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AROUND THE LAKES: See Vadnais Heights Days highlights PAGE 13
From local favorite to No. 1 in the US BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Two years ago, Cup and Cone was rated No. 50 on a list of best ice cream shops in America. Fastforward a couple of years, and it is now No. 1. In 2024, Cup and Cone landed the 50th spot on Yelp’s Best Ice Cream Shops in America. PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS This year, Cup and Cup and Cone owner Rick Cone earned a spot Johnstone is surrounded by on the ballot of a variety of frozen treats. the64.com for best ice cream due to its online reviews and social media presence. The64 is a new online platform that invites people to vote in a variety of tournaments from Best Local Restaurant to Best High School Mascot. Owner Rick Johnstone, grandson of original owner Glen Johnstone, has owned Cup and Cone for 17 years. He says he found out about the contest via email and initially dismissed it because he wasn’t sure if it was legitimate or not. “I kind of played it off at first, because I didn’t really think it was anything,” Johnstone recalled. After a TV station picked up the story, he decided he should take the contest more seriously and his competitive nature kicked in.
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Vadnais Heights residents Sydney and Brandon Kaufman were thrilled to find a wedding venue so close to home. Lake Vadnais Grand Events will celebrate its first anniversary this fall.
Lake Vadnais Grand Events ‘serves needs’ of community BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Residents who need a venue for a wedding, birthday party, anniversary celebration, baby shower or a corporate event have one more local option to consider. Lake Vadnais Grand Events, located at Bigwood Brewery at 3429 Centerville Road in Vadnais Heights, will celebrate its first anniversary this fall. Vice President Jamey Worley says that when the venue opened, they assumed it would be mostly for weddings, but they
have quickly learned the space has been used for several other occasions. “We do a lot of private events in the Lakeside tent, whether it’s a groom’s dinner or just birthday parties, retirement parties or just casual gatherings. That’s been the biggest surprise about the property,” she said. “We have done a 1-year-old’s birthday because mom and dad wanted a birthday party, but they have to invite 50 people, and they don’t want to do it in their living room. That makes me feel good because we are offering a spot for
the community to come and do those things … Big or small, we do them all.” Bigwood Brewery has been around since 2009. According to owner Jason Medvec, it was the 19th brewery licensed in the state; now there are over 200 breweries in Minnesota. The brewery was in downtown White Bear Lake below Kellerman’s Event Center from 2011 to 2024 before it relocated to its current location in Vadnais Heights. The brewery needed more space and wanted to expand SEE EVENT VENUE, PAGE 11
SEE SWEET VICTORY, PAGE 11
City Council denies variance request for Wildwood Shopping Center from the maximum size of 1,000 square feet allowed for accessory structures. Community Development Director Jason Lindahl explained that a conditional use permit for a fenced outdoor storage area was approved back in 2021 with the condition that the area was limited to 1,690 square feet and that fire access to the building would be maintained. “This item was discovered by a happenstance inspection of the property,” Lindahl explained.
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
WHITE BEAR LAKE — The City Council has decided to move forward with city staff and the Planning Commission’s recommendation to deny a variance request from the owner of the Wildwood Shopping Center located at 921 Wildwood Road. Chung Dang of Dang Properties LLC requested a variance to allow an additional 800 square feet of storage
In February during a site inspection, city staff discovered the applicant had constructed a building over the fencedin area for which a building permit was never acquired. A letter was sent to Dang informing him of the violation, and Dang then applied for a building permit after the fact, but it was denied due to several violations. Lindahl says the structure violates the size, use and exterior siding and roofing materials standards of the zoning code. Additionally, the structure
lacks structural components required under the Minnesota State Building Code, including fire-rated walls and the requisite post footings and main beam support. The structure is also positioned in a manner that obstructs required access by emergency responders to the on-site fire department connection. “If that (building permit) process had been followed, I think we would have avoided many of the violations that exist with the current building,” Lindahl SEE VARIANCE REQUEST, PAGE 18
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