This October, Richfield Runs Along 66th Street

Richfield's newest restaurant and its newest store both opened this year on 66th Street, at opposite ends of the city. Nicolò Pizza and Gelato is at 1700 E. 66th St. Patina's new store is at 2906 W. 66th St. 66th Street is also one of the routes Hennepin County is using to send regional traffic around the Nicollet Avenue rebuild. Most of what's happening in town this month sits within a few blocks of that road, and the reasons are a closed stretch of Nicollet and an unfinished building at Wood Lake.

Every October event in this post is north of 70th Street. That matters, because 70th is where the construction starts.

The Stretch That's Closed, and How Long It Stays Closed

Since Monday, June 1, Nicollet Avenue has been closed to through traffic between 70th and 77th streets. The county's project page says the closure runs "through late fall." The posted detour uses 66th Street, Portland Avenue and 77th Street. As of early October, the county page still gives no specific reopening day, so "late fall" is the most precise answer available.

Local trips still work. You can drive to homes, businesses, the Augsburg Park Library, the community center and places of worship along the corridor. At times local traffic may be squeezed onto a single narrow lane or a gravel surface. At least one sidewalk stays open. Bus stops have moved for now, and Metro Transit's rider alerts list the changes. Cross streets are another story. The county says 73rd and 76th will each close while their roundabouts are built, though not both at once. If you usually cut across Nicollet on either street, check before you leave.

This fall is only the first half of the project. The county's timeline puts the north end, 66th to 70th streets, in 2027. When the south end reopens, the busy corner moves north to the very intersection where traffic is being detoured today.

The finished road has one driving lane each way plus a center turn lane, and roundabouts at 67th, 70th, 73rd and 76th streets. It also gets separate bike paths on both sides, new sidewalks, raised crossings, wider green boulevards, and new street and pedestrian lighting. The county and the City of Richfield will plant new trees after construction ends.

Wood Lake: Trails Open, New Building Still Coming

Wood Lake Nature Center is the other place you'd expect to be busy this time of year, and it's also partly under construction. In January the city said the nature center's new main building would open in "late 2026." The same notice said walking trails would stay open and programs would keep running during construction.

That's later than first planned. Earlier Sun Current coverage pointed to a mid-June 2026 opening. The paper's July photo set showed interior work underway, fixtures waiting to go in, and construction continuing through fall. Its captions still said the visitors center was expected to open late this year. No ribbon-cutting date has been announced.

The design plans give a sense of the finished building. Earlier reporting described indoor and outdoor lake observation space, exhibits, a 25-person conference room, and a 3,000-square-foot multipurpose room that divides into 1,000-square-foot classrooms. Those rooms were planned to be rentable. Plans can change during construction, so treat that list as the intent, not a confirmed floor plan.

In the meantime, the October programs at 6710 Lake Shore Drive are going ahead outdoors. The free Community-Led Bird Club meets Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and is open to anyone 16 and older. On Monday, Oct. 12, the Night Hike runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and focuses on the night sky and nocturnal wildlife. Neither event depends on the new building, and that's why both are on the calendar.

What's New on 66th Street

The new places to eat and shop are on 66th Street too, at both ends of the city.

On the east end, Nicolò Pizza and Gelato. It opened July 18 at 1700 E. 66th St., in the space Toma Mojo used to occupy. The menu covers pizza, housemade gelato, pasta and sandwiches. It's a counter-service Italian spot with familiar people behind it. Former Toma Mojo co-owner Paul Backer runs it with chefs Dan Rusoff and Joe Kaplan. Before opening Nicolò, Backer joined Eat Your Heart Out. So one of the city's newest restaurants is run by a co-owner of the business that held the same address before it.

On the west end, Patina at Southdale Square. The Twin Cities gift retailer is opening its ninth store at 2906 W. 66th St. Mpls.St.Paul Magazine reports it will have more square footage than any of Patina's existing stores. The company is using the extra room to try out expanded women's apparel with dressing rooms, plus more toys and crafts. A soft opening comes first, then a "Grand OPEning" on Saturday, Oct. 17, with giveaways, activities, food and drinks. Patina opened its first shop near Lake Harriet in 1993. It became employee-owned after the employee-ownership platform Teamshares acquired it in April 2025. President Liz Barrere told the magazine the company has "wanted to serve" the south metro "for a long time."

One Richfield restaurant on Nicollet has also closed. The Star Tribune's September roll call lists El Tejaban Mexican Grill, at 6519 Nicollet Ave., as closed after 18 years, and notes that Miguel Hernandez's parents founded it. The family's Lito's Burritos is still running in Minneapolis. The 6519 address is north of the closed stretch.

October, by Address

Here's the city's October calendar alongside where each event is. Except for the two events at 6335 Portland Ave., everything is in the 6600–6700 blocks or on 66th Street itself, and nothing reaches the 70th-to-77th closure.

A few details for planning:

• A Toast to Richfield is the city's annual fundraiser, with more than 100 wines, beers and spirits plus food from local restaurants. The city recreation guide and Visit Richfield list different street numbers for the venue on Lyndale. Check your ticket for the exact address before you head out.
• The Great Pumpkin Giveaway is free, with activities and one pumpkin per family.
• Half-Haunted Halloween needs tickets bought in advance. It's a costume event with a trick-or-treat trail, games, refreshments, magic and a scavenger hunt.
• The Richfield Farmers Market closes its season on Oct. 31 with "Trick or Treat at the Farmers Market!"

The last two events share an address. Veterans Park sits on Portland Avenue, one of the official detour routes, so leave a few extra minutes on those Saturdays and Sundays.

Penn Fest is already done for the year. On Sunday, Sept. 20, from noon to 5 p.m., Penn Avenue became a pedestrian street with food vendors, performances, a BMX show and a petting zoo.

The Next Round of Changes Is Open for Comment

The city is collecting public input that will shape these spots in future years. Richfield's recreation guide says a Parks System Master Plan got underway this summer. Residents can weigh in through an interactive map, feedback questions and an idea wall. The plan covers the same parks hosting this month's events. Wood Lake's new building and a rebuilt Nicollet with bike paths on both sides should both be done by the time any of it takes effect.

Nicollet's south end is set to reopen in late fall, and Wood Lake's visitors center is expected to open late this year. After that, the 2027 work moves to Nicollet between 66th and 70th streets.

If you own a home near the new Nicollet roundabouts or a short walk from Wood Lake, The McNamara Group is tracking both projects block by block. We're glad to talk through what they could mean for your street. When you'd like a number to go with that conversation, start with a free home valuation.