The Buttered Tin expands

The Buttered Tin expands
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | January 2026

At a time when more downtown St. Paul storefronts are emptier than usual and even well-established small businesses are making the tough decision to shutter their doors for good, The Buttered Tin in Lowertown continues to rise. Located at 237 7th St. E. since 2013 – and buoyed by its location in Northeast Minneapolis which opened in 2021 – it’s primed to open a third branch in a full-service Coborn’s grocery store opening this spring in Plymouth. The Buttered Tin is one of several restaurants being added to the Coborn’s store, including three concepts by regionally renowned chef David Fhima.

“I was so flattered and honored that they [Coborn’s] liked our brand and concept and food enough to approach us,” said Hinze, a former winner on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” “We have a full restaurant going in there so nothing is being skimped.” The store’s communal seating area will accommodate around 80 people and an outdoor patio area will seat about 75.

The expansion is possible, she said, because of the success of the Minneapolis location, the restaurant’s breakfast catering, and its “Freshly Frozen” products that have been available at large grocery stores since 2020, including Coborn’s, Hy-Vee, and Lunds & Byerlys.

Hinze said business at her downtown St. Paul café has been stagnant for the past year or two, which she partly attributes to the area’s high rate of homelessness and a lack of amenities to attract young residents. She noted that she calls the police up to five times a week to remove a homeless person from her restaurant. While no instances of physical danger to staff or customers have occurred, unsheltered individuals have stolen baked goods and merchandise, attempted to get customers to buy them meals, and locked themselves in the bathroom for long periods of time.

“Any major city has homelessness, but St. Paul and its kind heart just has more,” said Hinze. “I’m not going to have my staff try to stop anyone when we don’t know what kind of reaction they will have. I don’t want to put them in physical danger…. Bless their hearts, the people of Minnesota are so kind and want to purchase every meal for everyone, but they don’t realize what that starts. There’s just repeat performances every day.” The restaurant is located within walking distance of organizations that offer food and shelter for people experiencing homelessness, including the Listening House and Catholic Charities’ Dorothy Day Center.

Hinze has seen downtown go through highs and lows throughout the years and is hopeful that another resurgence is on the way soon. She recalled decades ago when Galtier Plaza was buzzing with businesses and a movie theater, and Dayton’s department store attracted shoppers from near and far, and in later years when CHS Field opened and many new restaurants popped up in Lowertown.

“Young people want to be where things are accessible and there’s events and things to do,” she added. “We need those things, and I think the city needs to be more open to allowing those things so that people have a reason to move down there. Then, of course, when there’s movement, there’s people, and then things don’t seem so empty and maybe as dangerous.”

While downtowns nationwide were hit hard by the pandemic in 2020, St. Paul’s downturn has been exacerbated by the collapse of Madison Equities’ portfolio following the death of owner Jim Crockarell in 2021. The company owned the largest share of private buildings downtown and it has since been found that many will require major reinvestment to be viable for future use. One of the city’s top economic priorities is converting empty office buildings to residential use, with the goal of attracting more residents.

“It’s hard for the people who are toughing it out in St. Paul,” said Hinze. “We want to stay there. We love St. Paul. We’re not giving up. We just hope that people continue to patronize us and give us the love and support that we’ve seen throughout the years.”

While she is looking forward to the opening of the new location, Hinze said that the St. Paul diners will always have a special place in her heart, and the flagship bakery and café isn’t going anywhere.