Update From The City of Rochester After Restaurants Open Letter
A Rochester restaurant that went viral after sharing why it had to temporarily close because of HVAC problems is now taking its message a step further - an open letter to the City of Rochester.
To say that there are a lot of opinions online about this situation is an understatement. If you haven't read everything that's been posted, you can get up to speed here. Below is the full open letter and a statement from the City of Rochester in response to the open letter.
Townies Philly Kitchen & Bar Pens Open Letter to the City of Rochester In Regards To Their Temporary Closure Due to Ongoing HVAC Issues
Social media has exploded once again after an open letter to the City of Rochester was posted by Townies Philly Kitchen & Bar today. Here's the timeline of what has happened publicly and the latest letter and recent statement from the City of Rochester.
MONDAY, JULY 13TH, 2026 - If you missed the first viral moment, on Monday, July 13th, Townies Philly Kitchen & Bar, located at 244 Soldiers Field Dr SW in Rochester, posted a video on Facebook letting its fans know that they need to temporarily close due to issues with their air conditioning.
READ MORE: Rochester Restaurant Says Staff Quit Over 100-Degree Kitchen and HVAC Issues - see the full video/transcript
On Monday afternoon, the City of Rochester issued a statement regarding the video. You can find the full statement here.
TUESDAY, JULY 14TH, 2026 - Tuesday morning, Townies went to social media again with an open letter to the City of Rochester, and in the letter, pointed out that, "We have also seen statements suggesting that the city has been actively communicating with us. Respectfully, that has not been our experience."
Below is their full open letter:
An Open Letter to the City of Rochester, MN Government To the City of Rochester, its elected officials, city administrators, and the community we proudly serve:
This is not a post we ever wanted to write. We are a small, family-owned business that has proudly served Rochester for years. We have built more than a restaurant, we have built relationships, created jobs, supported local events, and invested in the community we call home. Our mission has always been simple: provide great food, create a safe and welcoming environment for our employees and customers, and give back whenever we can. Today, we are fighting simply to keep our doors open.
For years, we have reported recurring air conditioning failures at our leased location. We followed the proper channels, documented our concerns, sent emails, and repeatedly requested a permanent solution. We did not rush to social media. We worked in good faith, believing the issue would eventually be resolved. It wasn’t.
Now, after years of temporary fixes, our restaurant has been forced to close. Our employees have lost income. Our customers have lost a place they love. Our family business continues to suffer significant financial losses with no clear resolution in sight.
What has been even more disappointing is the response. Instead of hearing, “Let’s fix this,” we were told we should have a “Plan B.”
To a family that has invested its savings, its time, and its heart into this business, those words are difficult to hear. Rather than offering reassurance or a path forward, they left us questioning whether our future in this location is even being considered.
After my husband shared a video explaining what we have been experiencing, we hoped it would finally bring attention to a problem that had gone unresolved for years. We hoped it would encourage action. Instead, we were left with even more questions.
We have also seen statements suggesting that the city has been actively communicating with us. Respectfully, that has not been our experience. We have maintained a documented email trail throughout this process, and we are confident it reflects the efforts we made to communicate, cooperate, and seek a lasting solution. This air conditioning issue is not an isolated concern. It is only one example of several issues we have raised over the years that, from our perspective, have not been meaningfully addressed. That pattern has left us feeling unheard and discouraged.
No small business should have to choose between protecting its employees and keeping its doors open. No employee should lose weeks of work because a known facility issue remained unresolved. No family should have to wonder whether years of hard work will disappear because the problems they reported were never permanently addressed.
As a result of this ongoing situation, we are evaluating all available options to determine who may be legally responsible for the damages our business has suffered. Those damages include substantial financial losses, lost wages for our employees, and the possibility that a business we have spent years building may not survive.
This is bigger than one restaurant. This is about how our city supports the small businesses that create jobs, strengthen neighborhoods, and invest in the community every day. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking to be heard. We are asking for transparency. We are asking for accountability. Most of all, we are asking for action.
We still believe in Rochester. We still believe that our city can do better. We remain willing to work collaboratively toward a fair and lasting solution because that is all we have ever wanted. Our employees deserve better. Our customers deserve better. Small businesses deserve better. We hope this letter is finally heard. - Townies Philly Kitchen & Bar Facebook page
City of Rochester's Response After The Open Letter Posted By Townies Philly Kitchen & Bar
I reached out to the City of Rochester on Tuesday afternoon to see if they had another statement in regards to the latest open letter.
I was asked to refer to the original statement that the City of Rochester released on Monday regarding the air conditioning issues at the Townies location at the Soldiers Field Golf Course clubhouse. You can read that below:
The City of Rochester is aware of a recent social media video posted by the owner of Townies regarding the air conditioning system at the Soldiers Field Golf Course clubhouse. City staff had been actively working to address issues with the aging air conditioning system and coordinating repairs to keep it operational. Early last week, the system experienced a major failure, and it was determined that the system must be replaced rather than repaired. The City immediately began seeking replacement quotes after determining the system needed to be replaced. Because of the unique configuration of the system, the process has taken additional time. The City is also working to provide temporary cooling for the kitchen and other areas of the clubhouse until a permanent replacement is installed. We have been in communication with the Townies owner and remain committed to working collaboratively throughout the process. The City values its partnerships with local organizations, businesses and community members. We are committed to providing a positive experience for the community and are working to restore air conditioning service as quickly as possible.
Obviously, this isn't a note about Townies reopening, but hopefully, that update will be coming soon. Once I hear that bit of good news, I'll have the update for everyone on our free app and share the news on my local radio show on Y-105FM, where you can always find local news for free.
Y-105FM is Southeast Minnesota's go-to source for local news, events, and community stories. Whether you're a lifelong Rochester resident or just discovering everything this region has to offer, we're here to help you connect, explore, and stay in the know. Know something we should cover? Reach out to jessica.williams@townsquaremedia.com — we're always looking for something to talk about on the radio and write about.
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