Well, that was quick.
Last month, when Colossal Cafe owners John, Elizabeth and Carrie Tinucci moved their restaurant from its original (and Lilliputian) location to roomier digs in the recently closed Pilgrimage (roughly 12 blocks to the northeast), they promised that their 42nd-and-Cedar building wouldn't stay dark for long.
They weren't kidding.
Get ready for the Original on 42nd, a sandwich shop run in partnership with chefs Andrew Lilja and Stephanie Kochlin. The operation will feature made-to-order, seasonally focused sandwiches (made with breads baked daily at the Colossal), supplemented by a small array of soups and salads.
"We are thrilled to open the Original soon," said Kochlin in a statement. "The Original is going to be a friendly, neighborhood place offering classic sandwiches, made with a unique twist. Some will be quirky, and everything will be delicious."
The Colossal's rebirth dates back to 2005, when chef Bess Giannakakis chose a big name for her 16-seat cafe, and created a whopper of a signature dish: yeast-fueled pancakes she dubbed Flappers. Giannakakis sold the business to the Tinuccis in 2010 and moved to Austin, Texas.
The Tinuccis have grown the business considerably, adding a St. Anthony Park location in 2012, then taking over the former Twisted Fork Grille, at Grand and Hamline in St. Paul, in 2015.
Colossal fans will remember Lilja's fine work when the restaurant's St. Anthony Park outlet served dinner. He's also a Heartland and I Nonni vet. Kochlin is another Heartland veteran, and ran the kitchen at Pig & Fiddle. She and Lilja have been a couple for 14 years, and the Original marks the first time they've collaborated professionally.
