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Skyscape Serves up a Trendy New Restaurant and Lounge as First Retail Tenant for Minneapolis Condo Tower

June 12, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS – (June 12, 2007) Skyscape Condominiums is serving up a new upscale pan Asian Fusion restaurant as the first retail tenant in the building located at South Tenth Street and Portland Avenue in Minneapolis’s Elliot Park neighborhood.

Otho—as the new restaurant is called—will occupy 7,000 square feet of space within the 12,000 square foot Skyscape retail enclave located on the street level of the 27-story luxury condominium tower. The restaurant will also include a bar and lounge for the late night crowd along with desserts made by the restaurant’s pastry chef.

Otho

Handling the lease transaction for Skyscape Condominiums was Andrea Christenson, second vice president, Colliers, Turley, Martin & Tuckers, Minneapolis.

“With Otho, we are introducing a new level of retail development in the Elliot Park neighborhood,” says Paul Marks of Tandem Developers LLC, developer of Skyscape. “There is nothing like an Otho in the neighborhood now – no upscale restaurant exists in Elliot Park to serve the needs of its growing population of higher income residents including those purchasing homes at Skyscape.”

The restaurant, which may employ as many as 45 people, will feature a robust and creative menu of traditional Asian cuisine, prepared with European culinary techniques under the direction of Executive Chef Otho July. Delectable pastries and dessert creations will also be a specialty of the house, prepared fresh on site daily by Otho’s full-time pasty chef, Tina Schubert.

Elegantly designed by the Minneapolis interior design firm of Smart & Associates, Otho will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week, including late night hours on weekends. With seating for 120 diners, Otho will also feature a full bar and on balmy days and nights, it will feature outdoor sidewalk seating along South Tenth Street as well.  The dramatic design of Otho’s interior will complement the sleek architecture of Skyscape 27 story tower and light up the corner of 10th and Portland.  This fine restaurant is sure to become a new destination in Minneapolis as well as an incredible amenity for the residents of Skyscape. A lucky few will enjoy the pan Asian cuisine of an extraordinary chef and experience the night life of a chic lounge without ever leaving their home. 

Now that Skyscape is complete with its first residents moving in, construction of the restaurant will begin July 1, with the restaurant opening targeted for late September or early October of this year. Rich Brothers Construction of Minneapolis is in charge of building the restaurant.

Skyscape has additional retail space available. Marks anticipates other service oriented retailers taking notice, now that Otho has taken the lead.

“We are big believers in the neighborhood,” says Kap Phanthavong, a partner in the Otho enterprise. “Elliot Park is a dynamic neighborhood that we believe is just at the beginning of its residential and retail renaissance, and we are excited to be getting in on the ground floor with our new restaurant.”

Otho is what the Elliot Park neighborhood has long needed – a signature restaurant that will serve as a mainstay of the neighborhood and become a magnet to also attract people to the area from throughout the Twin Cities area, says David Fields, Building, Land Use and Housing Coordinator, Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc.

Otho is the brainchild of brothers Kap Phanthavong and Otho July, and Tina Schubert. July is currently the executive chef at the award-winning Zander restaurant in St. Paul. He will serve as executive chef at Otho. Schubert is a formally trained pastry chef, a position she will also hold at Otho. Phanthavong is a Twin Cities-based businessman. All three co-owners are Twin Cities residents embarking on their initial voyage as business owners.

“All three of us have the restaurant business in our blood,” says Phanthavong. The two brothers grew up in the business, as their parents owned the Pad Thai restaurant in St. Paul for a number of years; Schubert has years of experience as a pastry chef behind her, including a recent stint at Zander. “We love the business, we love great restaurants, and we love the opportunity we have to create a restaurant that everyone in the Twin Cities can fall in love with.”

Located at 609 S. 10th Street in Minneapolis, Skyscape Condominiums is a 252-unit residential community with a 15,000 square foot retail component. Opened for occupancy in May, 2007, Skyscape still has homes available in all price ranges, starting at $180,000 for 1 bedrooms and ranging up to $450,000 for two-bedroom units. A limited number of penthouse suites are also available, starting at $750,000.

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