Bye Bye Marin, Hello Mercy

Marin Restaurant and Bar in downtown Minneapolis will close on Monday, February 20 in preparation for its rebirth as Chef Mike Rakun’s new concept, which is set to open in April.

Rakun, Executive Chef and partner at Marin, will name the new restaurant after his daughter, Mercy. “The success of Marin has afforded me the opportunity to move forward in a new direction. Mercy will be uniquely my own and I’m excited to show everyone what we have in store,” Rakun said in a recent press release. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to share more of who I am and create a spot that represents how and where I like to eat,” he added.

The new restaurant will focus on Rakun’s love for the great north woods and attempt to recreate the same classic and cozy vibe that the sublevel Library Bar downstairs is known for. The Library Bar will remain open throughout the construction, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and can be accessed through Le Meridien hotel.

This is the fourth restaurant concept for this address. When the hotel first opened, celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten had an eatery on the ground floor. It was then taken over by D’Amico Kitchen in 2009 before becoming Marin in 2013.