Newly opened Palace Pub caters to eventgoers

Newly opened Palace Pub caters to eventgoers
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | August 2025

If you’re looking for a quick meal and to imbibe your favorite beverage before your next concert or show, the newly opened Palace Pub has got you covered. Its menu features classic bar bites such as burgers, wings and warm soft pretzel sticks, and a wide array of drink offerings.

The pub is located at 33 West 7th Place, next door to the Palace Theatre. It’s in the space of the former Wrestaurant at the Palace – which closed last fall following a flooding incident – and is owned by First Avenue, which also runs the Palace Theatre, Fitzgerald Theatre and Amsterdam Bar & Hall.

“It was unfortunate that the former business had to close, but we’re real optimistic and excited about the future in our little spot of downtown St. Paul,” said First Avenue general manager Nathan Kranz. “It’s a cool area with the various theaters and everything going on. It’s active, and we just look forward to being a part of it.

‘The [former] restaurant was primarily a pizza place,” he added. “We’re also featuring pizza at the Palace Pub, but we decided to go more for more of a classic bar with pitchers of beer, and fries – more of a laid-back environment.” The new pizza is thin-crust, a stark contrast to the Detroit-style offered before.

A cosmetic overhaul quickly transformed the restaurant, which can seat about 100 inside, with 40 at the bar, and has an 80-seat patio overlooking the quaint red-brick 7th Place pedestrian mall. Visitors will find new pinball machines, dart boards, a host of televisions and a walk-up window where they can order pizza by the slice.

Overseeing daily operations is Marc Dickhut, the longtime First Avenue director of general operations who helped oversee the Bulldog restaurant and bar in Lowertown shortly after its opening in 2008. A soft opening for Palace Pub was held in mid-June, and Kranz said the turnout was great.

“It was fun to see that patio active again,” he said. “I love it. It’s so large and perfect for being able to hang out and have a pitcher of beer and relax before or after a show. And a benefit of it being on 7th Place is we have the pedestrian mall with no car traffic.”

Plans are in the works to make a private event space in the rear of the restaurant. When not reserved and on certain occasions it will likely feature DJ parties, karaoke, comedy shows, open mic nights and similar events.

Hours are 3 p.m.-1 a.m., Tuesday-Saturday, and on select Sundays and Mondays when events are happening nearby. The full-service bar is stocked with craft cocktails, local brews, and non-alcoholic and THC options. Specialty drinks will be created to tie in with performers taking the stage at nearby venues, and music will also be tailored accordingly.

Palace Theatre is owned by the City of St. Paul and co-managed by First Avenue and JAM Productions. For more information, call 952-600-5611 or visit palacepubstpaul.com.

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