Hey Chanhassen! For a few glorious days last week, the grass was back. You could almost convince yourself spring had arrived — kids outside, dogs off leash, that smell of mud and possibility in the air. Then we got hit with 10 inches of snow this weekend. If you're feeling personally betrayed by Mother Nature right now, you're not alone. This is the second time she's dangled an early spring in front of us and yanked it away. Classic Minnesota. Welcome to the first issue of What's Chanhappenin' — we’re glad you're here.
2026 rendering of Chanhassen Community Center project
Chanhassen Community Center — construction coming soon Since voters approved funding for the Chanhassen Community Center, the city council has approved the site plan — a major milestone moving the project from vision to reality. Bidding is expected this spring with construction anticipated to begin later in 2026 and completion targeted for 2028. The facility will sit at the southeast corner of Highway 212 and Powers Boulevard. You can view a fly-through video of the future facility here.
Highway 5 expansion is coming — here's what to know Carver County will soon begin a major project to expand and improve Highway 5 between Highway 41 in Chanhassen and downtown Victoria. Because many Chanhassen residents travel this route every day, the city has created a resident-specific guide to help you understand what's ahead and how travel may be affected. There's also an open house on March 25 from 5–7 PM at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum where you can learn more and ask questions directly. Hard copies of the guide are available at City Hall.
Avienda — grocery store confirmed, but council has concerns
Good news for residents who've been waiting: a grocer has signed a lease for a 65,000 square foot store at Avienda, complete with wine, spirits, and fuel pumps. Construction has also begun on 412 luxury apartment units.
The catch — City Council members expressed concern that the development is drifting away from its original walkable, high-end vision toward something more auto-oriented and commercial. For a development that was always meant to make Chanhassen proud, that tension is worth watching.
We'll be keeping a close eye on this one.
Christmas Lake earns state recognition Christmas Lake recently earned state recognition. The recognition notes the lake’s exceptional clarity, which can reach about 20 feet, as well as the long-standing stewardship efforts that help protect its water quality.
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner – American Legion Post 580
March 17th: 11:00am - 8:00pm
Corned beef and all the fixings for $17. A Chanhassen St. Paddy’s Day tradition worth trying out!
Planning Commission Meeting - Chanhassen City Hall
March 17th: 6:00pm - 9:00PM
Open to the public — a good way to stay informed on what's being planned and built in Chanhassen.
Coming soon - Easter Candy Egg Hunt & Coloring Contest – Saturday, April 4th
Wave 1: 9:00am
Wave 2: 10:00am
Special appearance from the Easter Bunny!
More info here: Easter Egg Hunt
The O.G. Coffee & Wine Bar
Before The O.G. existed, Chanhassen didn't have a truly local coffee shop. Julie Jost noticed the gap and did something about it. She took over the former Wink Family Eye Care space on Market Street and transformed it — completely — into a cozy, eclectic hangout filled with reclaimed and vintage decor, much of it sourced from local and woman-owned businesses. Every detail was intentional, right down to the construction crew. From real estate to construction to design, every step was woman-led.
The result is a space that works for almost any version of your day — a morning cappuccino before work, a midday sandwich and laptop session, or an evening glass of wine with friends. Regulars rave about the golden girl latte and the chai, and if you haven't tried the chocolate chip banana bread yet, that's your homework this week. There's also a prominent image of Prince on the wall — a nod to his Chanhassen roots — which tells you everything you need to know about the vibe.
"Chanhassen has always felt like home and I wanted to create something special here. There was no truly local coffee shop and I felt this was the perfect opportunity to bring one to life." — Julie Jost, owner
Hours: Tue–Thu 7am–5:30pm · Fri 7am–6:30pm · Sat–Mon 8am–4:30pm Location: 600 Market Street, Suite 110 Online: ogcoffeewine.com · @ogcoffeewinebar
Chanhassen has over 26,000 residents today - but how many people lived here as recently as the mid-1950’s?
Scroll down for the answer
This is our first issue - so this section is waiting for you. If you saw someone do something kind in Chanhassen this week, hit reply and tell us about it. No story is too small. The best submissions will be featured here next week.
City of Chanhassen website
Have an old Chanhassen photo sitting in a drawer or a family album? Reply to this email and share it - we’d love to feature it in a future issue and tell the story behind it.
Roughly 200 people. In the mid-1950s Chanhassen was little more than a couple of bars, a general store, a feed mill, and a state bank. The city has grown by more than 13,000% in about 70 years.