The Newberg Graphic
| Dining out times two soon an option in St. Paul | ||||
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| Two establishments under construction will offer food and alcohol | ||||
Residents of St. Paul won't have far to go for an evening out now that plans have been announced for two new restaurants in the small town. Both facilities have also applied for liquor licenses, an amenity that the small town had lacked since the Shamrock Tavern was destroyed by fire four years ago. A replacement is expected in the Rodeo Inn, now under construction near the intersection of Highway 219 and Main Street. Robert Kim, who owns the adjacent St. Paul Market, had considered the Shamrock's original location before deciding to build on his own property. "I thought for some time that someone would be opening a bar, but no one did," he said. "I used to run a bar in Oregon City, so I decided to do it myself." Budgeted at around $250,000, the Rodeo Inn is nearing completion, with only the interior work remaining, Kim said. The finished tavern will seat 50. "We'll have a pool table, a full bar and lunch and happy hour specials," he said. "The menu will be favorites - hamburgers, sandwiches, and some bento and Mexican dishes." Opening is scheduled for the second week of June, but Kim hopes to beat the deadline and serve customers during the St. Paul Rodeo's annual trail ride on June 1. "I've been getting a very good response from people in town - they've been waiting for a place like this for some time," Kim added. Also filing for a liquor license was The Hall of Fame Restaurant and Lounge, located in the former Wild Mustang Restaurant. "Ours is going to be a restaurant that serves alcohol, not a tavern," said owner Chris Merten. The Hall of Fame's menu will include pizza and barbecue, but an opening date has yet to be set. "We're still pretty early in the process," Merten said. | ||||
