Once upon a time in the Zenith City, the central core of the downtown strip was a vital community of merchants catering to Scandinavian immigrants. Over the years, the immigrants moved out to the extremes of the street car lines, and the downtown became less vibrant, especially the two blocks east and west of the central dividing line, Lake Avenue.
Less than ‘reputable’ merchants took up position, adult book stores, a blood donor center, small merchants.
Those days are gone, as Duluth goes through another renaissance, and new and exciting businesses are filling historical edifices along the main drag, Superior Street.
The latest pop-up is the 7 West Taphouse, with 40 craft beers on tap (even some from the craft beer capital of the US – Oregon!), and burgers and melts on the grill menu. The proprietors are vets of other area restaurants, including Grizzly’s.
Kawikamedia and the Minnesota Burger Posse were there at opening bell. They tried a variety of burgers and fries with dipping sauces. Kawika went with the signature Taphouse Burger, featuring a double up on the beer, jalapeno beer cheese, and sauteed beer onions, with a side of the vinegar and salt fries.
Good reports all around. A new bright spot in downtown Duluth.
(Photographs copyright Kawikamedia; all rights reserved).
7 West Taphouse Review,