Technically, half of the intersection (west half) is Edina and the other half (east half) is Minneapolis. The Edina half is more developed and promotes it more so it's easy to see why the whole area gets confused as Edina. Easy way to remember, if you're in a place with a full bar, you're in Edina; beer and wine, you're in Minneapolis.
Pretty sure it has something to do with the old booze patrols from back in the day and the area the establishment is located in. I'm very loosely paraphrasing here but back in the day only establishments in downtown and a stone's throw away could have full bars since they were in the reach of the folks that monitored and enforced it. I believe it's evolved from that today to lead more to the type of area/neighborhood a place is located in. 50th & France & 50th & Penn are in the middle of residential neighborhoods, thus limiting the options. Psycho Suzi's is in a more industrial zone so they get free reign. Then again, maybe I'm way off. The answer lies in here somewhere I'm sure but I really don't feel like reading through the legal-ese. I'll let someone else in the industry or more know-how explain it in layman's terms. In the mean time, I'll just blame it on MLBA and our lack of Sunday sales!
It most likely has something to do with neighborhood restrictions. There are a number of neighborhoods in South Minneapolis that are extremely strict with the amount and type of liquor licenses that are granted within their jurisdiction. Someone else can probably give a more detailed explanation of how the licensing process works in regards to the way neighborhood associations influence it, but to the best of my knowledge they are fairly common throughout the city. Edit: looks like SudsSavant beat me to it, and with almost the exact same disclaimer at the end.
I recall once upon a time having to order my food before I could order my beer at a Ruby Tuesday's in Southdale (don't ask) - was told it was an Edina thing. Is that still a thing?
[QUOTDouggo, post: 2590556, member: 385342"]I recall once upon a time having to order my food before I could order my beer at a Ruby Tuesday's in Southdale (don't ask) - was told it was an Edina thing. Is that still a thing?[/QUOTE] Some municipalities still have some sort of percentages set as to how much food to alcohol needs to be sold (I.e. 70% food 30% alcohol). I remember Steel Toe having to work with the St. Louis Park city council to get an exemption for the taproom to this sort of city ordinance.
Don't know if it's still true or not, but the Groveland Tap's menu used to say that on Sundays they are only allowed sell you beer with food. Then in big letters it said "CHIPS - 29 CENTS".
