Businesses can participate in Bathtub Races 5A Uncertain future for art, music festival 6A State leaders still bickering over budget 8A
TAD JOHNSON TAD JOHNSON T.W. BUDIG
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DATE 23, ##, 2011 2009 JUNE
VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 32, NUMBER 17
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A ‘TOPS’ restaurant expands Family-owned restaurant adds bar, staff when other eateries are struggling by Stacey Ackerman DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
TOPS Restaurant & Bar (formerly TOPS Pizza & Hoagies) is a family-owned restaurant that not only made it through the recession, but also launched a huge expansion during a time when most restaurants are struggling to keep their doors open. In January, the restaurant doubled in size by adding a full bar and a new seating area. During the renovation, it also modernized its look by adding new art on the walls and four large-screen televisions. But the appearance wasn’t the only thing that changed — it also expanded its menu to include trendy new items such as sandwich wraps, six types of burgers and a complete bar menu with specialty drinks such as martinis, several new beers and many international wines. A patio is currently being put in as well. According to Restaurants USA, “In the ever-changing marketplace, restaurants periodically need to update their concepts if they want to continue to compete successfully. Sometimes a simple decor change or a revised menu is all that is needed. Often, though, operators must perform radical surgery.� The restaurant opened its doors in 1990 by Rosemount residents Markos and Soula Chouliaris, who emigrated from Greece. It was Makos’s dream to open a restaurant. He had learned the restaurant trade as a child, and then became a chef at a Marriott H o -
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Voss Report shows that suburban municipalities need Local Government Aid more than outstate towns do. DON 4A HEINZMAN FORUM
DAVID OLSON
When government entities start cooperating, service is improved and money is saved. 4A
NEWSMAKER Photo by Rick Orndorf
TOPS Restaurant & Bar added a bar and seating to the north side of the original restaurant, which was started in 1990 with only five or six tables inside. tel. He wanted to be able to present food and expose Americans to Greek food. His wife, Soula, joined him in making his dream a reality. The original Rosemount TOPS, which stands for The Original Philadelphia Style (an eatery run by Markos’ uncle in Philadelphia), was a small operation, and the only staff was the husband and wife team. You can still see the original beams where the first wall was. There were only five or six tables. In the 1996, more seating and equipment were added. The current expansion took several years of planning, and most of it was done by taking customers’ suggestions. The couple’s son and daughterin-law – Steve and Joelle of Farmington – moved back to the Twin Cities from
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Founder of the Caponi Art Park in Eagan is the recipient of the “Eleven Who Care� award from local TV station. TONY 6A CAPONI NEWSMAKER
Farmington teacher and Lakeville resident was named to the State Board of Teaching by Gov. Mark Dayton. MIKE 7A LARSON
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See TOPS, Page36A
In Brief
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TOPS Restaurant & Bar is located at 14533 Dodd Blvd., Rosemount. For more information, go online at www.topspizzaandhoagies.com. The phone number is (651) 423-7331.
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General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011
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