Hilltop Event Center opens Jan. 1

Hilltop Event Center opens Jan. 1
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | January 2026

After being closed for in-restaurant dining this summer and fall during street construction on Marie Avenue, Hilltop International Cuisine is scheduled to fully reopen Jan. 10. Additionally, with the new year is coming the grand opening of the new Hilltop Event Center, located in the corner shop connected to the restaurant at 417 Marie Ave. Passersby may already have noticed the stunning artwork that appeared recently on the large windows of the formerly vacant space, and the improvements don’t stop there. Owner Nessib Negusse is sparing no expense to make sure the event center caters to an array of get-togethers, from birthday parties and business meetings to traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies and perhaps even city-led events.

“The [former] owner of the building put a curtain at the window for three years,” said Negusse. “Since it’s such a big window, people would see it when driving by and they thought the whole building was closed. They didn’t know there was a restaurant here. It was killing my business.”

Following much back-and-forth negotiation with the former property owner, Negusse eventually made the hefty investment and purchased the space about a year ago. The interior required a complete remodel. The space accommodates 79 and is outfitted with lively artwork and a sound system and projectors. Liquor isn’t currently sold there, but guests may bring beer or wine. Interestingly, the second floor has a two-bedroom Airbnb, which several international visitors have used this past year.

Negusse is originally from Ethiopia and operated a restaurant there for seven years. He moved his family to Minnesota in 2007 to get medical treatment for the eldest of their three daughters, who was four at the time. The treatment required seven years of regular doctor’s appointments, which meant they wouldn’t be able to move back home, so they began building a new life. Negusse went on to graduate from the now closed Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis/St. Paul and opened ADS Catering, which he still operates today, serving charter schools and private events.
International Hilltop Cuisine opened in 2021. The menu features American and Mediterranean food, some with an Ethiopian twist. For example, the collard greens are fried instead of steamed, and some meats are broiled rather than roasted. Ethiopian staples like lentil stew and beef tibs are served, and sambusas – fried pockets of dough filled with spiced meat or lentils – are the most popular item. Upon reopening at the start of the year, some new items will be on the menu, including a Nashville hot chicken sandwich.

“Everything we make is from scratch,” said Negusse, noting that each meal is multiple courses and includes soup. “We have a family platter so if you have four or five people coming or are with kids, you can have good variety. We have vegetarian options. We have meat options. We have fried…. We have some desserts, too. I make baklava, which is Mediterranean, and tiramisu. I make it myself fresh and people just love it.”

Negusse is expanding across the Twin Cities as well. He opened Hilltop Café in Minneapolis about two months ago. For more information, visit hilltopcuisinemn.com.