"Food Is Love Business Is Life"— Pat Starr
Decades of Serving Quality Diner Food on the West Bank for Everyone
(except Lenny, depending on his condition)
Pat Starr bought the Wienery from Airaq Johnson in June of 2000 through the patronage of Pete Dodge, West Bank Godfather. The tradition of the neighborhood diner at the Wienery location goes back many years, to when Edna's served up affordable homemade meals for weary West Bankers. The Wienery was started in the early 1980s by an an entreprenuerial couple who brought Chicago dogs to the Twin Cities, Al and Jean Wohl. Jerry Petermeir bought the restaurant in 1987, engendering a loyal following of wiener lovers. Customers still ask about Jerry, and Jerry (and his kids!) still speak fondly of their 12 years owning the Wienery. Jerry sold the Wienery to West Bank celebrity and character Airaq in 1999. Pat added breakfast to the Wienery menu when he started working for Airaq, who then sold him the restaurant.
Weeks after purchasing the restaurant, Pat met the love of his life, a bratwurst loving girl from Milwaukee named KJ. Thanks to the joyous event of an unplanned pregnancy two years later, KJ became the restaurant's bookkeeper in 2002. Ensuring its administrative survival, she became the restaurant's lawyer in 2008. The pool of food-service all-Starrs working at the Wienery has grown to include Pat and KJ's sons Eli and Rio, who many customers remember were literally raised at the restaurant. In 2012 and 2015, Pat and KJ welcomed new members of the family - Maceo and Mercury.
KJ and Pat are strongly committed to the West Bank neighborhood and providing homemade, high quality, affordable meat, vegetarian, and vegan food to people who live on, play at, or visit the West Bank. They are happy to carry on the tradition of the west bank neighborhood diner and welcome you to come visit.
News and Awards
Featured on the Food Network’s
Diners, Drive-ins
and Dives
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Featured in EATER Twin Cities
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Awarded National PETA Top Vegan Dog
"Hot Diggity! The Wienery Scores National Award for Vegan Italian Warsaw Dog" (August 2023)
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Featured in MPLS STPAUL Magazine
"A Guide to the Twin Cities Music Scene" (July 2023)
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Featured in MPLS STPAUL Magazine
"Obsessed with The Bear? Go Eat a Beef Sandwich" (July 2022)
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Featured in MPLS STPAUL Magazine
"Where to Eat and Drink During the Craft Brewers Conference" (May 2022)
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Featured in MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE
"Hot dog! We have 9 wieners" (April 2019)
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Featured in MPLS STPAUL Magazine
"3 Must-Try Cheffy Dogs" (June 2017)
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Featured in MPLS STPAUL Magazine
"Top Dogs—Best Hot Dogs in the Twin Cities!" (December 2013)
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Featured in MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE
"The Restaurant Guide: UNIVERSITY" (October 2012)
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Featured in MPLS STPAUL Magazine
"The Wienery" (January 2012)
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Voted Best Hot Dog 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2017!
by CITY PAGES.
