It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Minneapolis St Louis Railway Excelsior Depot building gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Excelsior, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Port of Excelsior with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Maynards or visit Excelsior Amusement Park historical, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Excelsior, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Excelsior, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Excelsior, MN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The chef has revealed the details of Vagabondo, featuring pizza, pasta and gelato in a space that famously is said to have inspired a Rolling Stones song.As David Fhima and his son Eli put the final touches on their new Sicilian restaurant in downtown Excelsior, they’re dishing on the details.The restaurant, projected to open in mid- to late July, will be called Vagabondo, a reference to Fhima’s childhood nickname, given to him by his Sicilian grandmother.“It’s Italian for ‘vagabond.’ ...
The chef has revealed the details of Vagabondo, featuring pizza, pasta and gelato in a space that famously is said to have inspired a Rolling Stones song.
As David Fhima and his son Eli put the final touches on their new Sicilian restaurant in downtown Excelsior, they’re dishing on the details.
The restaurant, projected to open in mid- to late July, will be called Vagabondo, a reference to Fhima’s childhood nickname, given to him by his Sicilian grandmother.
“It’s Italian for ‘vagabond.’ My great-grandmother, my dad’s grandmother, Sultana, was Sicilian and one of my dad’s earliest memories is that she would pull on one of his ears and call him ‘Vagabondo’ after he came home dirty from playing on the streets,” Eli explained.
“My dad jokes that one of his ears is longer because of that. We’re really channeling that fun, playful spirit of Sultana, her dishes and our family’s Sicilian roots.”
Chef David Fhima was born in Morocco with one side of his family French, Spanish and Moroccan and the other side Sicilian-Italian. He currently runs the French-Moroccan Fhima’s and the French bistro Maison Margaux, both in Minneapolis, and has operated other Mediterranean eateries in the past. He said Vagabondo rounds out the type of cuisine he’s always wanted to serve.
The menu will feature everything from sandwiches to seafood, as well as handmade pizzas, pastas and gelatos, made in a glass-walled room so those walking past can catch the action of dough being tossed, pasta being rolled and gelato being churned. Pizza will come in two varieties: Neapolitan-style, cooked in a wood-fired oven, and deeper dish Sicilian-style, made in cast-iron pans. Margherita, Sicilian sausage and other classic toppings, as well as build-your-own, will be offered.
“What they will have in common is our sourdough crust that’s going to be made with our 130-year-old starter dough from my other grandmother, my Moroccan grandma,” Fhima said.
Pasta will be a large part of the operation, including classic Sicilian dishes such as pasta alla Norma with eggplant, marinara sauce and basil, as well as la pasta con le sarde with sardines, anchovies, fennel, saffron and pine nuts. Many dishes will be available in full and smaller sizes.
“You’ll find dishes such as grandma’s Sicilian gnocchi for $28, $30 or you can have a small plate for $18,” Fhima said. “We’re going to be a very serious kitchen, but we’re not going to take ourselves too seriously. It’s going to be beautiful plating and food in a beautiful space, but at affordable prices and a fun atmosphere.”
The restaurant will span two floors: the main floor with 80 seats and lower level with 100 seats. A 30-seat back patio and 16-seat sidewalk patio — with views of nearby Lake Minnetonka — is also part of the grand plan. While the main level dining room will have a more contemporary feel, the downstairs area will evoke throwback vibes with references to Mick Jagger and to one of the space’s previous incarnations, Bacon Drug.
As the story goes, a moment in that space might be the inspiration behind a famous song. When the Rolling Stones played a gig at Danceland Ballroom in Excelsior in 1964 and Jagger dipped into Bacon’s while in town, he encountered Stones fan Jimmy Hutmaker, or “Mister Jimmy,” who griped to the rock star that the store was out of cherry cola. He settled for a regular Coke before declaring to Jagger, “You can’t always get what you want.” In 1969, the Stones’ released the “Let It Bleed” album with the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
“To pay homage to that, our main bar is going to make our own variety of Italian sodas,” Fhima said.
Vagabondo will be open for lunch, dinner and social hour. Once they’ve settled in, Fhima, who also runs Mother Dough Bakery in Minneapolis, said they hope to add a coffee counter in the space, at 205 Water St., that was more recently home to Red Sauce Rebellion.
“We’ll have Italian coffee and pastries,” Fhima said.
The afternoon sun catches the red trim of Victorian storefronts as I stroll down Water Street in Excelsior, Minnesota. I’ve just walked the entire historic district in fifteen minutes flat. That’s what happens in a town of 2,224 residents packed into merely 0.63 square miles of land. What’s remarkable isn’t Excelsior’s size, but what they’ve managed to fit inside this lakeside postage stamp – a nationally registered historic district, two public beaches...
The afternoon sun catches the red trim of Victorian storefronts as I stroll down Water Street in Excelsior, Minnesota. I’ve just walked the entire historic district in fifteen minutes flat. That’s what happens in a town of 2,224 residents packed into merely 0.63 square miles of land. What’s remarkable isn’t Excelsior’s size, but what they’ve managed to fit inside this lakeside postage stamp – a nationally registered historic district, two public beaches, and waterfront dining without the elbow-to-elbow crowds you’ll find just 4 miles away in neighboring Wayzata.
It’s Thursday afternoon in June, and Lake Minnetonka sparkles like a Midwestern mirage 30 miles west of Minneapolis. Families spread picnic blankets across The Commons park while kayakers glide across water that reflects Victorian gables and storefront awnings. Nobody’s fighting for space or Instagram angles – not yet, anyway.
The Commons park delivers what feels mathematically impossible – 13 acres of prime lakefront real estate in a town that’s smaller than most shopping malls. Unlike Sausalito’s floating homes community, Excelsior offers traditional shoreline access to Lake Minnetonka with two sandy beaches that never feel overrun.
“We keep coming back because the kids can actually swim without us hovering over them constantly,” a mother tells me as her children splash near the shore. “In Wayzata, you’re always watching for someone’s yacht or keeping them from bumping into strangers.”
What makes Excelsior special isn’t just the lake access – it’s the remarkable density of attractions. Within these 0.63 square miles, you’ll find the Old Log Theatre (Minnesota’s longest-running professional theater), Excelsior Brewing Company, and a bandshell hosting free summer concerts every Thursday through September.
Families pedal rented bikes along Water Street, pausing for ice cream at Adele’s Frozen Custard or browsing Excelsior Bay Books. The sidewalks are wide enough to accommodate window shoppers without forcing others into the street – a small-town luxury that becomes immediately apparent when you’ve visited busier lakeside destinations.
Four miles east, Wayzata attracts the lion’s share of Lake Minnetonka visitors with its larger marina and upscale shopping. Unlike Solvang’s overwhelming 167-to-1 tourist ratio, Excelsior maintains its authentic character even during summer weekends.
You get the exact same lake views and better beaches without fighting for a table or parking spot. The locals still outnumber visitors, and you can feel that in everything from the morning coffee shop conversations to how people greet you on the docks.
The town’s Victorian architecture provides another striking contrast to Wayzata’s more modern developments. While Vermont’s Arlington inspired Norman Rockwell’s iconic Americana paintings, Excelsior captures similar small-town charm with its well-preserved 19th-century commercial buildings.
Water Street’s historic district earned its National Register of Historic Places designation for good reason. Unlike towns that preserve just a few token buildings, Excelsior maintains an entire streetscape of original architecture that creates an immersive experience rather than a museum-like display.
Like Pine, Arizona’s cooler mountain climate, Excelsior offers a refreshing lakeside retreat from summer heat with temperatures typically 5-8 degrees cooler than Minneapolis thanks to lake breezes.
June through early August provides the sweet spot for visitors. The Art on the Lake Festival (June 14-15) brings local artisans to The Commons, while Fourth of July fireworks reflect spectacularly on the lake’s surface. By mid-August, many beach amenities begin scaling back as Minnesota’s brief summer wanes.
For the best experience, arrive at The Commons before 10am when parking spaces remain plentiful in the free lot at 399 Lake Street. Or better yet, take the historic trolley that runs between downtown and the lakefront every 30 minutes from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
As evening approaches, I join locals at a picnic table outside Excelsior Brewing Company. My beer glass catches the golden-hour light while conversations blend with laughter from The Commons just a block away. Sarah would love photographing the Victorian facades in this light, and Emma would be building sandcastles at the beach rather than sitting next to me.
This pocket-sized Minnesota town offers what increasingly feels like a luxury in America’s tourist destinations – room to breathe while still enjoying world-class attractions. Like a well-kept family recipe passed through generations, Excelsior delivers something that simply tastes better than its flashier neighbors.
Mayor Gary Ringate called the the development project “a big step forward for the city,” but Wayzata-based developer Mithun Cos. has some changes to make before the final approval Aug. 4.After much debate about historic preservation vs. continued development, the Excelsior City Council voted to OK a three-story, mixed-use apartment building for a prominent downtown corner.Six hours of discussion Monday evening preceded the preliminary approval at 1 a.m. Tuesday. Before that, a Planning Commission also convened sever...
Mayor Gary Ringate called the the development project “a big step forward for the city,” but Wayzata-based developer Mithun Cos. has some changes to make before the final approval Aug. 4.
After much debate about historic preservation vs. continued development, the Excelsior City Council voted to OK a three-story, mixed-use apartment building for a prominent downtown corner.
Six hours of discussion Monday evening preceded the preliminary approval at 1 a.m. Tuesday. Before that, a Planning Commission also convened several times before ultimately recommending the project to the council, with adjustments.
Final approval should come at the council’s Aug. 4 meeting, as long as developer Mithun Cos. makes a few adjustments. The original plan’s height and parking were the main areas of concern before approval. The city is asking for a design alteration and fee payment to address those issues.
The initial proposal called for a $35 million to $40 million complex with about 40 apartments above ground-floor restaurant and retail space. It would also fill a lot that has been empty for 15 years, despite its prime location facing Water Street, the city’s main drag.
“I personally am really excited about it. It’s a big step forward for the city,” Mayor Gary Ringate said.
The property is in an area that’s on the National Register of Historic Places, and locally there’s a two-story limit on construction there.
The proposed building is three stories, and the original plan intended for part of the top floor facing Water Street to be set back eight feet. The council wants the entire Water Street facade set back to visually minimize its height from the street.
Surrounding structures limit the parking space behind the proposed building, which includes a 70-space underground garage for apartment residents and 24 surface spots. City regulations require about 200 spaces, based on the size of the proposed retail stores, restaurants and homes.
To gain final approval, Wayzata-based Mithun will most likely need to pay a “parking-impact fee” based on the cost of creating the remaining parking spaces, Ringate said.
“The third-floor setback is workable, and we believe we’ll be able to reach an appropriate solution on the parking,” said Mithun Cos. owner Matt Mithun. “It’s been a collaborative process. We appreciate everybody’s time and effort, and we’re looking forward to moving forward.”
The project is a planned unit development, a designation that allows construction outside the standard zoning rules in exchange for features that benefit the public.
Despite the project bending some of the rules, Ringate said he’s ”comfortable with where it is" because the “the public benefit overrides minute details.” The proposal’s main public benefit is re-opening an 80-year-old movie theater that’s been closed since the pandemic.
Excelsior residents who spoke at the well-attended Monday meeting were largely in favor of the building. A few critics have said they fear the project will permanently alter the city’s quaint 19th-century look.
“I think we’ve lost our way in terms of containment and moderation,” said Peter Hartwich, a longtime gentrification opponent who has unsuccessfully run for mayor of Excelsior twice.
“Excelsior is a microcosm of what is happening to the rest of the world, where the middle class is diminished, where now people can’t afford to live in Excelsior anymore,” he said, “and it’s because of the choices that the local city government has made over the past 25 years.”
Ringate, who grew up in neighboring Shorewood, called Excelsior a “very interesting town with a lot of history.” The city has seen an influx of new residents in recent decades. They have built bigger houses, while boutiques and high-end restaurants have replaced mom-and-pop shops.
Excelsior officials are debating the approval of a three-story, mixed-use building that’s too tall for the historic area’s regulations. Several other projects have failed to materialize at the prime spot, empty for 15 years.An empty lot on one of the most high-profile corners of a historic suburban downtown is once again a focal point in an ongoing tug-of-war between redevelopment and preservation.Excelsior city officials must soon decide whether to greenlight construction of a mixed-use building that could further ...
Excelsior officials are debating the approval of a three-story, mixed-use building that’s too tall for the historic area’s regulations. Several other projects have failed to materialize at the prime spot, empty for 15 years.
An empty lot on one of the most high-profile corners of a historic suburban downtown is once again a focal point in an ongoing tug-of-war between redevelopment and preservation.
Excelsior city officials must soon decide whether to greenlight construction of a mixed-use building that could further elevate the western suburb’s status as an upscale Twin Cities destination. But some critics fear the project will permanently alter the main street’s retro small-town vibe.
The lot has been vacant for 15 years since the demolition of a former Pizza Hut. Earlier development proposals for the site have failed to materialize. A controversial four-story boutique hotel the city approved in 2013 was “ultimately too expensive to build” and never completed, said City Manager Kristi Luger. Last year, city officials rejected another plan for a four-story hotel because of its height.
The 2024 proposition was from Wayzata-based Mithun Cos., which is also helming the 2025 plan. Mithun is currently constructing Wayzata Gateway, a multi-use development with apartments, townhouses and businesses at a busy intersection in that suburb.
In Excelsior, the proposed three-story building with apartment, restaurant and retail space would incorporate part of a neighboring 80-year-old movie theater, closed since COVID-19.
But it would also exceed the two-story height limit in the historic district. That area, including the building’s potential location on Water Street, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2021.
The Planning Commission decided in a Monday evening special meeting to recommend approval of the project to the City Council — but only if Mithun adjusts the plan to meet several conditions. That includes lowering the structure’s height in some places and expanding parking. Commissioners outlined those requirements and will finalize the decision at another meeting next week.
“As submitted, it does not meet, at least in my perspective, the conditions for approval,” said Bill Muenzberg, the commission’s chair.
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The final decision is up to the City Council, which will likely discuss it July 21. The council is not obliged to follow the commission’s recommendation.
Should the City Council approve the development this summer, the building could open in fall 2027, per Mithun Cos. owner Matt Mithun. But whether to welcome the $35-million-to-$40-million complex with 40 or so apartments above restaurant and retail space is a tough decision in a community of 2,400 that’s proud of its quaint architecture.
The city has gentrified in recent years, becoming home to boutiques and trendy restaurants that have attracted day-trippers and affluent new residents. Even beyond downtown, Excelsior’s oldest residential neighborhood is reflecting that change, with large, expensive houses replacing many older, more modest homes. So far this year, the median home sale price in Excelsior is close to $1.2 million, up more than 140% from 10 years ago, according to the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors.
Part of the scrutiny on Mithun’s proposed building and others before it has to do with the visibility of the lot’s location. A building there would face the city’s main drag, at the intersection of Water and Lake streets. It’s across the street from the Commons, a 13-acre park next to Lake Minnetonka, and the Port of Excelsior’s public docks and charter cruises.
Among the conditions from the commission: either reducing the building to two floors or setting its third floor back from lower walls in some areas. The setback, intended to make the structure look more like a two-story building from the street, would include the entire Water Street facade, which is only partly set back in the current proposal.
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Some two-story buildings in the historic district are taller than a standard two-story building, Mithun said in an interview, including a 37-foot structure on the next block. Mithun’s planned structure would stand 35 feet, 8 inches on the Water Street side.
Excelsior’s historic district showcases mostly one-and two-story brick, stucco and stone structures built between the 1880s and 1950. Three-story and taller buildings have been prohibited since 2022.
There are some three-story buildings downtown, built in recent years but outside of the historic district, including Excelsior Shores, an apartment complex on Lake Street next to the proposed building but outside the historic area.
Commission members expressed concern that bending the rules for this project would cause future projects to bend them still further.
The current proposal includes just more than 90 parking spaces; city regulations would call for about 200, based on the proposed retail stores, restaurants and other building uses, Community Development Director Julia Mullin said. The plan includes a 70-space underground parking garage for apartment residents and up to 24 additional surface spots.
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Surrounding structures circumscribe the parking area behind the building. But other solutions could include payment of a potentially hefty “parking-impact fee,” providing valet parking or limiting parking to retail use by day and restaurant use by night.
A local ordinance allows projects more design flexibility than usual if the development provides public benefit. Restoring the theater would be this project’s biggest public benefit, Mithun said. The proposed building would encompass the site of the Excelsior Dock Cinema, and construction would demolish part of the theater but preserve its second-story auditorium.
The plan is for St. Paul-based FilmNorth to show movies four days a week there, with the remaining three days available as a venue for community gatherings and presentations. A classic marquee would replace the current flat sign.
Without the project, Mithun said, the theater would be unusable, partly because of water damage. He also said small independent theaters have struggled since the pandemic with competition from streaming services.
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An outdoor public “porch” with seating facing the lake is one of the local projects that will benefit from the proposal’s $500,000 fund, Mithun said. Others include water main repairs, stormwater treatment, public restrooms, an improved pedestrian crossing to the Port of Excelsior, fireworks and street beautification projects like holiday lights and boulevard tree plantings.
The city has received letters and emails from downtown business owners favoring the proposal, including from the owners of neighboring Excelsior Shores. None of the written messages submitted to the commission late last month opposed it.
“The resounding response to our project has been supportive,” said Mithun, adding response at public meetings held to explain the project have also been largely positive.
Excelsior resident Charles James owned the lot from 1976 until selling it to Mithun in 2023 for $3.5 million. He’s a fan of the proposal and considers the city’s height restrictions “wrong, unconstitutional and unfair.”
Should the development fall through as others have before it, Planning Commissioner JoAnna Hansen warns that the lot could remain empty into the foreseeable future.
“If we deny this [project] we may not get another,” Hansen said. “My view is that it’s pretty much a good place, minus those couple of conditions.”
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If you’ve noticed your wallet feeling a little lighter lately, you’re not alone-- especially if you live in this city. A new report just revealed which Minnesota municipality now holds the title of the most expensive place to live in 2025.No matter where in the North Star State you call home, there are just some costs you always have to pay, right? But if you're looking to save som...
If you’ve noticed your wallet feeling a little lighter lately, you’re not alone-- especially if you live in this city. A new report just revealed which Minnesota municipality now holds the title of the most expensive place to live in 2025.
No matter where in the North Star State you call home, there are just some costs you always have to pay, right? But if you're looking to save some money, you likely don't want to live in this city, because it's now been ranked as the priciest place to live in the entire Gopher State.
Unless you own your home outright, you probably have a mortgage or rent payment you diligently pay each month. Then there are utility bills, taxes, insurance, and other costs most of us pay each month as well, all of which eat up a healthy portion of our income.
But some of those costs can vary greatly depending on just where in Minnesota you reside. And a new survey has just shed some light on which city now has the highest monthly bills and is the most expensive in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
The crew over at doxo just released their 2025 Cost of Bills Index (COBI) Report. It looks at the cost of the ten most common household bill categories (Utilities, Cable & Phone, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage) and provides a standard comparison index for the most fundamental expenses that make up the cost of living.
And after crunching all the numbers and comparing all the statistics, doxo has come up with the Most Expensive City in Minnesota. It's a city where the COBI index is a whopping 46% higher than the national average!
If you live in Minnesota's Most Expensive City, you pay $37,129 a year in household bills, which is $3,094 a month. Those figures are also $11,616 higher than the national average in the U.S. and represent 24% of the average home's income of $156,308.
Which city is it? Congratulations to Excelsior, a city in the southwest Twin Cities metro, in Hennepin County on Lake Minnetonka. Doxo says it is Minnesota's Most Expensive City, based on the 2025 COBI index.
Check out these other facts that make Excelsior Minnesota's Most Expensive City, according to doxo:
On the other end of the spectrum, doxo says Aitkin, in northern Minnesota, a little northeast of Brainerd, has the least expensive monthly bills, coming in at just $1,558. Worthington, Albert Lea, Fairmont, and Marshall round out the list of cities in Minnesota with the lowest monthly payments.
And we don't have the information to verify, we're going to guess the monthly payments would be pretty hefty on this enormous castle-like home in here in the Bold North. Keep scrolling to check it out!
Here is the list of the 10 Most Expensive Cities in Minnesota, according to their total average monthly bills from doxo's 2025 COBI report.
1) Excelsior - $3,094
2) Lakeville - $3,093
3) Wayzata - $3,054
4) Stillwater - $2,843
5) Shakopee - $2,778
6) Rogers - $2,769
7) Prior Lake - $2,750
8) Chanhassen - $2,731
9) Minnetonka - $2,669
10) Savage - $2,619
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