Shuttered Woodbury restaurant to ‘Cowboy’ up

A Woodbury restaurant space that’s had difficulties keeping its doors open will soon open under a new name and new ownership.

The After Midnight Group acquired former Woody’s Roadhouse to open Cowboy Jack’s at the corner of Valley Creek Road and I-494.

Spokesperson Jesi Mosny said the company is doing an extensive remodel to the space to revive it with a completely new plan that will change the look and atmosphere of the place.

“We feel that this along with our concept and ideas make us unique to this space,” she said.

Cowboy Jack’s also plans to add volleyball and broomball/hockey courts, Mosny said. An opening date has not yet been set.

The After Midnight Group has been looking to add a Cowboy Jack’s in Woodbury for some time and there have been few existing buildings that allow for that type of entertainment space, Mosny said.

The location will also allow for banquets and catering as well as bar and dining options that the company wanted, she added.

“We have been watching Woodbury for a couple years because it is a great area with great people,” Mosny said.

When asked what the company plans to do to keep Cowboy Jack’s open and successful in the same location that’s had trouble keeping its doors open under various ownerships and concepts, Mosny said Cowboy Jack’s will be unique.

“We do acknowledge that this location has had its difficulties in the past, and it is something we took into consideration and thought long and hard about before we moved forward with it,” she said. “But in the end we hope people will enjoy coming into Cowboy Jack’s. We also have had good luck in taking less desirable locations and turning them into successful businesses.

“We hope to do that here in Woodbury as well. We want to give the community a place to go for meetings, events, happy hour, dinner with the family, etc.”

Cowboy Jack’s will offer a down-home feel to attract a diverse demographic, Mosny said.

She said the menu will have nightly specials, gluten-free options, brunch and a kids’ menu. The restaurant will also have live music and catering offsite.

Entrees will include braised chicken, gourmet burgers, pot pies, soups, salads, steaks, seafood and desserts.

Mosny said the company takes pride in working with local communities in developing “lasting relationships.”

“We don’t want to just open a restaurant in Woodbury, we want to become a part of the community in Woodbury,” she said. “From supporting high school sports programs, raising money for the Special Olympics or supporting a local benefit for your neighbor.”

The Woodbury location will be the company’s sixth, joining Plymouth, downtown Minneapolis, Bloomington, St. Cloud and Otsego.

Tags: business, news, woodbury