How long do you keep sinking money into a restaurant that doesn’t work? In a neighborhood that you hope will rebound, but you worry will take a decade to rebound? Chef Ann Kim has decided to close her restaurant Kim’s after rebooting the concept from Sooki & Mimi, and after urging workers to not join a labor union and losing that battle.
PHOTO BY TERRY BRENNAN
“We’ve made the decision to close Kim’s effective August 30, 2024, due to ongoing financial losses.” –Kim’s Instagram
The decision may indeed have been that simple—I’ve been told that Sooki & Mimi was never profitable, nor was Kim’s. I reached out to Vestalia Hospitality, and they declined to add any additional concept. But the drama and troubles swirling around this restaurant are worth considering, and this situation is unique on many fronts:
- Ann Kim owns her building, and earlier this year her tenant next door, PaperSource, closed
- Workers voted to certify a labor union and the fight was public and angry
- Construction is tearing up Uptown
- Vacancies are everywhere and it’s hard to envision this turning around near-term
- Maybe the restaurant just didn’t work as a concept
Just five months ago, Ann Kim told Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: “Uptown is faced with many challenges so it will require committed and creative business owners and leaders to bring this neighborhood back. I’m tired of hearing people complain and whine about the state of Uptown.”
The Minnesota Star Tribune took grief for having some reporters try to find things to do in the heart of Uptown at night over a weekend, and they largely came up empty. Yes, Lyn/Lake is buzzing, but Hennepin/Lake is not. Business owners shared their struggles. Ann Kim, as the owner of the building, could have continued losing money as part of a goal to rebuild Uptown. She would also win by seeing her buildings increase in value. But restaurant owners also act on emotion, and after being the subject of a very public labor battle—I could see an owner not wanting to fight anymore.
The worker’s union, UNITE Here Local 16 wrote on Instagram: “Because we are organized, this is not the end of the story for us. We will fight for the severance, health care, relocation, and recall rights we deserve.”
Is this “union busting?” Some will say it is. It’s for you to decide. I’m a believer that unions can be extremely positive in a workplace—I’m in a union and have been for 20-plus years. I also think unions have the best success in making progress when their company is also succeeding. Do I blame workers for unionizing? Absolutely not. Do I blame an owner for throwing in the towel? Also absolutely not.
Also, maybe these restaurants just didn’t work? Our review of Sooki & Mimi was very positive—but it opened as a tasting menu, then tried to be casual, and the switch didn’t resonate with diners. I also loved Kim’s, so did our early look, but it also didn’t attract enough of a destination audience.
I cheer for workers fighting for a better workplace and also cheer for owners willing to risk everything to make a dream come true. The closing of Kim’s is sad for me on all fronts.
