Axel’s Restaurant in Mendota is permanently closing this month, the restaurant announced recently in an Instagram post.

“You have been wonderful and we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making us your destination to share so many memories with,” the announcement reads.

The restaurant, just off Minnesota 13, opened in 1941 as the Parker House, according to a Dakota County listing of longstanding restaurants.

Linda Young and Charlie Burrows purchased and remodeled it in 1996 and renamed it Axel’s River Grille, according to a Pioneer Press obituary of Young, who died in 2018.

Young and Burrows said they founded Axel’s, named after Young’s father, with the desire to create a friendly place to work, eat and celebrate at a casual supper club in the Twin Cities. Young’s parents, Janette and Axel Lofgren, both worked at Parker House when Young was growing up, according to the restaurant’s website.

Axel’s became known for its steaks, fish and cocktails. Young and Burrows opened a number of Axel’s and Axel’s Bonfires locations before selling the group to Nath Co., based in Bloomington, in 2008. Axel’s Bonfire on Grand Avenue in St. Paul closed in 2018 and the remaining Bonfire locations closed in 2020.

Axel’s closing in Mendota will leave one location left, inside the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels in Roseville, according to the website. There was a third location in Chanhassen, but that is permanently closed as well.

The Mendota location will close on Sept. 30, according to the company’s Instagram post.

Restaurant management was not available for comment Tuesday, but their Instagram post invited fans to drop in over the final week: “Before Axel’s passes into history, we would like to invite you to join us one last time.”

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