No-Go for Dave’s Hot Chicken, Hope Breakfast Bar in Maple Grove

There was frustration in the Maple Grove City Council chambers this week as the council rejected plans for two new restaurants.

Developers were proposing to build a Dave’s Hot Chicken and Hope Breakfast Bar along Elm Creek Boulevard.

It would have been located between Red Lobster and Malone’s Bar and Grill, in the parking lot of the former AMC Theater. 

“Dave’s Hot Chicken is a rapidly expanding franchise which focuses on chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches,” wrote Maple Grove city staff members in a memo to the council. “The Maple Grove location would be the second location in Minnesota for the franchise after the Minnetonka location. Hope Breakfast Bar offers all day breakfast food, cocktails and wine, as well as a walk-up coffee bar. There are three other Hope Breakfast Bar locations in the metro area, St. Louis Park, St. Paul and Eagan.”

An artist’s rendering of the Dave’s Hot Chicken and Hope Breakfast Bar restaurants. The Maple Grove City Council rejected the proposal to build both restaurants.

The Maple Grove City Council voted unanimously to deny the plans citing concerns about traffic flow, pedestrian safety and parking at the site. 

Those concerns were shared by the owner of Malone’s. 

“Our parking lot is way too busy — way to full as it is — to bring in these high intensity uses,” said AJ Stevens, owner of Malone’s Bar and Grill.

The Maple Grove Planning Commission previously recommended the council reject the project. 

The developers attempted to address parking concerns by adding 24 spots to the proposal. They were not successful. 

“I like both restaurants — I wish both restaurants the best,” Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson said. “I just don’t think this is a good location with all the parking issues, all the traffic issues.”

Maple Grove