If you've been to downtown Excelsior lately and wondered what's going on with Water Street this fall, you're not alone. It's been a year of real change in Excelsior. The good news is this: the community keeps showing up. Let's walk through what happened, what's still waiting, and what's coming up between now and Thanksgiving weekend.
One Long Table on Water Street
If you follow any Excelsior businesses on social you likely saw a post, on a picture perfect fall night with a long dining table running down Water Street. Fromage Co. co-owner, Jennifer Brisson, told Lake Minnetonka Magazine the idea started with an image she couldn't get out of her head: one really long table running right down the middle of Water Street. On October 8, the table was there, and roughly 250 people sat down together for the first Gathered on Water Street. It was truly a beautiful sight.
Sadly, I didn't hear about the event soon enough to get a ticket, and to say I had FOMO is a major understatement. Tickets were $125 and sold out soon after going on sale September 4, with what Brisson called "a very large waiting list."
No single restaurant catered the meal. Each restaurant partner contributed a different part of one collaborative supper, and guests were invited to add a recipe to the new Gathered Community Recipe Collection. Brisson has said she hopes it becomes an annual fall tradition. (Consider this my reminder to all of us for next year.)
Where the Supper Money Goes
Gathered on Water Street was a fundraiser. Proceeds go to Christmas in Excelsior, the holiday market on Thanksgiving weekend. So if you missed the table like I did, you can still be part of where the money lands.
The Corner That Went Quiet in May
Downtown has felt different this year, mostly because of Haskell's Port of Excelsior. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported on May 6 that the Port would be closed for the foreseeable future, and Bring Me The News reported the next day that both the restaurant and the Wine & Spirits shop were closed because of extensive fire damage. If you're from Excelsior, you know that Haskell's isn't just a restaurant / bar, it's a real local favorite and has been the cornerstone of Water Street for decades.
Owner Ted Farrell said soon after the fire that Haskell's planned to rebuild. As of mid-October, no rebuild timeline or reopening date has been published.
The Dock (and Yes, the Pizza Hut)
Walk across the street from Haskell's and you'll reach the former Dock Cinema, next to the empty lot at 10 Water St. where a Pizza Hut once stood. Those were the days. Does anyone still have their "Book It" button?? OK, I digress.
The Dock is where I first saw The Notebook (among many other movies). I had several 'first dates' there and many family movie nights.
The theater closed in March 2020 and reopened briefly in 2022. Developer Matt Mithun has proposed apartments, retail and a restaurant space on the site. The plan would restore the theater's historic façade and marquee but take down roughly the back third of the building.
The Star Tribune reported in May that the plan received unanimous preliminary approval from the city. However, the Heritage Preservation Commission denied a key demolition permit because too much of the theater would be removed. On March 2, the City Council voted 3–2 to uphold that denial and 5–0 to deny the project's financing assistance agreement, according to the Sun Sailor.
City Council member Tim Bildsoe described it to the Star Tribune as "a balancing act" between preserving the feel of history and the reality of economics. As of the latest reporting in May, both sides were still working toward a compromise. For now, the lake end of Water Street will likely look the same through the holidays.
What's New on Water Street
A few new spots are adding life to the street this fall though:
- Excelsior Social, 304 Water Street. A neighborhood café and gathering place one block from Excelsior Bay, with a members-only side and public Social Hours Wednesday through Sunday. Think coffee, specialty drinks, bagels, pastries, sandwiches and pizza (it's not a full-service kitchen). Free private parking is behind the building. Its Chamber ribbon-cutting was Thursday, October 15.
- Prajna Den, 249 Water Street, Suite 201. An Ashiatsu and therapeutic massage studio that celebrated its opening with a Chamber ribbon-cutting on May 14.
- Compass, right here on Water Street. This one I'm especially excited about. Compass is opening an office in downtown Excelsior, and the ribbon cutting is this Thursday, October 22. I'd love to see you there.
Excelsior Social's public hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., then 4 to 7 p.m.
- Friday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday and Tuesday: members only
Your Water Street Calendar Through Thanksgiving
Here's what's still ahead:
- Thursday, October 22: The Compass ribbon cutting, plus Witches Night Out from 4 to 8 p.m. ($25 ticket, check in at Pique Travel, 306 Water St.). From 5 to 8 p.m., the Minnesota Streetcar Museum runs Streetcar After Dark rides on streetcar No. 265 ($2 fare, follow the pumpkin path to the trolley platform). The car will be lit up, kids get a glow-in-the-dark giveaway, and anyone in costume gets a treat.
- Saturday, October 24: Trick or Treat the Street, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with trick-or-treating and a scavenger hunt. The trolley runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at regular fares, so the fun keeps going after the candy stops.
- Sunday, October 25: Trolleyween at 1, 2 and 3 p.m., $5 per passenger, with Ms. Debra reading stories to younger children. Tickets are sold only at TrolleyRide.org.
- Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28: Christmas in Excelsior, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free. The Jingle Bells Trolley runs noon to 4 p.m. both days with carols, treats and notes to Santa ($4, ages 3 and under free).
The streetcar's regular weekend season wrapped in September, so these special dates are the last rides of the year.
Thanksgiving Weekend, Without One of Last Year's Sponsors
Christmas in Excelsior is only in its second year. When the Christkindlsmarkt announced it was moving to Waconia, the Excelsior Lions Club began planning a replacement in July 2025. Club president James Flattum told the Sun Sailor it would be a signature event and an annual thing. Last year's sponsors included Maynard's, The Waters, Ooh La La, Beem Light Sauna, Amore & Fede, Lilia Flower Boutique and Haskell's.
This year, the Chamber describes a free downtown holiday market with artisan vendors, reindeer, llamas, carolers, Santa, music, seasonal food and decorations all along Water Street.
A long table in October. A holiday market in November. That's Excelsior.
Let's Talk About What It Means for You
If you're wondering how a quiet storefront or an empty lot on Water Street might shape the neighborhood around your own home, I'm always happy to talk it through. Stop by and say hi at the new Compass office, or let's grab a coffee at 304 Water Street. Excelsior is my home. I was born and raised in this incredible town and am now raising my own family here. Helping people learn all there is to love about Excelsior is one of my favorite things!!
xo
Kelly Bollinger
