A beloved local bar and restaurant, Haskell’s, was severely damaged in a fire early on May 6, 2026, in Excelsior, Minnesota. The fire raised serious concerns about its future in the community.
The fire started around 1:30 a.m. on the patio outside the building. Firefighters from five departments battled the blaze for about 90 minutes before controlling it. The bar side of Haskell’s sustained extensive damage, with a collapsed ceiling reported.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Haskell’s has been a local institution since 1934 and serves as a popular gathering spot for locals and visitors to Lake Minnetonka.
The restaurant will remain closed for the foreseeable future while crews assess the damage. Officials have not disclosed the cause of the fire yet.
Key facts:
- The fire caused significant damage to the bar side of Haskell’s.
- Firefighters took approximately 90 minutes to control the situation.
- No injuries were reported during the incident.
Excelsior Fire Chief Nate Basinger noted that this event will have an impact on the community. Ted Farrell, a local patron, described Haskell’s as “the local place to go” where people gather to relax and socialize.
Fire crews remained on site to assess smoke and structural damage after extinguishing the flames. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
