By Tesha M. Christensen
South Lyndale is home for Dan Campo. Born at Colfax and 33rd, he’s running the business his parents, Joe and Maryann started in 1975. On Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, that family business, South Lyndale Liquors, tripled in size and moved down the block from 5500 to 5516 Lyndale.
“This is a 11-year, 13-year dream,” Campo told those gathered for the ribbon-cutting event. “The thing about being a collector is you run out of room for your collection.”
Expanding from 12,000-square-feet into 35,000 square feet means that there is much more space for all the varieties of beer, wine and spirits that Campo finds.
The project really started in earnest four years ago when they secured a deal for the Borton Volvo property that was most recently home to a Coldwell Banker and an Enterprise rental car shop. The Enterprise building was torn down 18 months ago, and the Borton Volvo building provided the base for the remodel and addition. The original brick and trusses can be seen inside.
Campo thanked his wife, Kate, son Roman (9), and daughter, Sydney, along with staff, project workers, and customers. “This is my family,” Campo said as he gestured to the crowd around him. “It’s all of you who have made this possible.”
In three days, people helped move $1 million worth of merchandise down the street to the new facility.
Campo thanked the city for the zoning changes needed to construct the new facility, and the ability to add security shutters.
As a customer walked out, he thanked the Campos for staying in the neighborhood.
“We’re happy to live and work in the community,” said Kate.
Dan and Kate met at South Lyndale Liquor. She had gone in looking for a bottle of wine. She asked someone she assumed was a contractor due to his Carhardt and work clothes who she should ask for a recommendation for a bottle of rosé. He said he could help, and he located the perfect bottle. Today they live in Lynnhurst, not far from the store.
For the new location, Campo built upon his family heritage and the history of the neighborhood, which was new in the 1920s and 30s. The cheese and sandwich shop mimics a deli from Brooklyn, New York, where his family is from. A 1934 Chevrolet is parked inside, a nod to moonshine runners.
Hanging above are “clouds” that Dan fashioned from wine barrels and beer crates during a couple overnight builds with friend and artist, Ted Hogue (formerly of The Cottage House Furniture). Look for new art in the building as Dan and Ted continue to create.
The addition of an event space means that they can hold wine tastings and other events in-house. The seating can also be used by those getting a sandwich for lunch. Plus, the space has wine machines where people can pay for individual glasses of wine.
“People can sit and have lunch and a glass of wine,” remarked Kate.
Fendler Patterson Construction was the general contractor on the 18-month build. “It’s been a long road,” said John Patterson. “You don’t often get properties like this and owners that put in this kind of thought and design. It’s wonderful to be a part of it.”
For Maryann Campo, standing in the new building was bittersweet. She had negotiated from A to Z to begin the business. “I was sentimentally attached to the other building,” she acknowledged. “But the landlords gave my son such a hard time that he had no other choice.” Dan and Kate tried to purchase their original building but the owners wouldn’t sell it.
“Here’s to the next 48 years,” remarked Campo. “I’m really excited.”
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