South Metro's Growing Dining, Shopping, and Healthcare Scene
Apple Valley's Culinary Renaissance
Tono Pizzeria and Cheesesteaks opened back in March at 7394 153rd Street West. This is the ninth Twin Cities location for the local chain. What makes Tono special is their approach to pizza — they do both tavern-style thin crust and Detroit-style deep dish, both served in square cuts.
Spice Village opened in July at the Times Square Shopping Center in what used to be the TCF Bank space. Run by five Indian women entrepreneurs, they've created something completely unique — it's both a restaurant and a full grocery store. You can sit down for authentic Indian cuisine or shop for traditional spices, ingredients, and even custom-cut meats.
Cafe de Paris opened in August at 15322 Galaxy Avenue, bringing authentic French pastries to the suburbs — fresh-baked croissants, pain au chocolat, house-baked breads, the whole nine yards. From what we're hearing, they've nailed the ambiance too.
Revolve Hall is a multi-concept food hall with five different dining options under one roof: Curister Coffee and Conservatory, Ice Cold Tacos, Square Cut Pizza, Minnesota Burger Company, and The Wanderer. Great for families where everyone wants something different.
Nordstrom Rack is also opening at Fisher Marketplace in the old Bed Bath & Beyond space — 30,000 square feet of discounted designer everything.
Lakeville's Healthcare and Hospitality Boom
Salatai Kitchen opened this spring at 17671 Glasgow Avenue in the Crossroad Shopping Center, owned by local entrepreneur Cherry Nyang and her husband. They're filling what was honestly a pretty big gap in Lakeville's dining scene for good Thai food.
On the healthcare front, Terrine Dermatology opened in May at 17305 Cedar Avenue, and Midwest Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists opened in June at 11020 161st Street West. Lakeville is becoming a regional healthcare hub — instead of driving into the cities or to Burnsville for specialty care, residents can access those services closer to home.
Board and Brush on Holyoke Avenue got new ownership with a ribbon cutting in June, Frandsen Bank and Trust completed a major remodel of their branch on 161st Street West, and Donut Star 2 is under new ownership by Tapestry Coffee.
Farmington's Entertainment and Dining Scene
Chill Ice Cream Studio opened in April at 115 Elm Street — an ice cream shop combined with a retro arcade. Over 20 flavors of ice cream plus classic arcade games.
Bourbon Butcher at 20700 Chippendale Avenue is bringing serious gastropub energy to Farmington with house-smoked meats, flame-grilled burgers, and what they claim is one of the area's largest bourbon selections. They're doing live music events and weekend brunch too.
Lighthouse Cafe opened in August with a completely different approach — all about homemade comfort food and community connection.
Rosemount's Unique Developments
Sweet Needs Bakery and Coffee is opening their second location, partnering with First State Bank of Rosemount to create a unique bank-and-bakery concept. Grab your coffee and pastry while taking care of your banking.
Barut Lebanese Street Food and Catering opened at 14873 Robert Trail South, continuing a family tradition from their previous West St. Paul location with fast-casual counter service and catering.
Both Lifetime Athletic Club and Planet Fitness are opening locations in Rosemount. Lifetime is bringing their premium experience with indoor and outdoor pools, pickleball courts, and spa services near Akron Avenue and Highway 42. Planet Fitness had their grand opening on September 27th at 3400 150th Street — 19,000 square feet with over 64 cardio machines and memberships starting at $15/month.
And the big news: Meta is working on building an $800 million data center in Rosemount, expected to open by July 2026.
Hastings' Community-Centered Growth
Hometown Dairy opened in September at 1700 Vermillion Street, taking over from the former Hastings Creamery. Operated by Produce Plus, they're emphasizing local sourcing — fresh milk, eggs, cheese, ice cream, and deli items.
Chuck and Don's Pet Food and Supplies opened at 1100 Vermillion Street in the Midtown Shopping Center.
Broadway Pizza opened in May at 909 Vermillion Street — a regional brand with 13 locations across the Twin Cities and Rochester.
Integrated Body Center is opening over 8,000 square feet of space for integrative health services including physical therapy, chiropractic care, and wellness services.
Key Trends
Looking at all these new businesses across the South Metro, several encouraging trends stand out:
- Quality food experiences — From the French bakery in Apple Valley to the Indian restaurant and grocery concept, people are choosing authentic experiences over generic chain options
- Healthcare becoming more accessible — Communities are building their own healthcare infrastructure instead of requiring drives into the cities
- Fitness and wellness options expanding — From premium clubs like Lifetime to budget-friendly options like Planet Fitness to integrative wellness centers
- Community building — These aren't just businesses dropping into strip malls; they're designed to create gathering places and serve multiple functions in people's lives