Clyde Iron: History in the Re-Making

When you go to Duluth’s newest restaurant, brewery and bakery at Clyde Park, take a look at the mural-sized vintage photograph of Clyde Iron Works employees, circa 1917, gracing the south wall. Take in, visually and aromatically, the wood ovens and woodburning grill. And explore the dining area in the former warehouse in back, in a lofted catacomb encircling event space below.

But don’t ask where the giant Earth Harp is.

“That’s a big instrument,” six-year-old Sanna Carlsgaard said of the 100-foot string instrument that was strung over the audience for the Symphony Soiree, a fundraiser for the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra that unveiled the building to the public in April.

The world’s largest harp, played by a musician/dancer of the Los Angeles based group Mass Ensemble, the 24-string instrument spanned the space for a weekend of festivities and collaborations with the orchestra.

Mass Ensemble and the Earth Harp have headed off for other adventures around the world, but the rest of Clyde Park’s offerings in the renovated space going on a century old are here to stay.

“It’s the history of the building that I want to display,” developer Alessandro Giuliani said of the $9.1 million renovation at 14 S. 29th Ave. W., pointing out the historic photos and artwork adoring the walls. “I want to make sure that is represented correctly.”

And identifiably. Giuliani said he is hoping patrons will recognize family members in the photos and plans to eventually host an event targeting those with memories of the building’s past life as a heavy equipment factory.

He’s also tried to stay true to the building’s roots architecturally, with exposed brick and original beams visible. Brick and wood were harvested from other Clyde buildings on the property and are used in the flooring, stairs and even the picnic table-style dining surfaces.

“We were going to reclaim and use what we could, and make it last another 100 years,” Giuliani said.

The restaurant area is about 22,000 square feet with 49-foot ceilings and an open floor plan, with the wood-burning stoves used for cooking the restaurant’s pizza, meat and pasta behind a counter along a wall.

Diners will be able to see some of the food preparation. There are more than 20 windows on the north, south and west sides of the restaurant, and each is 12 feet tall by 4 feet wide, allowing for natural light most of the day.

Service style is fast-casual: Order at a counter, and meals will be served and tables cleared by the staff.

The bakery will be on the north side of the space, and Giuliani said those traveling on Michigan Street will be able to see the day’s breads and baked goods in the window, and also to smell them.

A wide wooden staircase inside the front doors leads to a second-level loft, which has two social areas. A long wooden bar is set up in the northeast corner, with stools along the opposite wall. This room is

connected to another area that will have soft seating, a large screen for viewing games and films, and pool tables.

At the back of the former warehouse is a party space of about 14,000 square feet where the Earth Harp was strung and the soiree performance held. Attendees of the fundraiser were virtually sitting inside the

harp.

“We wanted something over the top — unusual and interesting,” said Dennis

Lamkin, a member of the DSSO board of directors who in January helped secure the space for the event. “The stars aligned.”

Giuliani already has booked the space for wedding receptions and also sees it being used for concerts, theatrical productions and conferences. It can hold about 1,200 people and already has attracted the attention of local promoters, he said.

“I don’t think you could have a better kickoff to show how it turned out,” Giuliani said of the soiree, calling the entire building a piece of art in itself.

Even without the harp.

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