The Gnome Craft Pub is a permanently closed former craft-beer restaurant at 498 Selby Avenue, St Paul, Minnesota, United States of America, in Cathedral Hill. Brian and Sarah Ingram opened it on August 4, 2020, in the former Happy Gnome space, a nineteenth-century firehouse. Its beer selection, substantial pub food and expansive patio attracted neighborhood regulars and visiting beer enthusiasts. The restaurant closed permanently on August 21, 2026; it is now an exterior-only point of interest, not a dining or nightlife destination.
What to Expect at The Gnome Craft Pub
The building’s fire-service origins distinguish this address from an ordinary former restaurant. Historic Saint Paul identifies the property with the Happy Gnome and documents its brick firehouse façade, large central arched doorway and smaller arched windows. The Ingrams’ restaurant followed the Happy Gnome, which closed in December 2019 after approximately fourteen years. These were separate businesses under different ownership, so descriptions of the earlier pub’s beer dinners, menus or opening hours should not be treated as current visitor offerings. Today, appreciate the architecture from public space without entering the grounds.
During its operating years, the signature experience combined an ambitious draft program with a dramatically enlarged outdoor gathering space. At its 2020 opening, the venue advertised more than 100 beverages on tap, spanning beer, wine, cocktails, soda and cold-brew coffee—not 100 beers alone. The shaded patio featured an outdoor bar, fireplace, benches and hanging hammock chairs. Indoors, the main floor was redesigned, while an upstairs beer hall accommodated events. Opening menus included roasted and shaved meats, customizable charcuterie boards and tableside raclette. These details explain its reputation, but none represents an available service today.
- Firehouse architecture: Brickwork and arched openings recall the building’s original civic purpose.
- Craft-pub history: The Gnome succeeded the independently operated Happy Gnome in 2020.
- Former draft program: Opening offerings extended beyond beer to several other tapped drinks.
- Former garden patio: Mature trees shaded an enlarged seating area with its own bar.
- Community legacy: Pandemic-era initiatives included a parking-lot drive-in and free grocery distribution.
The Gnome Craft Pub at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 498 Selby Avenue, St Paul, MN 55102. |
| Neighborhood / Area | Cathedral Hill. |
| Operating Hours | Permanently closed since August 21, 2026; no lunch, dinner, brunch or patio service. |
| Admission & Ticket Prices | No public admission or tickets; exterior viewing from public space requires no venue ticket. |
| Recommended Visit Duration | Allow 5–10 minutes for an exterior look, rather than a restaurant visit. |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Plan transit to 498 Selby Avenue; check current stops with Metro Transit. Do not assume the former restaurant parking lot remains available. |
| Official Website / Phone | Official closure announcement; website-listed number: +1 651-219-4231. |
The official website now lists both The Gnome and its upstairs Velvet Antler space as permanently closed. Its published telephone number differs from older tourism listings; use the closure announcement, not an old directory’s hours, when planning.
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Choose daylight for a brief architectural stop, and do not travel here expecting dinner or make reservations through an old booking link. For buses, enter the full address into the Metro Transit trip planner to obtain current routes and accessible boarding options. Treat the former parking lot as private property unless signs explicitly permit parking. Closure means there is no public access to dining rooms, patio seating, toilets or upstairs facilities; do not plan this stop as a wheelchair-accessible indoor rest break.
For a longer neighborhood outing, consider the Cathedral of Saint Paul and James J. Hill House, both east of the former pub toward Summit Avenue. Allow approximately 10–15 minutes on foot to either, depending on crossings and pace; these are walking estimates, not timed routes. Check the cathedral’s official website and Hill House visitor information for their separate visiting arrangements. Wheelchair users and families with strollers should plan for an outdoor neighborhood walk, weather exposure and street crossings, rather than relying on facilities at the closed pub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hours, and when should I visit?
The Gnome has no operating hours: it closed permanently on August 21, 2026. Daylight is preferable for viewing the former firehouse exterior.
Are tickets or reservations available?
No. The restaurant is closed, so there are no dining reservations or admission tickets. Its official website carries the closure announcement.
How much time should I budget?
Allow roughly 5–10 minutes for an exterior stop. A meal-length visit is no longer possible; reserve additional time separately for nearby attractions.
Is it suitable for families or wheelchair users?
Only as a brief exterior stop. The closed venue provides no public dining, restroom or indoor wheelchair access, so arrange meals and accessible facilities elsewhere.
When planning your Saint Paul travel guide or comparing verified restaurants and nightlife in Saint Paul, pair this stop with standout local spots including The Saint Paul Hotel, Pajarito, Parlour St. Paul, and Revival St. Paul (0.1 km away).
