As state workers return to the office, downtown St. Paul’s Keys Cafe is optimistic
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State government workers began returning to the office this week for the first time since the pandemic. And they’re returning to a downtown St. Paul that looks different than it did five years ago.
Many local businesses closed or relocated. Construction has torn up several main streets, including the home of one local mainstay, Keys Cafe on Robert Street.
MPR News host Catharine Richert sat down with owner Carol Hunn-Gregory at the restaurant to find out what it has been like to weather the past five years.
How has your business had to adapt?
The delivery services have helped immensely, and then I just cut down on staff, and I’m working. I was going to retire, and here I am working five to six days a week until this construction is done.
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This week, government workers are officially back in the office. Have you seen more people are coming in?
We’ve seen a few tables, a few people coming in. I anticipate it’s going to be gradual.
How many of your patrons, would you say, are government workers commuting into the city?
I mean, I don’t even know anymore, because they’ve been gone for so long. Before it was 80 percent and business has changed a lot. Because of the way St Paul has changed by attrition, there isn’t much down here for breakfast.
You’re blocks from the Capitol. Every time I come in here, I’m always surprised by the politicos and the lobbyists I see. Does that make this location unique?
We’re pretty convenient for them to come down and have a quick meeting. It’s fun to see them coming through. Mark Dayton, he was great. He actually walked around and said hello to people. Tim Pawlenty kind of came in and sat in the booth in the back.
I think they come in to kind of get away from the Capitol, kind of hide out, but have a good lunch while they’re at it. I can kind of tell the new state workers that are coming in and they don’t have their I.D. tags on. It's kind of a different feel.
What’s the tell? How do you know someone is a state worker?
Well, more suits, for one thing. And I guess the women, too, it’s the half soup and sandwich, half soup and salad. They just want a light lunch. They don’t want a big breakfast or a heavy meal.
Because they have to write policy in the afternoon or something.
Well, they don’t want to fall asleep at their desk.
What is the most popular in item in your bakery case?
Of course, we have our house chocolate cake, which is our dark chocolate and buttercream frosting. I would say carrot is second, no nuts, no raisins, which is good for most people.
What are the most popular items from the regular, non-dessert menu?
Breakfast all day. People come here a lot in the evening because they know they can get breakfast. And we do have a wonderful neighborhood here — kind of a circle of residential and they’ve been so supportive and helpful in just keeping us going.
How are you planning for the future with so much uncertainty?
Well, this restaurant’s been here for 100 years. It was Paul’s Family Cafe before us, and it was just something else for a little bit of time, and we’ve been here 38 years.
Once they finish this construction, this is going to be a very vibrant, viable neighborhood, and they will get another grocery store in, I’m confident, and I think it’s actually going to be better. I really believe that.
