Why Shoreview's Old Fire Station Is Getting Café Tables in Its Truck Bay
October 15, 2026
October 15, 2026
The former Lake Johanna Fire Department Station 140 at 3615 Victoria Street has been empty since July 2026. Before that it spent about 38 years sending trucks out onto the corner of County Road E and Victoria Street. On September 21, 2026, the Shoreview City Council approved a purchase agreement to sell the city-owned property to 44 Investment Company, which does business as Mi-Sant, a Vietnamese café and bakery. Mi-Sant's plan keeps the most recognizable part of the building and turns it around. The big fire truck bay, built for fast exits, would become indoor and outdoor café seating.
That reversal is the story of this corner. The city was picturing a place where people would gather well before it had a buyer, and the buyer it chose has made a business out of moving into buildings that were designed for something else.
The station's timeline is short, and most of the action is packed into the last few months:
The station's 38 years ended with a move. Lake Johanna Fire Department moved into a newly built headquarters in Arden Hills, and that left Shoreview with a well-located, one-acre public property to sell.
Almost a year before the station emptied out, the city put together a list of ideas for the site. Every idea on it was a place for people to come together: a restaurant with outdoor seating, a brewpub or distillery, an arts and cultural center, a recreation center, and incubator or maker spaces. That list was an early planning exercise and was separate from the offers that came in later. Still, it shows how Shoreview was picturing the corner months before any formal offer came in.
The formal process was small. The city received three offers. One buyer dropped out because the building didn't meet its size needs, so two proposers were left. According to the sale memorandum, the council and the Economic Development Authority chose Mi-Sant's proposal because it best matched both the asking price and the city's vision. Press Publications reported that the offer also stood out for how it would use the site and for the improvements it promised.
The money supports that. Mi-Sant is paying the full asking price of $1,350,000 and plans to spend another $1,000,000 on improvements. That is close to dollar for dollar between buying the building and reworking it, which fits a buyer planning a real conversion rather than a quick cosmetic refresh. Bring Me The News reported that Mi-Sant beat out other interested buyers and described the project as the family's most ambitious redevelopment yet.
At the council table, the reaction was personal. Council Member John Doan welcomed the idea of Vietnamese food close to home. As Press Publications reported, he said it would provide food that
"feeds my soul right down the street."
Mi-Sant's history shows why a fire station isn't as odd a fit as it sounds. According to Bring Me The News, the family-owned business started in 2018 by turning a former Kentucky Fried Chicken in Brooklyn Park into a bánh mì destination with a drive-thru. Its second location opened in 2021 in a former Baker's Square in Roseville. In June 2026 the team bought the former TGI Friday's in St. Louis Park's West End for $3.1 million. The same outlet noted that Mi-Sant was mentioned in the New York Times for helping shape a new kind of fast food built on traditional Vietnamese recipes and freshness.
Each earlier move took over a building made for another restaurant concept. Shoreview's version is different because nothing about the building was designed for food. The city's announcement lays out how Mi-Sant plans to use the space:
The last item is the one that sets this location apart. City documents cited by Bring Me The News say the majority of the building will be used as a test kitchen. In practice, a station that once served the north metro's emergency calls would become the place where a regional restaurant group works on its menu, with a café in the front bay where the trucks used to roll out.
The council's vote approved the purchase agreement. It did not approve the restaurant. Under the sale memorandum, two approvals still stand between the agreement and a finished café:
The recorded limits matter for anyone who lives near the corner. They tie the property to the use the city approves, so the building can't quietly turn into something else after the sale. According to the city, the sale is expected to close after the buyer receives all of its land use and zoning approvals. Bring Me The News reported that rezoning and related applications are expected to go through the city's planning process before the deal closes this winter. As of mid-October 2026, the sale memorandum doesn't name a Planning Commission hearing date. The city's calendar is the place to watch for when the item is scheduled.
So the summer 2027 opening is a projection that depends on those approvals. It isn't a fixed date.
If you want a preview in the meantime, Mi-Sant's Roseville location is at 1881 MN-36. The City of Roseville's profile of the business says it is known for bánh mì, croissants, noodle bowls, French pastries, and spring rolls.
If you live near County Road E and Victoria and want to talk through what this change could mean for your own plans over the next year, Sara Moran is happy to walk through it with you. Let's talk about your next move.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
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