Purple Onion Dinkytown: Remembering A Beloved Campus Gathering Spot
For so many who lived, studied, or just spent time around the University of Minnesota campus, the idea of Dinkytown holds a special kind of feeling. It's a place with a lot of history, you know, where countless memories were made over the years. This area, right by the university, has seen quite a few changes, and sometimes, those changes can feel a bit sudden.
It was, in fact, just last October when news started to spread that a very well-known spot, a true fixture in the neighborhood, would be closing its doors for good. The Purple Onion, a place that had been part of the Dinkytown scene for a long, long time, shared this announcement on its social media, and it certainly got people talking. For many, it was a moment of sadness, a real sign of how things can shift, especially in a place that means so much to so many people, basically.
This news, like, really made people think about all the times they had spent there, the conversations, the meals, and the simple comfort of knowing it was always there. It wasn't just a place to eat; it was, in a way, a part of the campus experience for generations of students and community members. We're going to take a look back at what made the Purple Onion such a memorable spot and what its closure means for the future of Dinkytown, actually.
Table of Contents
- A Place for Generations: The Purple Onion's Long Run in Dinkytown
- More Than Just Food: Purple Onion's Role in Campus Life
- The Difficult Goodbye: Why Purple Onion Closed Its Doors
- Looking Back: Different Views of the Purple Onion Experience
- Dinkytown's Changing Face: What Comes Next?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Onion Dinkytown
A Place for Generations: The Purple Onion's Long Run in Dinkytown
For nearly three decades, the Purple Onion was, quite simply, a central part of life near the University of Minnesota. It first opened its doors in 1993, and even with a move in 2006, it kept its spot as a true staple in Dinkytown for all sorts of people. It was, in some respects, a constant, a familiar sight that welcomed everyone from students hitting the books to long-time community members grabbing a bite. The cafe, you know, really made its mark over those thirty years.
It was known as the biggest and oldest cafe in the Dinkytown area, which is a pretty big deal when you think about it. This meant it had a certain presence, a kind of history that other places just didn't have. Students would, like, drop in and find a spot to settle in for hours. They'd post up, as they say, for long stretches, whether it was to study, chat with friends, or just, you know, take a break from their busy university lives. The atmosphere was, apparently, just right for that kind of relaxed, extended visit.
The menu at the Purple Onion Cafe & Catering offered a pretty good range of things to eat, too. You could get breakfast there, which is always a nice thing for early risers or those who stayed up late. They also had burgers, which are a classic, and chicken fingers, a sort of comfort food for many. Sandwiches were on the list, of course, and they even served pizza. This variety meant that, basically, there was something for almost anyone, no matter what they felt like eating that day. It was, in a way, a place where you could always find something to satisfy your hunger, which is pretty handy when you're on a college campus, right?
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The café was located, quite literally, in the very heart of the Dinkytown area, right by the University of Minnesota campus. This spot was, you know, incredibly convenient for students and faculty alike. Its easy access made it a go-to spot for quick meals between classes or longer hangouts. The fact that it served as the largest and oldest café really speaks to its enduring appeal and its ability to keep people coming back year after year, more or less. It had a certain charm, a kind of established feel that made it feel like home to many, actually.
More Than Just Food: Purple Onion's Role in Campus Life
The Purple Onion wasn't just a place to grab some food; it was, in a way, a central hub for hanging out, a spot where students could just be themselves. Its location, so close to the University of Minnesota campus, made it incredibly handy for anyone looking for a casual place to spend some time. You could walk over easily, and that accessibility meant it became a natural meeting point, a place where plans were made or simply where people connected, you know.
Students, in particular, would make it their home away from home, pretty much. They'd come in, find a table, and stay for hours, sometimes working on assignments, sometimes just talking with friends, sometimes just watching the world go by. It was a comfortable space, a kind of extension of the campus itself, but with food and a more relaxed vibe. This ability to just "post up" for long periods made it different from other places, and it really helped it become a part of the daily rhythm for so many, sort of.
Beyond the food and the general hangout vibe, the Purple Onion also had a connection to the local music scene, which is pretty interesting. While the Scholar was a known spot for music in Dinkytown, it wasn't the only place where things were happening. The coffee break, Hillel House, and, yes, a pizza joint called the Purple Onion, were also mentioned as places where music could be found. This suggests that the cafe, or at least a place with a very similar name, was part of a wider network of spots where musicians gathered and played, you know, adding another layer to its role in the community.
There was, apparently, even a Purple Onion Pizza Parlor in St. Paul, which is just about five miles east of Dinkytown along University Avenue. This parlor, it seems, was a place where a musician named Dyln played, and it was also mentioned in connection with another musician, who was kicked out of a different place and started playing there and at the Bastille. This connection, while perhaps a coincidence in name with the Dinkytown cafe, shows how the name "Purple Onion" might have resonated in the local music circles of the Twin Cities, you know, creating a kind of legacy for the name itself, basically.
It's worth noting that the Purple Onion Cafe & Catering was located right in the middle of Dinkytown, and this central spot was, like, key to its enduring appeal. It was a place that felt like it belonged, a natural part of the neighborhood's fabric. The fact that it was the largest and oldest cafe in the area just solidified its standing as a community landmark, a place that had seen so much and been a part of so many lives over its many years in business, more or less.
The Difficult Goodbye: Why Purple Onion Closed Its Doors
The news of the Purple Onion's permanent closure, announced by the cafe on its Facebook page, really hit the campus community hard. It was, you know, a sad day for many who had grown up with the place or spent significant parts of their university lives there. The announcement itself, made on a Monday, simply stated the permanent closure, leaving many to wonder about the reasons behind such a big decision for a place that had been around for so long, basically.
According to the Minnesota Daily, the Purple Onion, a true Dinkytown staple for a long time, delivered news of its closure back in October. This closure came after nearly thirty years of business on the University of Minnesota campus, a significant run for any local establishment. The cafe, it seems, just couldn't make it through the pandemic, which is a story we've heard for so many businesses, sadly. The difficulties brought on by that time were, apparently, just too much to overcome for this well-loved spot, you know.
The Purple Onion wasn't alone in facing tough times, either. Wonders Ice Cream, a place just a block away, also closed its doors in recent months. This shows that the challenges were, in a way, widespread across the neighborhood. Local business owners have pointed to a mix of reasons for restaurant closures, ranging from those pandemic difficulties we just talked about, to the arrival of bigger chain establishments, and even to the rising costs of things due to inflation. It's a complex picture, really, with many different pressures on local spots, so.
Dinkytown, it turns out, has lost quite a few coffee shops over the years, which is a bit of a trend. Espresso Royale, for example, vanished while someone was in England, and the Purple Onion itself had, apparently, just cleaned up and grown before its closure. This suggests a pattern of change in the neighborhood's cafe scene. It's a reminder that even places that seem like they'll always be there can, you know, eventually face a time when they can no longer operate, which is pretty much what happened here, sort of.
While many people remembered the Purple Onion with great fondness, holding onto good memories of their time there, there were, in fact, other perspectives too. Some former employees described a workplace culture that they felt was "abusive," saying it was fostered by the leadership. This aspect adds a different layer to the story of the cafe's closure, showing that experiences within a place can vary widely, and that, you know, not everyone's memories are the same. It's a reminder that every business has its own internal workings, which can be pretty complex, actually.
Looking Back: Different Views of the Purple Onion Experience
When people think back on the Purple Onion, a lot of them remember it with warmth and a real sense of fondness. For many, it was, quite literally, a place where they spent a lot of their time during their university years, or even just as part of the wider community. The casual food and its really handy location made it a popular spot for just hanging out, which is something people often miss when a beloved place closes down, you know. It held a special spot in the hearts of many, basically.
However, it's also true that not everyone's experience was the same, and this is something important to remember. While a lot of people had great memories, some former employees came forward and described a workplace environment that they found to be "abusive." They felt that this difficult culture was created and maintained by the leadership of the cafe. This side of the story, you know, paints a different picture and shows that what customers see from the outside isn't always the full story of what goes on within a business, which is pretty much always the case, in a way.
There's also a bit of an interesting point about the name "Purple Onion" itself. It turns out there's another place with that name on University Avenue, just next to Dinkytown, but the name is, apparently, just a coincidence. This can sometimes cause a little confusion, as people might think they are related when they are not. It's a good reminder that sometimes, names can be similar without any direct connection between the businesses, sort of.
And then there's the story of the Purple Onion Pizza Parlor in St. Paul. This spot, located just five miles east of Dinkytown along University Avenue, was, you know, a place where music happened. It's mentioned that Dyln played there, and another musician, after a difficult experience elsewhere, started playing at both the Bastille and this St. Paul pizza parlor. This suggests that the name "Purple Onion" might have been associated with places that supported local music, even if the St. Paul location was distinct from the Dinkytown cafe, actually. The site of the Purple Onion Pizza Parlor was, in fact, just to the north of the old Midway Stadium, giving it a bit of a landmark status in that area, too.
The cafe in Dinkytown, after nearly thirty years of serving the University of Minnesota campus, was one of many local businesses that had to close during the pandemic. This shows that the challenges were not unique to the Purple Onion but were part of a broader trend affecting small businesses everywhere. Its closure, in a way, marks the end of an era for a place that had served generations of students, providing them with casual food and a convenient spot to gather for decades, you know. It was a place that truly became a part of people's routines and memories, basically.
Dinkytown's Changing Face: What Comes Next?
The closure of many well-known Dinkytown businesses, including the Purple Onion, has really made people think about what the future holds for this historic community. It's prompted, you know, a lot of questions about how alive or dead Dinkytown will be in the coming years, like in 2025. This is a topic that sparks a lot of conversation, and the answer, apparently, depends on who you ask, which is pretty typical for big community changes, sort of.
Business owners, people involved in local politics, students, and those who have watched the neighborhood for a long time all have different ideas and feelings about the health of this really unique Minneapolis area. They debate, you know, what makes it special and what challenges it faces. The closure of places like the Purple Onion, which had been around for so long, just adds to these conversations about the neighborhood's identity and its path forward, actually.
One of the big difficulties facing the area is finding affordable housing near campus, as Ellie Roth pointed out. This issue is, in a way, connected to the broader health of the community. When it's hard for people, especially students, to find places to live that they can afford, it impacts the vibrancy and the makeup of the neighborhood. It's a challenge that many urban areas face, and Dinkytown is, like, no exception, basically.
The Purple Onion's history, spanning from its opening in 1993 and its move in 2006, truly made it a long-standing staple for community members. It was a place where people gathered, where stories were shared, and where, you know, a sense of belonging was found. Its presence helped define the character of Dinkytown for many years. Its departure, therefore, leaves a noticeable space in the neighborhood's fabric, which is something that will take time for the community to adjust to, more or less.
The area around the University of Minnesota campus, including Dinkytown, has always been a place of constant movement and change. The border of St. Paul, for instance, is the eastern edge of the university, so when Dyln played in St. Paul at the Purple Onion Pizza Parlor, he was just five miles east of Dinkytown along University Avenue. This shows how interconnected the various parts of the Twin Cities are, and how even small changes in one area can, you know, feel significant to those who live and work there, actually.
The Purple Onion was, in a way, a place that had served generations of University of Minnesota students over its thirty years in business. It had seen so much, and been a part of so many people's lives. Its permanent closure, while sad for many, is also a sign of the ongoing changes that communities experience. It's a reminder that places, like people, have their own life cycles, and that, you know, sometimes even the most beloved spots have to say goodbye, basically.
Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Onion Dinkytown
What was the Purple Onion Dinkytown known for?
The Purple Onion Dinkytown was, you know, widely known as a long-time staple in the area near the University of Minnesota campus. It was a popular spot for students and community members to hang out, offering casual food like breakfast, burgers, chicken fingers, sandwiches, and pizza. It was, apparently, the largest and oldest cafe in Dinkytown, and people would often drop in and stay for hours, basically.
Why did Purple Onion Dinkytown close?
The Purple Onion Dinkytown announced its permanent closure in October, after nearly thirty years in business. The cafe, you know, stated on its Facebook page that it couldn't survive the pandemic. Reasons for restaurant closures are varied, according to local business owners, including pandemic difficulties, the arrival of chain establishments, and inflation, so.
Was there a connection between the Dinkytown Purple Onion and a Purple Onion Pizza Parlor in St. Paul?
There was, in fact, a Purple Onion Pizza Parlor in St. Paul, located just about five miles east of Dinkytown along University Avenue, where a musician named Dyln played. However, the text states that the name similarity with the Purple Onion cafe in Dinkytown was, apparently, a coincidence, you know. They were, in a way, separate establishments, actually.
Learn more about Dinkytown's history on our site. You can also explore more about local business changes in Minneapolis.
For more information on the closure, you might check news archives from the Minnesota Daily.
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