Mongo’s Grill Cleared to Reopen in St. Cloud After Council Approves License Transfer

(KNSI) – Mongo’s Grill is officially on track to reopen in St. Cloud after the City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve the transfer of its liquor license.

The council held a public hearing before approving the move of the on-sale combination wine and 3.2% liquor license from CCW MINN, LLC, which operated the West Division Street space as HuHot Mongolian Grill, to MG Group, Inc., doing business as Mongo’s Grill.

Jim Howard, a part owner of the new restaurant and former general manager of the original Mongo’s, told council members the ownership group has changed. Howard said the prior ownership’s only role was allowing the new group to use the Mongo’s name.

Council members asked Howard whether the business and its menu would remain the same as customers remember them. “The simplest way to put it is yes. It’s going to be as close to identical to Mongo’s as it was before, to make everybody in the town as happy as possible.”

Howard said the restaurant currently has 75 to 80 staff members, mostly part-time workers. “There’s a lot of new staff. We’re working from anywhere from younger to a bunch of experienced Mongo’s people from the company prior coming back. We have a mixture of everything. From first-time employees all the way to very experienced employees.”

Council members also raised the issue of outstanding gift cards from the previous Mongo’s location. Howard said the new ownership group is in contact with the prior owners by email and will work out arrangements with them for customers still holding them.

The applicant has paid all fees tied to the license transfer, including a $210 investigation fee, a $500 wine license fee, and a $300 3.2% on-sale license fee.

Mongo’s Grill closed its original St. Cloud location in 2024 after its parent company shut it down. HuHot Mongolian Grill later moved into the space before announcing its own closure on May 25th, clearing the way for Mongo’s to return.

No opening date has been announced, but the spot could open as soon as this month.

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