What's Chanhappenin' — March 23, 2026

Hey Chanhassen! What's the difference between snowblowers and shorts? In Chanhassen, just 7 days. Chanhassen delivered one of its most unhinged weather weeks in recent memory — and somewhere between soaking up that 75 degree Saturday and wondering if we could finally call it spring, most of us drove right past a piece of this city's history without knowing it might not be there much longer. We're talking about it this week. Here's what's chanhappenin'.

St. Hubert Church — There's Still Time To Save Chanhassen's Last Original Building

This is the story every Chanhassen resident needs to know about right now.

The 1887 brick church just off Highway 5 is the last original building standing in downtown Chanhassen. In January 2026, St. Hubert Parish announced their decision not to move forward with restoring the church. Unless the community comes together, it will be demolished.

The history alone makes this worth fighting for. The church was constructed by craftsman John Geiser, who also carved the altar inside and built approximately 30 other churches across Minnesota during his lifetime. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, recognized for its significance to the founding of Chanhassen's German Catholic community. It is irreplaceable — not just as architecture, but as a physical connection to where this city came from.

So how did we get here? The parish voted narrowly to move forward with demolition, choosing to direct funds toward their current church campus instead. A community survey was conducted to gauge public sentiment — 1,289 people responded. Of the non-parishioners who participated, 74.8% supported restoration. The message from the community was clear: Chanhassen wants to save this building. The Historical Society's immediate goal isn't fundraising — it's building a plan the whole community can rally behind. Once that plan exists, the path forward becomes possible.

The Chanhassen Historical Society has been working urgently on exactly that — a plan to purchase the building and convert it into a community gathering space. Any transfer of ownership comes with deed restrictions that limit how the building can be used, which has complicated their efforts. Carver County and the City of Chanhassen have expressed support but cannot provide financial assistance. State and federal preservation grants have been explored but the building doesn't qualify. Community pressure and city leadership's willingness to act may be the last remaining lever.

The good news — there is no demolition date set yet, and parish leadership has been open to giving the committee time to develop a plan. Jackson Atkins, who is working with the Chanhassen Historical Society's committee to save the church, says the most important thing residents can do right now is make their voices heard.

"The best way for community members to get involved is to add their names to our petition," Atkins said. "It demonstrates that community support is strong and allows us to contact residents with updates and further action when that time comes. Talking to friends and neighbors about the church is equally important — awareness is everything at this stage."

For Atkins, the stakes couldn't be clearer.

"When the church was built in 1887, the goal was to create something permanent around which the community could grow. Nearly 140 years later, Chanhassen has grown from a small farming village into a thriving suburb. Old St. Hubert Church is a landmark not only of our history, but also of our hopes for the future."

Sign the petition here and share it with your friends and neighbors. Talk about it. Tell your city council members it matters to you. And stay tuned — we'll be following this story every week until it's resolved.

More information can be found at chanhistorical.org.

You've probably driven past it a hundred times. You might have seen a show there once or twice. But chances are you don't know the full story of how Chanhassen ended up home to the largest professional dinner theatre in the entire country.

Herb and Carolyn Bloomberg founded Chanhassen Dinner Theatres in 1968 — and they didn't just start a theatre, they built it. Herb was a developer and builder who had already designed landmark Minnesota buildings including the Old Log Theatre in Minnetonka and the original Hazeltine National Golf Club clubhouse in Chaska. When he decided Chanhassen needed a dinner theatre, he designed and built that too.

Nearly 60 years later the numbers speak for themselves — Over 13 million guests across 240+ productions, making it not just the biggest dinner theatre in America but Minnesota's largest privately owned restaurant. Every costume, set, and prop you see on stage is created entirely in house by CDT's own creative team. Almost every night of the year a full cast of professional actors, musicians, and crew bring live theatre to life right here in Chanhassen.

For over five decades, Michael Brindisi shaped the identity of what Chanhassen Dinner Theatres became — directing over 120 productions and bringing stories to life with unparalleled emotion and joy. He officially became Artistic Director in 1988 and later co-owner in 2010, ushering in a new era for the theatre. Brindisi passed away unexpectedly at age 76 on February 5, 2025. True to his spirit, the shows went on as he would have wanted.

His legacy lives on in every performance — and in Brindisi's Pub next door, opened on his birthday June 22, 2012 and named in his honor. The Chanhassen Dinner Theatres family continues to honor Michael's memory with every show.

Performances run Tuesday through Sunday with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. Parking is free. Check their current show schedule and book tickets at chanhassendt.com.

Hours: Box office Mon 9am–5pm · Tue–Fri 9am–6pm · Sat 10am–6pm Location: 501 W 78th St, Chanhassen Online: chanhassendt.com · (952) 934-1525

Chanhassen wasn't always called Chanhassen. What was the city originally named — and what was it named after?

Scroll down for the answer

We're only two weeks in — but we already know this section will be one of our favorites to put together. Every week we’ll feature real acts of kindness happening right here in Chanhassen. A neighbor who showed up when it mattered. A stranger who made someone's day. A small moment that reminded you why you love living here.

We don't have submissions yet — but we know they're out there.

Did someone help you dig out after last week's blizzard? Did a stranger pay it forward at the O.G. Coffee & Wine Bar? Did a neighbor check in on you during the storm?

Send your story to [email protected] and tell us about it in a sentence or two. The best submissions get featured right here next week. No story is too small — the whole point of this section is proving that Chanhassen is full of good people doing good things every single day.

We can't wait to start sharing them. 🍁

Have an old Chanhassen photo sitting in a drawer or a family album? Send it to [email protected] - we’d love to feature it in a future issue and tell the story behind it.

The town was originally named St. Hubertus — after St. Hubert Catholic Parish, the very church now facing demolition. The name was later changed to Chanhassen, the Dakota word for maple sugar. The church didn't just serve the community — it literally gave the city its first name.