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An easy P&G. NOT IN GREEN TELECOM BOX!!! No digging necessary, as usual please be respectful of the property, this is a pretty obvious location. Likely w/c accessible. If you have new or old picture of the Gold Nugget, even not related to the cache, please post anything you have! The Gold Nugget would like to see them!
From sleepy tavern to legendary burgers:
From the 1920's until 2007, a small building stood on this site on Excelsior Boulevard was a roadside tavern in the Glen Lake area of Minnetonka, Minnesota. Records from the City of Minnetonka do not indicate what year the building was constructed - that's because the city's building permits do not go back any further than the early 1930's. However, starting in 1925, the tavern located here was known by names such as Jack Nye's, Alkoli Ike's, Shugg's and the Gold Mine.
The establishment gained its status as one of the Twin Cities' best-loved burger restaurants after Doug Carlson bought it in 1976. Mr. Carlson, who had been a food service salesman for Gourmet Foods in St. Paul before buying the tavern, quickly added more capacity for food and patrons. He brought in new kitchen equipment and took out a couple of pool tables in the back of the building to make room for more tables and booths. In changing the decor, Mr. Carlson acquired quite a few booths from the restaurant at a local grocery store.
Over the next few years, Mr. Carlson worked day and night to elevate the Gold Nugget from a sleepy tavern into the thriving, highly acclaimed burger restaurant that became a hit with patrons and families from Glen Lake and beyond. The burgers were hand-formed from fresh ground beef - never frozen. The french fries were hand-cut and fried in high-quality oil. The soup was made from scratch. On many nights, patrons would wait outside the small establishment for a table to open.
Not only was the Gold Nugget known for its quality, pub-style food, but for its friendly atmosphere. Doug Carlson insisted on treating his employees like family. That's why many of them stayed with him for years and why they treated Gold Nugget patrons like friends and members of the family as well. In many of the on-line reviews of the Gold Nugget posted over the years, patrons and professional critics alike cited the friendly staff and good service as one of the many reasons they loved the place - in addition to the good food and cold beverages, of course.
Today, the new ownership, management and staff of the Gold Nugget has rebuilt the restaurant as a fun, neighborhood gathering place that sure friends and families will enjoy for years to come. We've taken great care in developing a variety of new menu items to blend in perfectly with original Gold Nugget burgers, hand-cut fries, famous onion rings, malts and beverages. With an eye toward the new, also kept heart with the history of the Gold Nugget.
In addition to many new, hand-crafted menu items, the staff at the new Gold Nugget is dedicated to treating customers like friends and family - just as Doug Carlson insisted. Sit back, have some fun and enjoy the food and atmosphere that made the Gold Nugget a Glen Lake gold mine for generations of patrons.
The Gold Nugget over the years:
1925 - 1940: Jack Nye's
1940's & 1950's: Alcoli Ike's
1950's & 1960's: Shugg's
1972 - 1976: Gold Mine
1976 - 2006: Gold Nugget
2009 - Present: The new, rebuilt Gold Nugget!
--Adapted from an article written by Tom Wartman, Owner, and Michael Gentile, General Manager
Please try a burger, or many of their other items which are newer, less traditional from the original Gold Nugget, but all are fantastic. The Gold Nugget was the Twin Cities' City Pages Best Burger for many years... This is a local watering hole for many a cacher in the area after FTF runs!
This cache is placed on private property with the permission of Mrs. R., the next-door neighbor who has lived next door to this establishment for decades and assisted with the creation of this cache.
Congrats to The Ruderat Crew, Geopierce, TonkaMN, MNMBeck, Snakeseeker, Gretanator and I Spy. for FTF, STF and TTF. A fun day for me and met some great folks. Thanks, y'all!
Additional Hints
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