The Commodore Bar & Restaurant

What The Commodore Bar & Restaurant does

The Commodore Bar & Restaurant is a historic Art Deco bar and fine-dining establishment located at 79 Western Avenue North in Saint Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood. Originally opened as the Commodore Hotel in 1920, the venue was remodeled in 1934 with a Werner Wittkamp-designed bar evocative of transatlantic ocean liners and is recognized as the Twin Cities' only remaining Jazz Age romantic venue, with a documented F. Scott Fitzgerald connection. The restaurant was restored and reopened in 2015, closed for approximately five years, and reopened again in September 2025.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer restaurant and private-event venue. Core products include full-service dinner (entrees priced $40–$50, shareables $13–$30, desserts $16), a happy hour and late-night menu (apps $15, cocktails $16), a beverage program featuring signature cocktails, and a Valentine's Day prix fixe menu at $75 per person. Private event hosting accommodates up to 250 guests across a ballroom (up to 175 seated) and dining room (75–100 seated) for weddings, corporate events, and celebrations. The technology stack is standard third-party SaaS — Tock for reservations, ToastTab for gift cards, BambooHR via Commonwealth Companies — with no proprietary platform or AI/ML capabilities. Customer segments span dine-in restaurant guests (local residents, couples, special-occasion diners), private event hosts (wedding, corporate, holiday), and weekend brunch diners.

Revenue is generated from food and beverage sales, private event bookings (quote-based), and gift card sales (physical and digital). The venue is part of the Commonwealth Companies portfolio alongside sister properties (W.A. Frost & Company, University Club of Saint Paul, Stout's Island Lodge, Villa Maria) and shares services and cross-promotion across the group. Marketing relies on Facebook, Instagram, an email newsletter, and earned media including Minnesota Monthly, WCCO, Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, and Eater Twin Cities. As of January 2026, the company is executing a $75,000 community fundraising campaign to convert its ballroom into a high-fidelity live music venue.

Name

The Commodore Bar & Restaurant

Legal name

The Commodore Bar and Restaurant

Website

https://thecommodorebar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Commodore Bar & Restaurant is a historic 1920 Art Deco fine-dining and bar establishment in Saint Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood, serving couples, private-event hosts, and weekend diners with dinner service, private event spaces for up to 250 guests, and gift cards, now raising funds to add a live music venue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Dining Restaurant

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lounge Bars & Hotel Bars (THAFAEAI), Supper Clubs & Dinner-Theater Restaurants (THAFACAL)

Keywords

• Fine dining restaurant
• Private event venue
• Cocktail bar service
• Historic art deco hospitality
• Special occasion dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Primary revenue from dining room and bar sales including dinner service, cocktails, wine, beer, and specialty menus (happy hour, dessert, Valentine's Day). Covers shareables, entrees, and beverages.
2. Private Event Hosting: Revenue from hosting private events including weddings, holiday parties, reunions, company events, and celebrations in ballroom (up to 175 seated) and dining room (up to 100 seated) spaces.
3. Gift Cards: E-gift cards and physical gift cards sold online via ToastTab and in-person during operating hours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Commodore Bar & Restaurant is a historic Art Deco bar and restaurant on Cathedral Hill in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It offers full-service fine dining (dinner, dessert, and beverage menus), happy hour and late-night service, weekend brunch, private event hosting for up to 250 guests in ballroom and dining room spaces, and physical and e-gift cards. The restaurant sources seasonally driven American cuisine from local Minnesota farmers and artisans.

Product overview

The Commodore Bar & Restaurant is a historic Art Deco bar and restaurant in Saint Paul, Minnesota, offering a unified dining and hospitality experience. The core offering includes full-service dining (Dinner Menu, Happy Hour & Late Night Menu, Beverage Menu, Dessert Menu), private event hosting across two venues (Ballroom accommodating up to 175 guests and Dining Room for up to 100), gift card products (both physical and e-gift cards), and table reservations. Seasonal offerings include special Valentine's Day menus. The establishment is currently undergoing transformation to add a best-in-class music venue component to its ballroom space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bar & Restaurant Dining Full-service Art Deco dining experience in Cathedral Hill, Saint Paul, featuring seasonally driven American cuisine, craft cocktails, wine, and beer for walk-in and reservation guests.
• Private Event Hosting Event venue hosting weddings, corporate events, holiday parties, reunions, and celebrations in a Ballroom (up to 175 seated) and Dining Room (up to 100 seated), accommodating up to 250 guests.
• Dinner Menu Full dinner service featuring shareables (Dinner Rolls $13, Charcuterie Platter $30, etc.), salads, entrees (Pork Chop $45, Salmon $45, 9oz Sirloin $50), and desserts.
• Happy Hour & Late Night Menu Discounted bar menu offered Wed-Thu 4pm-6pm and Fri-Sat 9pm-11pm, with all apps at $15 and all cocktails at $16, including half-price wine bottles on Wed & Thu.
• Beverage Menu Full cocktail, wine, and beer selection including signature cocktails such as the Fitzgerald, Commodore House Old Fashioned, and Manhattan.
• Valentine's Day Prix Fixe Menu Seasonal three-course prix fixe menu at $75 per person with optional wine flight at $55, featuring options like Pan-Seared Halibut, Beef Short Rib & Polenta, and Herb Roasted Chicken.
• E-Gift Cards Digital gift cards sold online via the ToastTab platform, personalizable and delivered via email or text message with online balance checking.
• Physical Gift Cards Tangible gift cards available for purchase in-person at the restaurant during operating hours.
• Online Reservations Table reservation system powered by Tock, allowing guests to book parties of two or more for specific dates and times.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Commonwealth CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company operating The Commodore and sister properties including W.A. Frost & Company, University Club of Saint Paul, Stout's Island Lodge, and Villa Maria. Commonwealth Companies manages the restaurant group and provides shared services including charitable activities coordination, employment platform (BambooHR), and website development.
• ToastTabcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party gift card platform provider for e-gift card sales and balance lookup functionality on the restaurant's website.
• TockcoreTechnology or IntegrationReservation platform powering online table reservations for The Commodore. Also listed on Explore Tock for booking.
• Keystone Community ServicesminorOthers10% of all donations to The Commodore music venue transformation fund go to Keystone Community Services, supporting food security, youth, and families in the community including those impacted by immigration enforcement and ICE presence in Minnesota.
• W.A. Frost & CompanyminorOthersSister property under Commonwealth Companies. Referenced for additional event hosting options and cross-promotion of employment opportunities.
• University Club of Saint PaulminorOthersSister property under Commonwealth Companies. Referenced for additional event hosting options. Offering 1-Year Social Membership at University Club of St. Paul as founding perk for music venue supporters.
• Stout's Island ResortminorOthersSister property under Commonwealth Companies. $500 credit at Stout's Island Resort offered as Commodore Circle founding perk for music venue transformation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• W.A. Frost & Company: Sister property under Commonwealth Companies operating as a historic fine dining restaurant in Saint Paul. Directly comparable as a heritage fine dining establishment with similar positioning, private event capabilities, and shared operational resources.
• Forepaugh's Restaurant: Historic Victorian-era fine dining restaurant in downtown Saint Paul operating in a restored19th-century mansion. Comparable as a heritage dining destination in the same local market targeting special occasions and romantic dining.
• The Lexington Restaurant: Iconic Saint Paul restaurant housed in a historic building, known for classic American cuisine and a connection to the city's gangster-era history (the 'Purple Gang' room). Comparable heritage positioning and Saint Paul fine dining market overlap.
• University Club of Saint Paul: Sister property under Commonwealth Companies offering fine dining and private events in a historic Saint Paul club building. Comparable as a heritage hospitality venue with event hosting capabilities and shared operational resources.
• 112 Eatery: Upscale-casual fine dining restaurant in Minneapolis known for Italian-inspired cuisine and craft cocktails. Comparable Twin Cities market positioning targeting an upscale dining audience with a curated, intimate atmosphere.
• Restaurant Alma: Award-winning fine dining establishment in Minneapolis offering seasonal American cuisine with a focus on hospitality and craft. Comparable Twin Cities upscale dining positioning with similar attention to seasonal menus and intimate ambiance.
• The Bachelor Farmer: Upscale Scandinavian-influenced restaurant in Minneapolis's North Loop with strong design aesthetic and private event spaces. Comparable Twin Cities fine dining market positioning with similar emphasis on design, craft cocktails, and event hosting.
• Stout's Island Lodge: Sister property under Commonwealth Companies operating as a historic island resort and event venue. Comparable as a heritage hospitality property within the same Commonwealth portfolio with shared event hosting and group service capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Murray's Restaurant: Historic Minneapolis steakhouse operating since 1946, known for traditional fine dining and private events. Comparable as an established Twin Cities heritage fine dining institution, though focused on steakhouse tradition rather than Jazz Age themes.
• The 21 Club: Iconic NYC fine dining establishment famous for its Prohibition-era speakeasy heritage and celebrity history. Comparable as a nationally-recognized heritage dining venue with Prohibition/Jazz Age associations and an emphasis on history-driven storytelling.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCommodoreBarRestaurant
• Instagraminstagram.com/commodorestpaul

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Commodore Bar & Restaurant