Wes Burdine, the owner of a University Avenue bar in St. Paul, was pretty excited when construction was set to begin on his new outdoor tap building. His business, the Black Hart of Saint Paul, offers a unique combination: an historic GLBTQ bar that regularly hosts drag shows, and a soccer bar within walking distance of Allianz Field. It’s a juxtaposition on full display during the once-in-four-years collision of Twin Cities PRIDE and the World Cup soccer tournament.
In preparation for the big event, Burdine began planning months ago to build a new outdoor building where staff could serve drinks. It would allow him to take better advantage of a patio he’d installed a few years ago, essentially doubling the capacity of the bar for large crowds. The new structure would house taps and another bar, allowing Burdine to sell drinks outside and cutting down on the long lines during events.
But then, the bad news. Despite being ready to begin construction, he was notified about another form that needed to be filled out and approved. The process would take another month…