Graeser Park had a well-known roadside rest area that was popular from the forties until the seventies. It had a great view, so it was a place where people liked to congregate. The charm of the park lessened throughout the years as it became dilapidated and forgotten. In 2008, the Robbinsdale Lions decided to renovate the park and dedicated themselves to sprucing it up. In 2020, the Minnesota Department of Transportation started a historic preservation project for the park. They rebuilt the ten original stone tables, and they made the 'beehive' fireplace look great again by replacing all the broken and missing stones.
Hollingsworth Park is named after Thomas Hollingsworth, the only firefighter to die in the line of duty in the history of Robbinsdale. It runs along the northern shore of Crystal Lake and is 4.4 acres of lush greenery. There is a fishing doc from upon which you can stand, gaze at the vista, and fish. There are also trails and paths that you can walk upon. There is a memorial to Thomas Hollingsworth in the park that includes a plaque and plantings.
Lakeview Terrace Park is the second largest park in Robbinsdale at 30 acres. There is plenty of space for a variety of activities, including fields for playing sports, a playground for the kids, picnic areas for when you want to eat, and more. There are trails for hiking, boat access, and plenty of open space to enjoy. LTP is a neighborhood favorite and with good reason.
Sanborn Park is 8.8 acres and a neighborhood favorite. It sits on Crystal Lake and affords you a gorgeous view. There is a fishing dock upon which you can walk and, well, fish. There is a softball/baseball diamond if that is more your jam, There is also an ice rink, a half-basketball court, and a tennis court. There is also a playground for the younger set, a picnic area for when you want to eat, and trails for walking.
Sochacki Park is the largest park in Robbinsdale at 37.4 acres, and it's part of the Three Rivers Park District. It also has a 1-acre off-leash area for dogs, so you can bring your canine companion with you when you visit the park. It's filled with greenery and open spaces for you and your dog to romp in. There are picnic shelters for when you want to take a break and maybe grab a bite to eat. There are trails for you to walk, too.
Athens Cafe is an authentic Greek restaurant that is popular with the neighborhood. It has unassuming decor, but the staff members are very friendly and welcoming. The food is fresh and plentiful, and you'll want to try a different dish every time you go. The menu includes Foule, Souvlaki, Kofta Kebab, Spinach Pie, and more.
Broadway Pizza is well-known in the Twin Cities, and the original restaurant was opened in 1961 in North Minneapolis by Eddie Peck with the aid of his wife, Dorothy, and his mother, Mamie. Eddie made the sausage from scratch, and his mother made the sauce and kneaded the dough. From those humble beginnings, they quicky expanded and now have several restaurants across the state, including in Robbinsdale. This one is located in the Robin Center. The decor is unassuming and the atmosphere is low-key. The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, and hot hoagies. The focus is pizza, of course, such as Eddie's Extra, Eddie's Inferno, BBQ Special, and more.
Mai Thai Restaurant is a Thai restaurant (naturally) that is a favorite in the neighborhood. The decor and atmosphere are low-key, and the staff are friendly. The menu has all your favorites as well as some things you may not have heard of. The menu includes Coconut Milk Soup with Chicken (or Tofu), Pork Fried Spring Roll Vermicelli Salad, Cranberry Curry, and much more. They have Gluten-Free dishes and vegetarian dishes, too.
Nonna Rosa's Ristorante Italiano was founded in 2010 by Chef Francesco and Tina Sugalia. The name is in honor of growing up in their grandmothers' homes, and the food is very chef-driven. The dishes are authentic Italian and made with the freshest ingredients. The decor is traditional, yet timeless. It's an intimate and warm space, and the staff members are friendly. The menu includes Funghi Ripieni, Chicken Caprese (pizza or flatbread), Tortellini Pugliesi, Nonna's Picatta, and more. They also have a full bar, including beers, wines, cocktails, and martinis.
The Birdhouse is a restaurant that serves classic American food. It was opened in August of 2020 by the owners of The Bulldog, which is a neighborhood favorite. The decor is modern and woody, with bright colors to give the appearance of being outdoors. The staff members are friendly and welcoming, and they want everyone to enjoy the food and atmosphere. The menu includes Midwest Sushi, Chicken & Waffles, Nashville Hot Chicken (sandwich), B House Burger, and more. The drinks include La Ultima Palabra, Whiz Bang Punch, No Proof Holy Grail (mocktail), wine, beer, and more.
Travail Kitchen and Amusements was started in 2012 by Bob Gerken, Mike Brown, and James Winberg, who are James Beard semi-finalists. It was a hidden gem until 2018 when they had outgrown their location and had to move (and grow). The food is heavily French-influenced and they use local ingredients to make their dishes. They have different crafted experiences in a modern environment, and the staff members are professional and warm. They have no set menus, but some examples of past dishes are: Nitro Passion Fruit Fluff, Corn Agnolotti, Tostada de Civiche, Compressed Cantaloupe, and more. They have beverage flights, too.
Finds on Broadway is an antique store that has new stock on the daily. They have an eclectic mix of items, ranging from vintage clothing to costume jewelry to furniture, pop culture (books, games, records, comic books, etc.), garden accessories, and more. They also have new items, both international and from Minnesota.
Fly Vintage & Vinyl is a shop that sells an eclectic collection of vintage items with the showcase being the their vinyls (records). They have new records as well as used ones, and they focus on Indie, Punk, New Wave, Alternative, Classic Rock, and local Minneapolis artists. They have roughly 5,000 records in store, but have access to much more than that. They also sell vintage decor and furniture, not to mention holiday collectibles.
Robin Center is a shopping center that was built in 1955. Before that, there was a swamp that was considered unable to be built upon. This was proven wrong, and the Robin Center was constructed on that spot. When it opened, it had 18 stores. It was renovated in 2007, and it now has several stores including Rainbow Apparel, CVS Pharmacy, Broadway Pizza, and more.
Wickedly Charming Boutique is family-owned and started as a traveling boutique and over time has expanded to have a brick-and-mortar store as well as an online store. They carry handmade items as well as handpicked items they get from fairs around the country. They rarely sell the same item twice as they pride themselves on their rotating stock. They have an instore coffee shop, too, if you need a quick pick-me-up. Their inventory includes t-shirts, tank tops, skirts, pants, dresses, and much more.
Eagles Nest Lounge is a bar connected with Broadway Pizza. There are pool tables if you fancy shooting a game of pool. There are also TVs so you can root for your favorite sports team. There is also karaoke and pull tabs, not to mention a full slate of beers for you to enjoy.
Marna's Eatery and Lounge was opened by Rolando Diaz, who is also the chef. He was born in New York City, and grew up in Costa Rica. He cooks traditional family dishes with an American flair, and the results are pleasing to a wide variety of customers. The decor is modern and airy, and the atmosphere is welcoming. The staff members are friendly, too. The menu includes Seared Scallops, Yuca Frita, Marna's Burger, Casado, Bistec Encebollado, and more. The drinks include Costa Rican Pina Colada (inside a pineapple) and other cocktails, wine, and beer.
Travail's Basement Bar is in the basement of Travail Kitchen and Amusement. They have a rotating schedule of accomplished chefs, so each experience is different. One example is Kua with Chef Gustavo Romero. Kua is Aztec for devour, which is an apt name for the experience. There is a changing tasting menu that is Mexican in nature, and is replete with small bites such as Taco Al Pastor, Pollo Con Mole, Mission Hot Dog, and more. There are beverage flights as well, perfectly paired with the food. You have to buy tickets for the experience, which you can do on the website.
Robbinsdale has instituted a community garden and accepts applications for plots through early March. There is a $25 fee with the application and you cannot be guaranteed the same spot every year. Anyone can apply and preference will be given to Robbinsdale residents. The plots can be used to grow anything and preference will be granted to food-growing. The last preference will be to those who do not have other access to land. There are scholarships for people who cannot afford the fee. There are 20 plots available in Sanborn Park.
Gallery 5004 is in historic Robbinsdale and showcases Minnesotan artists from the days of yore as well as current ones, established and emergent. It was founded by Anne and Tim Bechtold, and Amy and Steve Isaacson, all of whom are passionate about art. The gallery is used by Anne and Steve as a studio sometimes as they are both artists. The gallery is filled with art of all different materials, including pottery, rock, metal, wood, and more. There are paintings, sculptures, drawings, and many artistic creations that defy description. They have events all around the year that are guaranteed to delight people.
KMC Dance Studio has the mission to teach dance to their students in an engaging way. They have three studios, one of which is in Robbinsdale. They have been teaching dance for over fifty years, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and more. They have classes for kids and parents, in addition to classes for the children alone. They encourage kids with all skill levels to apply.
Lindsey Bankester Music Studio is operated by Lindsey out of her home. She is passionate about the piano and wants to share her knowledge and passion with others. She believes it positivity and making it fun to learn the piano. She had her first apprenticeship when she was ten, and she has been teaching others the piano throughout her lifetime. In the lessons, she includes music theory and music history along with teaching the piano.
Minnesota Makers opened in 2015 as a way to showcase Minnesota artists. There was a sister store in Excelsior opened 4 years later. The stores feature over 150 Minnesota artists. It is owned by Christa Tess Kalk, and she has a small team of dedicated people working for her to provide the best customer service possible. They offer crafting classes primarily at their Robbinsdale store, but they are wiling to host them off-site as well. They have a diverse variety of items, including wood carvings, candles, prints, clothing, jewelry, and more. They also have information about the artists and are eager to share their knowledge.
Opus Music Academy is a music school that connects students with teachers around the state. They teach in several cities so you can go to the closest studio or have lessons in the comfort of your own home. They are a full service school, teaching all instruments, vocals, beatboxing, music theory, and audio/music production. They have private lessons as well as group lessons. Anyone with any level of skill is welcome .
Robbin Gallery is a nonprofit collective that is made up of local artists. Their mission is to enrich the lives of their community through arts while also promoting local arts and artists. It is housed in a historic building and showcases 12 exhibits a year. Two are member shows and one is the "Extremely Minnesota" exhibit that is both juried and state-wide. They offer much more that you can read about if you visit their website. Local artists should get in touch if they want to be exhibited.
The Robbinsdale City Band has been around for over a century, and it's served a musical purpose in the city for that long. There are two bands that were formed half a century ago: The Robbinsdale City Marching Band and The Robbinsdale Concert Band. The former is a marching band for students and adults whereas the latter is only for adults. They perform around the state for many different occasions.
Whiz Bang Days has been hosted in July by the City of Robbinsdale for over 70 years to celebrate all that is good in the community. There is much to enjoy, including the block party, the parade, and the fireworks. It's a festival with the parade as the culmination of everything that precedes it, and it's something that everyone in the community enjoys. The parade marches down West Broadway, and it's a sight to behold. The fireworks are in Hollingsworth Park.
Spooky Sanborn is a celebration of Halloween that was started in 2021 and will hopefully become a yearly favorite. There will be several family-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy, including movies, crafts, and trunk-or-treating, The last includes decorated tables spread around the park and candy. There will also be two contests--pumpkin decorating and costumes. It should be an enjoyable evening for the whole family.
Annual Tree Lighting and Sing Along is a yearly event, naturally, that happens every December in celebration of the holidays. It's usually the first Tuesday in December and it happens at City Hall. There are refreshments to keep you warm, a singalong, and the highlight is the lighting of the enormous tree. It's a great start to the holiday season and is enjoyed by the entire community.
