Smack Shack Owners & Jack Riebel Buying The Lexington

After being closed for almost a year, St. Paul institution The Lexington finally has new owners, reports the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and they're some big Twin Cities names: Jack Riebel (formerly of Butcher & the Boar), and Smack Shack's Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald. The Lexington has been through a couple of prospective owners since closing last year, but they recently sent out a press release saying that new mystery owners would be announced by Mayor Chris Coleman at a press conference on Thursday, April 17th; the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal got the names from "sources familiar with the deal."

According to the Business Journal, Riebel, Thoma, and Fitzgerald will be keeping The Lexington's name, but giving it a more casual atmosphere and a major renovation. No details are available yet on the menu.

Jack Riebel announced that he was leaving his position as executive chef and co-owner of popular downtown restaurant Butcher & the Boar in early January, and his next move had been a major mystery. While at B&TB, Riebel was named a James Beard finalist for Best Chef Midwest.

Thoma and Fitzgerald co-own Smack Shack, which started out as a food truck famed for its lobster rolls and is now also a North Loop brick n' mortar, which opened inFebruary 2013.
· Butcher & The Boar's Ex-Chef and Smack Shack's Owners Are Buying The Lexington [Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal]
· All Coverage of The Lexington [Eater MPLS]