alongside Minnetonka signals strong commercial confidence in the east metro.
National brands typically select markets with growing populations, rising household incomes, and strong retail traffic, all traits that describe Woodbury and the surrounding Washington County corridor.
For residents, it means another high quality dining and entertainment option without leaving the suburbs.
For homeowners, national retail and restaurant investment in a community is often a leading indicator of sustained property value growth and neighborhood desirability.
The Bottom Line
Timelines for both locations remain uncertain, but the fact that Minnesota has two Cooper's Hawk restaurants in the pipeline is worth watching.
Whether you're a wine enthusiast or just looking for a quality night out, this is a welcome addition to the Twin Cities dining scene.
Thinking about buying or selling in the Twin Cities? Let's talk. Text Darin Bjerknes at 612-702-5126 or DM on Instagram @darintheminnesotan.
