End of an Era: Donato’s Floral and Catering Closes Crystal Location
Donato’s is a family institution in the Robbinsdale and Crystal area. But after more than 30 years on the Robbinsdale-Crystal border, the family decided to move its two well-known businesses, Donato’s Floral and Pickle’s Cafe and Catering.
“You know it’s been very emotional. We’ve been in this area for 32 years with Donato’s Floral and Pickles for 12,” said owner Anna Donato-Ghani.
A hot, sunny Monday evening saw the final edition of its outdoor pop-up restaurant Little Italy at the corner of Noble and 36th, known for its woodfired pizza
“It’s a community that is pretty tight knit. Robbinsdale, Crystal, Golden Valley people walk up here even during COVID. What is interesting is we were doing this eight years ago or seven years ago I believe. And we had already started to have the tents outside and the open seating. So when COVID hit social distancing wasn’t an issue. And eating outside was something we’d already done,” said Donato-Ghani.
The building Pickles had been operating out of was sold with the catering business having moved to north Minneapolis. The Donato family, meanwhile, merged their floral business with its Maple Grove location.
“They’ve been here for 30 something years. It’s going to put a hole in the community here. We’re really going to miss them,” said longtime customer Francine Wilson.
“Being able to hang out talk to people. It’s a real sense of community around here. So having it not on this corner is going to be little sad,” said David Leonhardt.
“Thirty-two years is a long time to be in a community and I just love the people and the relationships we’ve built,” said Donato-Ghani.
