News
Kramarczuk's to be served at Target Field
Local deli to have two carts at Twins' new ballpark
Kramarczuk Sausage Company will serve its specialties at Target Field. (Wayne Kryduba/Twins)
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
02/10/10 5:05 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS -- The late Twins owner Carl Pohlad was a frequent patron of the Kramarczuk Sausage Company in Northeast Minneapolis. So one day a couple years back when Pohlad was in the store and talking about the new Twins ballpark that was going to be built, the deli's owner, Orest Kramarczuk, decided to ask him a question. "I said, 'Mr. Pohlad, would you give me a shot?'" Kramarczuk said, in hopes that perhaps his food might be served at the new park. Pohlad's response, Kramarczuk said, was a thumbs-up. Kramarczuk's sausages will indeed be served at Target Field when it opens this April. On Wednesday, the Twins, Target Field food service partner Delaware North Sportservice and Kramarczuk's, a family-owned Minneapolis institution for the past 55 years, announced that the deli's bratwurst, Polish and Hungarian sausages will be available to fans at the new ballpark. The sausages will be made fresh daily just one mile away from Target Field at Kramarczuk's and will be served at two concession carts placed throughout the concourses at the new ballpark. Kramarczuk's bratwurst is an excellent grilling sausage; its Polish sausage carries a subtle garlic flavoring; and its Hungarian sausage is a paprika-spiced pork. "I'm real proud that the Pohlad family and the Twins have stepped forward to really support the community," said Kramarczuk, whose father started the business back in 1954. "Bringing in the local producers and local restaurants, it's really refreshing. I'm very proud to be involved with Delaware North and the Twins." To celebrate the partnership, Kramarczuk's served free brats to customers all day at their deli on Wednesday. For the Twins, having Kramarczuk's sausages on the menu at Target Field is another way to enhance the overall experience for fans at the new ballpark. "Eighty percent of our business is going to be nachos and beer and pop and hot dogs and stuff like that," said Matt Hoy, Twins vice president of operations. "But what is really going to make the new ballpark stand out in a food or a culinary experience is products like this. They're local and, in this circumstance, it's an ethnic food and it's prepared fresh here every day." Kramarczuk's is the second local institution to announce a partnership with the Twins to serve its food at Target Field. In December, the Twins and the famed Murray's Steakhouse in downtown Minneapolis unveiled a signature steak sandwich and garlic toast that will be served at Mill City Grill concession locations throughout the ballpark. More food announcements are expected to come in the months leading up to the opening of Target Field, including additional partnerships with other local restaurants. "We have a lot of great announcements hopefully to come," said Pete Spike, Delaware North Sportservice general manager at Target Field. "The important part I feel is that we want to offer up that experience not only on the freshness side but in the feeling that we're offering up regional and local brands. To offer up brands like Kramarczuks that has a long tradition of quality and being part of the Twin Cities family, we are very excited about that opportunity."Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
