Author: Stuart Sudak

The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of Sheldon’s wrench, the prize of the 15th annual treasure hunt hosted by Smith Coffee & Café in Eden Prairie, has been solved. An Eden Prairie family discovered Sheldon’s wrench just outside Ballfield No. 5, near the fishing pier in Miller Park, on March 5. As a result of finding the wrench, the family won the grand prize, a $200 gift card to the cafe. Steve and Alison Stoick and their children Alex, 9, Leila, 7, Everly, 5, and Ben, 4, spent that weekend hunting for the wrench. Alison praised the cleverness of the clues,…

Small business owners and entrepreneurs can voice their needs and ideas at a town hall listening session hosted by the Eden Prairie City Council. It will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, at Eden Prairie High School’s Innovation Sandbox meeting space, accessible from the southwest entrance. The event’s goal is to gather attendees’ insights about the local support necessary to grow their businesses in Eden Prairie. The Innovation Sandbox is a communitywide collaboration between the city, schools, and businesses launched in 2021 with the intention of making Eden Prairie more entrepreneur-friendly. Mayor Ron Case is…

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (DFL-3) recently provided Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce members with a generous helping of updates on the latest happenings in the nation’s capital. During the Feb. 16 luncheon at C.H. Robinson in Eden Prairie, Phillips served up his thoughts on such topics as inflation and the debt ceiling to George Santos and the military’s recent downing of unidentified airborne objects. “Nothing is off limits,” said Phillips, who spent most of the time answering questions. “I think more of myself as a representative than a politician, so I will answer your questions, which I know is rare.”…

State Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-49B, Eden Prairie) said she is a “proud co-author” of Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) legislation for the third biennium in a row. The Minnesota Legislature (HF2/SF2) is considering a PFML bill, which would establish a state-run insurance program to provide Minnesota workers with up to 12 weeks of paid family leave and up to an additional 12 weeks of paid medical leave per year. It aims to support individuals who require long-term leave, whether to care for a new baby, an ill family member or recover from an illness or injury. While the DFL-led…

Empty Bowls is back in person on Tuesday, Feb. 21, for the first time since 2020. PROP Food Shelf’s only annual fundraiser promises a day of food, music, and community, with the theme of this year’s event being “Everybody Eats.” Empty Bowls aims to raise awareness and funding to combat hunger, housing, and employment insecurity in the Eden Prairie and Chanhassen areas. The 11th annual event will be held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 13600 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, during lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 21. Those attending will…

Ruth Hustad, a longtime business leader and Eden Prairie resident, is remembered for breaking down barriers for women seeking to balance their careers and family life. Hustad passed away last month at the age of 89. Kelli Hueler, Ruth’s daughter, stated that her mother was ahead of her time in balancing family and business. Later in her life, the sight of young women effectively managing both motherhood and their careers brought her happiness, according to Kelli. “I think most women who knew her consider her a trailblazer because she didn’t have people like that herself to look up to [when…

Eden Prairie made a cameo appearance on Tuesday’s episode of “Jeopardy.” The city was the subject of a $1,000 question under the category of “Livin’ on a Prairie,” asking for the word that precedes “prairie” in a city near Minneapolis that got its name in the 1800s as a “garden spot.” Contestant Carolyn Shivers, an associate professor from Grand Island, New York, nailed the answer with “What is Eden?” earning her $1,800 as a Daily Double. (Shivers ultimately lost to the reigning champion, Matthew Marcus.) Eden Prairie’s name dates back to the 19th century when Elizabeth Fries Ellet, a prolific…

Tavern 4 & 5 Bar & Grill in Eden Prairie will temporarily close for renovations, halting operations starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5. The restaurant plans to reopen on Monday, Feb. 13, after making updates to its kitchen and dining room facilities. Dave Guistolise, director of operations for Nova Restaurants, which owns Tavern 4 & 5, confirmed in an email the renovations will consist of cosmetic updates, such as a fresh coat of paint, replacing wooden floors, and some new chairs. The restaurant’s Facebook page noted that the reopening is “just in time for Valentine’s Day.” Tavern 4…

The new SouthWest Station passenger waiting area on Technology Drive in Eden Prairie is in its final stages of construction. According to Friday’s Metro Green Line Extension weekly construction update, crews are performing the final checks on the building’s interior elements, such as lighting, HVAC, and safety and security systems. By spring of this year, SouthWest Transit will occupy the new building. Commuters will be able to connect to SouthWest buses and, ultimately, the Metro Green Line Extension once it has been finished. The $2.7 billion Metro Green Line Extension, also known as the Southwest light rail line, which adds…

Chick-fil-A in Eden Prairie is now open for business. The fast-food restaurant, located on the southwest corner of Flying Cloud Drive and Prairie Center Drive, began serving customers on Thursday. It is owned and operated by Andrew Armstrong, who also owns the Chick-fil-A restaurant in Chanhassen. Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A has more than 20 locations in the Twin Cities. In 2020, it was ranked as the fourth-largest restaurant chain in America by sales. Operating hours for the Eden Prairie Chick-fil-A location are from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The restaurant boasts two drive-thru lanes, with one exclusively for mobile…