The following article was published in the July 28, 2012 issue of the Star Tribune:

NEW FOOD VENDOR FOR LAKE NOKOMIS

Lake Nokomis may feature a healthy and sustainable food concession if plans move forward for a new vendor.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Community Advisory Committee for the project chose Sandcastle as its preferred concession plan on July 26 and will recommend it to the Board of Commissioners Sept. 5.

Sandcastle, proposed by husband and wife Doug Flicker and Amy Greeley, would feature affordable healthy and locally produced fare, and also aims to be a near-zero waste establishment.

It was chosen from among three proposals. Flicker runs Piccolo, a restaurant near Lake Harriet. He has been in the Minneapolis restaurant business for 25 years.

Plans for a new vendor started after the concession building at Lake Nokomis stopped meeting health standards and closed for the past two seasons.

After the Sept. 5 meeting, the Park Board expects to make a final decision Sept. 19. They plan to have the concession ready to open in April 2013.