A Familiar Northeast Minneapolis Building Gets a New Chapter
One of Northeast Minneapolis’s most recognizable restaurant buildings is officially moving into its next era.
The former Market Bar-B-Que site on Lowry Avenue NE has sold for $1.1 million, and it won’t be sitting vacant for long.
Two brothers, Soi Ho and Sam Ha, plan to open a new Chinese-Japanese restaurant called Umami in the space, with an estimated opening in about three months if construction stays on schedule.
For a corridor that values its history but continues to evolve, this is exactly the kind of transition many neighbors like to see.
Who’s Behind Umami
The new owners bring real experience.
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More than 30 years in the restaurant business
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Background operating restaurants across the Mountain West
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Current operators of Rollicious
This is not a first-time concept or a pop-up experiment. It is a full sit-down restaurant planned for a building that already supports that style of dining.
What the Restaurant Will Offer
Umami is being positioned as a true dine-in destination, not a quick takeout counter.
Key details:
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About 6,000 square feet
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Seating for roughly 150 guests
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Full-service dining
Menu focus includes:
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Sushi
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Mongolian beef
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Sweet and sour chicken
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Salt and pepper calamari
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All sauces made in-house
The goal is familiar, approachable food executed well, with enough variety to bring people back.
The Building Stays. The Vibe Evolves.
Market Bar-B-Que operated here for decades and became part of the neighborhood’s identity.
The bold pink BBQ look will likely disappear.
But the bones of the building remain.
That matters.
Northeast Minneapolis has a long tradition of reusing legacy restaurant spaces rather than wiping them out and starting from scratch. It keeps continuity on the street and preserves the rhythm of the neighborhood.
Why This Matters for Northeast
This is bigger than one restaurant opening.
It shows:
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Continued confidence in Lowry Avenue NE
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Ongoing demand for sit-down dining in Northeast
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Investors still choosing older buildings instead of abandoning them
Northeast rarely stands still. It adapts.
And food concepts keep choosing this part of Minneapolis for a reason.
Your Take
Would you give Umami a shot in this space?
Or will this corner always feel like Market Bar-B-Que to you?
Drop your thoughts below.
