Nelson's

Introduction / Overview

Nelson's, located on Minnetonka Boulevard in St. Louis Park, is a local business that has deeply rooted its history and service in the western Twin Cities community. It is essential for users in Minnesota to understand that Nelson's is not solely a bakery, but a unique, multi-faceted establishment combining a bakery, a full-service butcher shop, and a deli, with a strong emphasis on catering and custom orders. The business has a history dating back to 1965 in the nearby suburb of Hopkins, and it continues its tradition of offering diverse, high-quality products from its St. Louis Park location since moving there in 2013.

The bakery section of Nelson's is a cornerstone of their operation, providing a variety of freshly baked goods to local customers every day. Known for fresh rolls, sweet treats, cookies, and custom cakes, the bakery ensures that there are daily selections available for a quick visit or a larger order. This commitment to fresh baking is paired with the professionalism of a traditional butcher shop, where customers can get custom-cut, high-quality meats—a pairing that is increasingly rare to find under one roof in the modern retail landscape.

While Nelson's is clearly a beloved neighborhood fixture, offering an array of specialized products and services, it is worth noting that some customer feedback regarding the deli sandwiches mentions inconsistent quality or ingredient issues. Nevertheless, for many long-time patrons, the combination of a trusted butcher and a reliable local bakery for custom items like wedding cakes makes Nelson's a highly valued and frequently chosen local resource, embodying a commitment to traditional, full-service retail.

Location and Accessibility

Nelson's is conveniently situated at 6318 Minnetonka Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416, USA. This central location places it on a major thoroughfare, making it an easy stop for residents across St. Louis Park, Edina, Hopkins, and southwest Minneapolis. The storefront is positioned to facilitate a quick visit for those running errands or looking to pick up a morning coffee and pastry.

Accessibility features at Nelson's are designed to accommodate all members of the community. The establishment provides a wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring smooth entry into the bakery, butcher shop, and deli areas. Furthermore, customers will find a dedicated wheelchair accessible parking lot, adding to the convenience for those with mobility needs. The location’s emphasis on quick-visit planning, coupled with these access features, makes stopping in for breakfast or a takeout order efficient and comfortable.

Services Offered

• In-Store Bakery Purchases: Offering a daily selection of fresh baked goods including sweet rolls, cookies, bars, and seasonal items.
• Full-Service Butcher Shop: Providing custom-cut, high-quality fresh meats, not pre-packaged, with butchers available for advice and special requests.
• Deli Counter and Sandwiches: Serving breakfast and lunch items, including specialty sandwiches and homemade salads, with options available for a quick takeout meal.
• Custom Cake Design: Specializing in cakes for all occasions, including custom birthday, anniversary, and elaborate wedding cakes, with the ability to take inquiries for design and flavor customization.
• Comprehensive Catering Services: Offering full catering for events, from party trays and deli platters to large-scale services like classic pig roasts, for corporate or private gatherings.
• Delivery and In-Store Pickup: Providing convenient options for customers to receive their large catering or custom orders through delivery or easy in-store pickup.
• Onsite Services: The catering side of the business offers onsite services for various events.
• Breakfast Service: Serving light breakfast options to start your day, often paired with their fresh baked goods and coffee.

Features / Highlights

• Dual Expertise: A rare combination of a skilled bakery and a traditional, full-service butcher shop, offering exceptional convenience for event planning and daily meal preparation.
• Longstanding Local History: Operating in the community since 1965, Nelson's represents a decades-long commitment to local service and quality.
• Specialty Cake Destination: Highly recognized as a dedicated wedding and custom cake bakery for the St. Louis Park area, with personalized inquiry submission options for complex designs.
• Freshness Guarantee: The bakery guarantees that baked goods are made fresh daily, and the meat counter emphasizes the superior quality of their custom-cut, non-pre-packaged meats.
• Catering Variety: A robust catering menu that extends far beyond bakery items, including deli trays, meat platters, and specialty services like pig roasts.
• Essential Amenities: Offers coffee and accepts modern, quick payment methods, including Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and NFC Mobile Payments, streamlining the quick visit experience.

Contact Information

Address: 6318 Minnetonka Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416, USA

Phone: (952) 935-9092

What is worth choosing

For Minnesota users, especially those in the St. Louis Park and surrounding West Metro communities, Nelson's is worth choosing primarily because of its unique identity as a reliable, multi-service local hub. It offers a level of convenience and specialized service that large chain stores cannot match. The strongest reasons to choose Nelson's revolve around its core competencies: the fresh bakery and the butcher shop.

The bakery section is a highly valued resource for custom orders, particularly for those planning major events. The availability of custom wedding cakes, coupled with a full catering service and butcher shop, allows customers to plan the menu for an entire party, from the main course (high-quality meats) to the final, decorated dessert (a custom cake), all from one trusted location. This one-stop-shop capability for major life events is a significant time-saver and stress-reducer for local residents.

While the deli counter has received some mixed feedback regarding sandwich preparation—a factor local users should consider when ordering lunch—the quality and freshness of the underlying ingredients, particularly the custom-cut meats and the daily baked goods, remain the defining draw. For a local, family-owned establishment with a decades-long history, specializing in traditional, full-service offerings that support both daily needs (fresh bread, specialty meat) and major celebrations (custom cakes, catering), Nelson's stands out as an essential St. Louis Park business that deserves local support and patronage.