Reverie Cafe + Bar owners Kirstin Wiegmann and Jeff Therkelsen opened Dreamstate Cafe on Dec. 6 in the former Common Roots and Hi Flora! space at 2558 Lyndale Ave S.

Local vegan foodies may recall the original Reverie when it operated as an all-day cafe and live music venue at night from 2014-2016 at 1931 Nicollet Ave., now Cajun Boiling. That location’s closure Wiegmann called “heartbreaking.” Reverie Cafe + Bar is now located in the Powderhorn neighborhood.

Dreamstate Cafe softly opened for dinner service and starting Dec. 11 opened for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Brunch is coming soon, too.

Wiegmann and Therkelsen worked with former Common Roots owner Danny Schwartzman to purchase the Dreamstate Cafe building. Schwartzman had maintained ownership of the building after his cafe closed two years ago.

“I think he's a really good person,” Wiegmann said about Schwartzman, the community-centered cafe owner of 15 years. “He definitely is leading with his values and not his pocketbook.”

Wiegmann similarly described Dreamstate Cafe and Reverie based on shared values.

“We're here to create community space and vibrant places where people can gather,” Wiegmann said.

Part of Dreamstate Cafe's seating area with a mural done by Minnesota artist Jessie McNally. Photo by Azhae'la Hanson

Therkelsen and Wiegmann chose Dreamstate Cafe’s location for many reasons, one their shared experience living in the area when they were younger.  

Wiegmann said they were also excited to be surrounded by local businesses like Odd Mart down the block.

“And then there's Nightingale and Lucky Cat Records. It’s just a really cool corner. And there's so much history here,” Wiegmann said.  

When new cafes open, it’s sometimes hard to know if you can linger or it’s a eat and leave kind of place. Wiegmann answers that through a travel story.

She and Therkelsen travelled to Austin, Texas to see what cafes were like down there. They discovered the places they loved were where they could get breakfast and a coffee and then work for a little while, and then get lunch and work for a little while, and then get a beer.

“It has something for you all day, every day. That's what we want,” Wiegmann said.

Dreamstate Cafe is located at 2558 Lyndale Ave. S. and is open 8 a.m.-11 p.m. seven days a week.