Ruth's Chris Steak House will soon heat up downtown Rochester
May 20—ROCHESTER — The popular Ruth's Chris Steak House brand expects to start cooking in downtown Rochester soon.
While no specific date is being shared yet, the restaurant's website recently posted that the Rochester location will open in June in the historic Kahler Grand Hotel at 20 Second Ave. SW. Plans for this restaurant were announced in June 2023 with the hope of opening this spring.
Another sign that the opening is coming soon is that Ruth's Chris Steak House recently added a page to its website to spotlight the Rochester location.
The page includes this statement — "Welcome to Ruth's Chris Rochester, where our dedicated team — led by Executive Chef Mitchell Chase and General Manager Gena Cadman — is committed to crafting for you an extraordinary dining experience unlike anything else in Rochester."
The new steak house, Ruth's Chris' second in Minnesota, will occupy the ground-level space along the Peace Plaza where the Kahler Grand Hotel's former Grand Grill was located. Darci Fenske of Paramark Real Estate Services represented the Kahler Hospitality Group in lining up Ruth's Chris for that high-profile space.
When it opens, Ruth's Chris expects to have a team of approximately 60 hourly employees staffing the 9,180-square-foot restaurant.
Downtown Rochester already has many unique local restaurants plus chains like the Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse. What made the Med City attractive for Ruth's Chris to open its second Minnesota restaurant here?
"We are always looking for cities with a vibrant community and dining scene to expand into where we feel Ruth's Chris can seamlessly integrate with its inviting atmosphere, high quality food and exceptional service," wrote Kellie Kerwin of ICR Strategic Communications, which represents Ruth's Chris for Darden Restaurants, Inc., in September 2023.
Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden and other restaurant chains, acquired the Ruth's Chris brand in 2023.
The build-out of the new restaurant is not the only construction that has been underway at the Kahler. The 103-years-old hotel is currently undergoing extensive renovations of its lobby. That work paired the recent upgrade to the iconic Kahler sign plus the launch of the new restaurant all fits with Kahler Hospitality's vision for the property.
"As downtown Rochester continues to revitalize, Ruth's Chris Steak House is an exceptional enhancement for the city and for the newly renovated Kahler Grand Hotel," stated Kahler Hospitality leader Javon D. Bea in the 2023 announcement.
Javon D. Bea is the son of Javon R. Bea, a Wisconsin hospital executive who lives in Oronoco. Javon R. Bea led the $230 million purchase of the four Rochester Kahler hotels in 2013. Javon D. Bea is also the president of Red Pine Capital Management.