The new Joe Squared

As Suzanne reported back in March, Joe Squared is adding a second location in Power Plant Live! The newest franchise is set to open by the end of July. I got a chance to speak with owner Joe Edwardsen yesterday, while reporting for a story about the Power Plant upgrades for an upcoming issue. 

Edwardsen says the second location won't just be a replica of the first, pictured. "We know we're not going to have the same North Avenue vibe in the new location," he said. "I wanted to pick a place where we could get a completely new customer base and there would be very little cross-section."

He said the Power Plant location won't have any tables inside (though there will be outside seating), but rather just bar and counter space. Edwardsen hopes that the new Joe Squared can bring a lunch crowd to the area, which he says, is "pretty much dead during the day." He also explained that there will still be live music, though most likely just two- or three-piece bands that play more relaxing, folksy music. In addition, there will still be art shows, but probably only quarterly instead of monthly.

Edwardsen says he's gotten some flack from his Station North loyalists about his second location. But, he says that if Power Plant is returning to its roots by getting more local operators in the complex, he's proud to be a part of that. 

For more about the new upgrades at Power Plant Live!, be sure to pick up our July issue. 

[Image: courtesy of joesquared.com]