As many of you may have heard by now, Papa’s Restaurant and Deli has closed its doors permanently after seven-plus years of service to the Camden Community and surrounding area.
Opening and operating a small business is always a challenge. There are so many obstacles to pass. Papa’s was no different, fighting the good fight through regulatory nightmares, several window breakages, road closings, a recession, the mortgage crisis, a tornado and five different property owners.
Papa’s took on the challenge to change the building at 42nd and Thomas from a property that was on the city’s Problem Properties List to a building that was full of life, safe and productive. We were successful in returning the 42nd and Thomas business node from forgotten and no longer recognized as a business node, to a commercial corner recognized by the City of Minneapolis as one that is working and should be preserved. We are proud of that accomplishment.
Through it all we have enjoyed being a part of the community and your families. We have watched you find love, marry and have children all at our humble establishment. The birthday parties, showers, grooms’ dinners, going away parties and yes, the funerals made you a special part of our family. Thank you for letting us be such an important part of your lives.
We have served up meals to support local schools, the fundraising efforts of the Camden Lions Club, Dining Out for Life, Red Ribbon Rides, and many other worthy and hardworking organizations that support our community.
One of our favorite annual events was hosting the Music in the Heart of Victory series along with our favorite Camden Music School. Teaming up with Janet and the musicians was shear pleasure – thanks Janet!
We have had the amazing good fortune to hire from the community, often offering a job to first time job seekers and those needing a second chance. Our staff was dedicated to doing the best job they could to serve our neighbors. It was indeed one of the hardest parts of closing – letting our staff go. We know they will move on to other jobs and serve their new employers well.
We have been proud to be a part of a caring community including serving on the Victory Neighborhood Board, Northside Arts Collective, the Camden Lions Club and through other organizations in which we were able to make a contribution by sharing our time and Papa’s food.
We look forward to our new life in the community as “just neighbors” but will cherish all of our memories of our days as proprietors of the “go to” place in “The Heart of Victory.”
Mick and Kris Brogan,
Victory