Is Uptown Primed for a Red Sauce Restaurant from Tim Niver?

Mucci’s is a beloved St. Paul red sauce restaurant famous for its deep fried pizzas, fantastic service, and a line out the door every day when the diminutive restaurant opens. Meyvn was a beloved, but not always crazy busy bagel-making restaurant on Bryant and Lake Street in Uptown that closed in April. The restaurants had two different chef/owners, but one common co-owner, Tim Niver. Now, it looks as though the man known for building a particular brand of service-style in the Twin Cities might be re-opening the Meyvn location, as a Mucci’s.

Reasons to believe this possibility to be true is that both Niver and his Mucci’s chef/co-owner Chris Uhrich have taken to social media requesting resumes, saying that they are hiring for a Minneapolis project. Also, a neighborhood tipster emailed us almost immediately after the closing of Meyvn saying that he had first-hand knowledge that the building would become the second branch of Mucci’s. Also, there’s presumably a lease obligation for Niver, who has long-made his Twin Cities impact felt with such legendary restaurants as Town Talk Diner, the Strip Club Meat and Fish, and Saint Dinette. Why not move a concept that’s proven popular across the river?

Katie Cannon/Eater Twin Cities

There are challenges to this idea, though. Will the Mucci’s concept travel to a different space? Mucci’s opened in February of 2016 in a small location in St. Paul’s West 7th neighborhood. It takes no reservations, serves Prosecco on tap, and spawned a line of frozen pizzas. The homey atmosphere fits in the dark-painted walled, dimly-lit space. Will that work in the Meyvn space that’s wall to wall windows, and an industrial/airy vibe?

No one is confirming, or denying any of this possible news.

• Service in the style of Tim Niver [ETC]
• Inside Mucci’s Italian in Saint Paul [ETC]
• All Meyvn Coverage [ETC]