Young Joni

Honest answer: Young Joni permanently closed on September 14, 2025, after a lease dispute ended its nine-year run. Ann Kim's James Beard-winning wood-fired restaurant and its hidden back bar are gone, and Kim has said a reboot isn't in the cards. Don't route a trip here — for Ann Kim's pizza, her other spots (like Pizzeria Lola) carry the torch.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

What should I do in Northeast Minneapolis instead?

The neighborhood is still one of the best eating areas in the city: Hai Hai for Vietnamese street food, Kramarczuk's for old-school Ukrainian, Spyhouse for coffee, plus the brewery cluster. Young Joni's block remains worth wandering.

Is Young Joni still open?

No — it served its last pizzas on September 14, 2025. The closure followed a failed lease renewal with the building's landlord, who later sold the property. It's a real loss; don't trust older guides that still list it.

Why did Young Joni close?

Lease negotiations collapsed — the landlord sought a large rent increase (reportedly asking $30-36 per square foot against the restaurant's counter of $18) and sued over back rent. Ann Kim chose to close rather than sign, ending a nine-year run.

What happened to the Young Joni building?

The building at 165 13th Ave NE was purchased by the owners of Milkjam Creamery. Watch that corner — something new from a well-liked local operator is likely, but whatever opens won't be Young Joni.

What made Young Joni special?

Ann Kim won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest largely on its back — wood-fired pizzas crossed with Korean flavors, a broccolini salad people still argue about, and a room that felt like the center of Northeast. It defined a Minneapolis restaurant era.

What was the Young Joni back bar?

A hidden cocktail bar behind the restaurant, marked only by a red light in the alley — when the light was on, the bar was open. It closed along with the restaurant, and it's the detail locals get most nostalgic about.

Where can I get Ann Kim's pizza now?

Pizzeria Lola in southwest Minneapolis is her original pizzeria and still going — the Korean BBQ pizza there shares DNA with Young Joni's greatest hits. Check the current status of her other concepts before you go, as her portfolio has shifted in recent years.

Will Young Joni reopen somewhere else?

Ann Kim has said she doesn't see a reboot of Young Joni in a new location. Never say never in restaurants, but as of now, treat it as gone for good.

Nearby in Ask Minneapolis

• Northeast (Nordeast)Neighborhood0.43 km · 5 min walk
• Northeast Farmers MarketMarket0.63 km · 8 min walk
• Spyhouse Coffee (Northeast)Café0.81 km · 10 min walk
• Boom Island ParkPark0.82 km · 10 min walk
• Hai HaiRestaurant1.36 km · 17 min walk