Ichigo Tokyo Crepes, the tiny Tokyo-style creperie that turned a quiet Lyndale corner into a dessert destination, is packing up its freestanding 34th Street shop after more than six years and heading for the crowds at Eat Street Crossing on Nicollet Avenue. Owner Mia Oi is bringing the full lineup with her: sweet and savory Tokyo-style crepes plus those fluffy soufflé pancakes, now set to roll out in a busy food-hall setting with a built-in bar and a mix of neighboring vendors.
As reported by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Ichigo will move into Eat Street Crossing after operating from a standalone storefront for more than six years. Reporter J.D. Duggan notes the crepe shop will officially become part of the food-hall lineup once the move is complete.
From Pop-Up Hustle To Neighborhood Staple
Ichigo started as a grind-it-out pop-up story. After moving from Tokyo, Mia Oi built the brand event by event before finally opening a brick-and-mortar shop in 2019, according to General Mills’ GoodWorks. Business listings and local coverage place Ichigo at 5 W. 34th St., where it settled in and became a Lyndale favorite over the past several years.
What Eat Street Crossing Brings To The Table
Eat Street Crossing opened in 2023 in the Old Arizona Studios building on Nicollet and bills itself as a multi-vendor hall anchored by a full bar and a mix of local counters, as covered by Eater Twin Cities. The hall lists its location and hours on its official site at Eat Street Crossing, and its setup of communal seating, rotating vendors, and event space is designed to pull in steady traffic. Ichigo’s arrival will tuck a Tokyo-style dessert counter into a lineup that already features ramen, sushi, and specialty ice cream concepts.
What The Move Could Mean For Ichigo
For a small operation like Ichigo, shifting from a solo storefront to a busy hall could help even out slow stretches and ease some of the overhead that comes with going it alone. Oi has previously told the General Mills GoodWorks program that winter lulls and the need to diversify customer channels were ongoing challenges, and a food-hall slot can open the door to more daytime and weekend visitors who might stumble on crepes while they are really just out for a drink or a bowl of ramen…