News & Stories

Mill Valley Market to Open at The Trailhead Soon

The Loppet Foundation is thrilled to announce that St. Louis Park’s Mill Valley Kitchen will take over the restaurant space in The Trailhead (1221 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Mpls.). Mill Valley Kitchen is a strong staple in the Twin Cities restaurant scene also associated with Benedict’s with two locations and Mercy in downtown Minneapolis. A Feb. 5 vote by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board cleared the way for the restaurateur. The Loppet Foundation operates the building, a year-round hub for outdoor activities at Wirth that also serves as its headquarters.

Mill Valley Kitchen is owned and operated by Mike and Abby Rakun.  They expect the new restaurant, to be called Mill Valley Market, will operate 6:30 a.m.– 9 p.m. seven days a week. It will be a counter-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with grab-and-go options for hikers, bikers and skiers eager to hit the trails. Their plan for the space includes “really great coffee” and espresso drinks. Morning menu items are likely to include breakfast burritos and sandwiches and a house-made protein bar. Expect the lunch and dinner menus to include salads, grain bowls and burgers. “We cannot wait for Mill Valley to open and provide delicious food and beverages to our community” says Isaac Kasper, the Trailhead Director. “They are an experienced restaurateur with multiple concepts so they will be the perfect partner for The Trailhead.”

Mill Valley Market also is planning to serve beer and wine as well as bar snacks. 

Mike and Abby are planning to start operating in the space within a month, in time for the World Cup cross-country skiing event taking place March 14–17. “That’s the goal,” Mike Rakun said. “It’s a big week for Minneapolis and that facility, so we want to be a part of it.”

Please help us welcome Mike, Abby and the rest of their team!