Courtesy of The Knox
For years, the historic Knox house sat vacant on Duluth’s Town Green. Come December, the 127-year-old building will reopen. Instead of the private home of the city’s first mayor, John Knox, it will be a restaurant named in his honor. During the day, it’ll serve as a deli, selling both premade and made-to-order sandwiches, plus ice cream and wine. In the evenings, it’ll focus on table service with small plates and a full bar.
“We’re trying to be a one-stop shop,” Smith says. “You just want to go to one place to snag everything you need for a picnic on the green.”
The Knox sits within Duluth’s open-container district, making it possible for that to include drinks from the bar. There will be 18 taps, featuring a house red and house white wine, alongside a mix of beers, from Creature Comforts’ Tropicalia and Terrapin’s Hopsecutioner to Michelob Ultra. Bottled beer and a full bar are also planned. The cocktail list boasts 12 to 16 drinks, mostly classics, with about a quarter of the selections changing seasonally.
At least 14 sandwich varieties will be available. These include a sweet Italian with fig jam, chipotle chicken, meatball, roast beef, and grilled cheese. They’ll be served on focaccia or a hoagie roll. A wedge salad, Caesar, and Southwest round out the lunch items. Ice cream will be available all day with 10 flavors to choose from, sample requests welcome!
In the evening, the food menu will shift toward sharable small plates, including sliders, charcuterie boards, and olives—items that go well with wine. Expect 16 to 20 offerings by the glass and about 50 bottles, with New World varietals accounting for roughly three-quarters of the list. Other offerings include fried ravioli, spinach and artichoke dip, a bruschetta board, and flat breads. Weekend brunch is planned as well.
Smith says his goal is to modernize the building without losing its history. Plans call for a blue exterior with gray-green accents, an interior dining room with some smaller side rooms and a fireplace. A large indoor-outdoor space will add bar seating and additional tables, with garage doors that open in warmer weather. Like at Smith’s Tavern Off the Green in Cumming, The Knox will have TVs showing major sports events.
