Beloved Rondo community restaurant Golden Thyme Coffee and Cafe is coming back — this time as a full morning-to-evening restaurant — with celebrity chef Justin Sutherland in charge of the menu.

Sutherland and his dad, Kerry Sutherland, are partnering with the nonprofit Rondo Community Land Trust, which bought the Selby Avenue building from Mychael and Stephanie Wright in 2023. The trust originally ran it as an incubator for restaurant businesses but has decided to offer the community something more permanent.

“This isn’t really about me,” Justin Sutherland told the Pioneer Press. “I love the vision and the concept, and revitalizing Rondo is important to me. I just want to help keep Golden Thyme afloat.”

Mychael Wright, owner of Golden Thyme Coffee and Cafe on Selby Avenue in St. Paul, talks about what he is thankful for on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Sutherland said there will be coffee, a smoothie and juice bar, and breakfast during the day. But they’re remodeling the space to add a full bar and will add sit-down service for lunch and dinner.

He expects about 50 seats inside and about 20 to 25 more on the patio.

As for the menu, he said it’s still being developed.

“We’ll see what the neighborhood needs. There will definitely be soul food classics, American fare — not a huge menu, likely rotating,” he said.

They’ll continue featuring local artists with a mini-art-gallery wall and there will be a small stage inside for acoustic music or spoken-word entertainment.

The goal, Sutherland said, is to be open by Selby Avenue Jazz Fest in mid-September.

Golden Thyme Coffee and Cafe: 934 Selby Ave., St. Paul

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