“It’s the first Lucy’s only bigger,” says owner Rob Scott. “We’re bringing over the same kind of fun and feel as the first location.” Scott says the plan was always to expand the brand from his original but smaller Lucy’s Burgers Restaurant in White Bear Township. He says COVID slowed him down but it didn’t stop him. And now work is underway to open a new Lucy’s Burgers in Blaine. “The reason for the timing now really has more to do with opportunity. A lot of restaurants struggled during COVID and some didn’t make it,” said Scott. “So there’s currently a supply of restaurant space and we were able to negotiate a deal for this space that fit our needs and came with a lot less expense than it actually would have cost me to open a restaurant even before COVID.” This space was a former Bonfire Restaurant until last spring when it closed. It’s been vacant ever since. What was left behind gives the new occupants a head start. “They left all the stuff that it takes to be a restaurant” says Scott. “They left all the tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, everything down to the forks and the spoons. So we were able to really open this place up with as little up front expense as possible, which is what is required to open a restaurant during COVID.” Scott says they plan to hire 50 to 75 people to staff the new Lucy’s. But it hasn’t been easy to find workers. Scott understands why workers need help, but he says expanded unemployment benefits make hiring difficult. “It makes it hard to sway somebody to come off unemployment, so we’re not even figuratively, literally we are competing with unemployment to hire people and it makes it difficult to find staff.” Because of the slow hiring, opening is expected later in March. But Scott says he’s hopeful COVID is on a downward trend, and he’s looking forward to another Lucy’s success. “I love this location. I think Blaine is a good fit for us and this spot with exposure from the freeway and the surrounding businesses we fit very well here,” said Scott. “I’m excited and happy that we’ve come to an agreement with the landlord. I’m excited to be in Blaine.” Scott says the current 50 percent occupancy rule for restaurants is actually a good thing until they can hire enough staff to be fully open. They have a special hiring e-mail if you are interested in a job: jobs@lucysburgers.com.
RESTAURANT SEES OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANSION, DESPITE PANDEMIC
BLAINE – (Feb 25, 2021) – It’s no secret that restrictions caused by the pandemic have made the restaurant business difficult. Many have even closed. But one White Bear Township restaurant sees an opportunity, and is expanding to Blaine.
