As the owner of several well-known eateries in the Twin Cities metro, Jester Concepts had been eyeing the suburbs for some time, especially Edina.
Jester Concepts Owner Brent Frederick wanted to expand the fine dining options west of Highway 100. The company’s restaurants include Borough, Parlour, Butcher & the Boar, P.S. Steak, Shiki, Mirabelle and Rustica — which has several locations. When COVID-19 hit, fewer people headed to downtown Minneapolis, where Jester operates several restaurants.
“Our concepts were mostly all in Minneapolis,” he said. “Fewer people were coming for happy hours, lunch, dinners and corporate dinners. They were doing everything near their houses.”
Frederick found a good location in the retail space of Maison Green, a 196-unit Rueter Walton apartment development. Still, he worried whether the concept would work. “Building a restaurant from scratch is a challenge,” Frederick said. “You’re the first one in and you don’t know how it’s going to be viewed by the community.”
The good news is the restaurant’s globally influenced cuisine has been a hit. Shea Inc.’s Southeast Asian-influenced design draws wows. “We have a lot of plants, greenery and a tropical vibe,” he said. “We want to make it fun, warm, inviting, and something different.”
Another unique feature of Starling is a four-season solarium, that proved to be a welcome challenge for the contractor, Ancoats LLC. The company’s president, David Wood, said the original plan called for the space to be a patio, but Jester Concepts wanted more year-round seating.
He called the process for connecting the porch to the building “very complicated” because it had to tie into stone walls while maintaining water tightness, fire ratings and daylight access. “Navigating all those complexities was tough,” Wood said.
Frederick said the restaurant has met expectations. “We wanted to bring something new and flavorful to the community,” he said. “It’s been a very good experience for us.”
Starling Neighborhood Eatery
Address: 4925 Eden Ave., Edina
Project size: 3,700 square feet
Owner: Jester Concepts
Contractor: Ancoats LLC
Architect: Shea Inc.
Interior Designer: Shea Inc.
Engineer: Palanisami & Associates, Inc. (structural); Horwitz (mechanical)