Grandma’s Restaurants named 2025 Howie Business of the Year

In a city defined by lakefront views, historic industry and generations of tight-knit neighborhoods, Grandma’s Restaurants has carved out a reputation as one of Duluth’s most trusted names in hospitality. It’s no surprise, then, that the company has been named the 2025 Howie Business of the Year — an award that feels less like a crowning achievement and more like a long-overdue recognition of what locals have known for decades.

Perched at the gateway to Canal Park, Grandma’s Saloon & Grill has served as an anchor in Duluth’s bustling tourism district since 1976. Its walls overflow with vintage signs and antiques, offering guests more than a meal — they get a playful walk through history. Coupled with a menu loaded with hearty Midwest staples, from thick-cut steaks to creamy wild rice entrées and towering sandwiches, it’s a formula that’s kept crowds coming back season after season.

The restaurant’s location alone is enough to draw visitors. Steps from the Aerial Lift Bridge and Lake Superior’s bustling shipping canal, Grandma’s sits squarely in one of Minnesota’s busiest tourism zones. For many travelers, it’s the first stop off the highway and the final memory before heading home.

Yet it’s the service that truly sets Grandma’s apart. Diners are greeted by staff who embody genuine Northland warmth, eager to recommend a favorite dish or pour the right glass of wine to match the evening’s special. It’s not just good by Duluth standards — it’s exceptional by any Midwest measure.

Beyond the flagship spot, Grandma’s Restaurants has grown into a family of local favorites. Bellisio’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar delivers refined pastas and an expansive wine list just across the street. Little Angie’s Cantina & Grill brings a burst of Southwest flair. The Garden event space and the family-friendly Adventure Zone round out an operation that feels more like a small hospitality empire than a simple local restaurant group.

Together, these establishments create a network of experiences that serve tens of thousands of locals and visitors each year. Whether it’s a wedding reception at The Garden, a business dinner over cabernet at Bellisio’s or a casual taco night at Little Angie’s, Grandma’s remains woven into the fabric of Duluth life.

Selecting a second-place finisher for this year’s business honor wasn’t difficult — because there wasn’t one close enough to merit real debate. When weighing customer loyalty, the sheer variety of offerings, prime locations and an unmistakable sense of place, Grandma’s Restaurants stands in a class by itself.

Locals know it. Longtime visitors make a point to stop in whenever they return to the city. And newcomers who wander in for the first time often leave wondering how quickly they can come back.

For all these reasons, Grandma’s Restaurants is the clear choice as the 2025 Howie Business of the Year. In a region that thrives on stories, traditions and shared community spaces, Grandma’s continues to deliver — one plate, one smile and one memorable evening at a time.

Sports

The steady parade of NHL hopefuls through Duluth is showing no signs of slowing.

Inside Amsoil Arena, Minnesota Duluth has long made a habit of grooming pro-ready players. This winter’s roster — along with a promising wave of recruits — again proves why NHL scouts keep returning to our gritty Northern Minnesota outpost.

For head coach Scott Sandelin, it’s become a repeatable formula: demand detail, build defensive structure, and trust that skilled players will blossom inside the program’s hard-nosed culture.

Plante brothers anchor the skill game

Few families are more synonymous with Hermantown hockey than the Plantes, and now Max and Zam continue that tradition on UMD’s top lines.

Max, selected 47th overall by the Detroit Red Wings, brings a sharp hockey mind and deceptive playmaking.

Older brother Zam, drafted by Pittsburgh in the fifth-round back in 2022, showcases quick cuts and soft hands that can embarrass defenders.

Kleber gives the Bulldogs size and reach on the blue line

On the back end, 6-foot-5 Adam Kleber looks every bit the part of Buffalo’s 45th overall pick.

His reach alone takes away lanes. If he cleans up his feet, he’s going to be a nightmare to play against.

Could Gajan solidify Chicago’s long-term goaltending needs?

Between the pipes, Adam Gajan continues to validate the Blackhawks’ faith after drafting him 35th overall in 2023. The Slovak in his freshman campaign flashed quick reflexes and ice-cold composure.

He’s calm, technical, doesn’t flinch on broken plays. If anything, he might be a little too aggressive sliding side to side. But that’s teachable.

Shaugabay leads UMD’s relentless two-way style

Forward Jayson Shaugabay, a fourth-round pick by Tampa Bay, features finesse below the tops of the circles.

He’ll slip the puck through your triangle and be gone. He's still working on that straight-line speed, but he’s clever.

Depth pieces and the next wave

Aaron Pionk, drafted by the Minnesota Wild, continues to hone his defensive reads.

Then there’s the incoming class: Daniel Shlaine, Ottawa’s fourth-round pick this year out of Russia, brings heavy north-south speed and a quick release. Ashton Dahms of Lakeville is praised for skating and stick details, while forwards Jake Toll and Ryan Zaremba look poised to fill grinding middle-six roles in Duluth.

Sandelin’s system keeps NHL clubs buying in

It all adds up to a familiar story under Sandelin’s watch. For NHL teams, taking a Bulldog means betting on a player who’s been held to high standards in all three zones.

An anonymous veteran scout summed it up simply: “If you want to see a snapshot of tomorrow’s NHL, come up to Duluth.”