Target Center changing caterers

Levy Restaurants will take over Target Center's in-house catering operations beginning June 1.

Under the deal, the Chicago-based concessionaire will oversee the arena's backstage and suite-level catering. AEG, the company that manages Target Center, awarded the contract to Levy following a request for proposals.

Levy, which also handles all of the food and beverage operations at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center, hosted a job fair on Target Center's skyway level on Thursday afternoon. And a Google search shows that the company has been advertising for a wide range of positions, including executive chef, in recent weeks.

Target Center's current caterer, A Chef's Production, will stay on through the end of May. And Delaware North Cos. Sportservice will continue to manage the arena's general concessions. (Delaware North also is the concessionaire at Target Field.)

A Chef's Production is owned by Ralph Burnet, who is one of the Minnesota Timberwolves' minority partners and also owns Hubert's Sports Bar & Grill inside Target Center. The Wolves were not involved in the selection process.

A Target Center spokeswoman declined to comment on the change in vendors, noting that more information will be released after Levy formally takes over the contract.

Levy already has deals of varying sizes at 22 other NBA arenas, including AmericanAirlines Arena (Miami Heat), Barclays Center (Brooklyn Nets), and Toyota Center (Houston Rockets).

Levy also is expected to compete for the concessions contract at the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, which is schedule to open in 2016. Proposals are due May 20.

Reported by:  Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal