Brian and April Hanson alongside executive chef Andrew Ortis. Photos: Chris Emeott
After 50 years, Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill is more than just a restaurant. The Plymouth eatery is the backdrop for generations of family gatherings, a site of countless celebrations and, perhaps most importantly, a room of familiar faces. The restaurant’s golden milestone this June is a commemoration of the people who make Sunshine Factory the special place that it is.
Randy Rosengren built and opened the restaurant with his father, Earl Rosengren, in 1976, and it quickly developed a reputation for its entertaining, family-friendly and inviting atmosphere. First located in New Hope, the restaurant’s bustling energy made it an easy neighborhood favorite.
Current owner April Hanson teases she was “just born” when Sunshine Factory opened. Starting as a hostess in 1985, she recalls the original dining room’s intimate supperclub ambiance and the contrasting casualness of the bar where peanut shells were scattered across the floor. “We were always very value driven,” she says. “Everyone was welcome.”
April worked her way up the ladder over the next 40 years. “I have personally fulfilled every role in this building,” she says. “I wouldn’t say I’m a cook, but I’ve been behind the line a couple of times.” She and Rosengren were partners from 1999 to January 1 of this year, when she and her husband, Brian Hanson, purchased the business outright.
April Hanson says the TexMex Salad (left) and Poke Bowl (right) are personal favorites of her and her husband, Brian Hanson. These dishes are also top picks among Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill regulars.
“Brian has been here for about 30 years,” April says. “We actually met at the Sunshine Factory.” Their story is one of many. Several staff members met their spouses at the restaurant, stood beside coworkers at their weddings and supported one another through some of life’s most challenging moments. In 2022, longtime employee Katie Fisher was seriously injured in a car accident. Fisher’s community pulled together for her, and the restaurant held Katie Day, donating the proceeds from food and drink sales to support her and her family.
Sunshine Factory doesn’t limit itself to brightening just the local community either. In 2018, after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, the school’s hockey team was scheduled to come to the Twin Cities for a tournament. April says she reached out to the team manager, and Sunshine Factory hosted the entire team and their families. “Those kids had just gone through the worst situation imaginable,” she says. “We wanted to show them what Minnesota Nice is all about. That was one of the best days of my life.”
The family-like feeling extends beyond the staff. Guests feel it too. April says the restaurant is a generational favorite that has become part of core memories for people who have walked through the doors for years. “People have a special spot in their hearts for this place,” she says.
Top: Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill employees Misty, Krista, Brian and Sheila on November 19, 2013, the last day of business at the former location in New Hope. Bottom, from left to right: A menu from the first anniversary; an old matchbook; the original marquee sign. Photos: Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill
When the New Hope lease wasn’t renewed in 2013, Sunshine Factory was faced with two options: relocate or close. April says the latter was never really on the table. “If we had closed, about 110 people would have lost their jobs,” she says. “We’re a family. We very quickly knew that wasn’t an option.” Fortunately, a new location was found just over 3 miles down the road, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions the team could have made. Sunshine Factory moved to Plymouth, marking a new era for the then 37-year-old business.
A lot has changed for Sunshine Factory—and the dining industry as a whole—during the past five decades. Large Sunday brunch buffets and famous 28-ounce prime ribs are mostly things of the past. Today, people are more conscious about their diet and sensitivities, and restaurants reflect this shift in their menus. “We can’t lose sight of who we are, but we can’t stay the same either,” April says. “We must evolve. I never thought I’d see a gluten-free bun on our menu, but it’s there, and people are grateful we offer that.”
Reflecting on its 50-year history, April says she feels extremely proud that Sunshine Factory continues to hold its place in the community. “This means we figured it out,” she says. “We’re still here because we produce, we perform and we go out of our way to make sure our guests are happy. Without them, we wouldn’t be here, and we make sure to appreciate each and every person who walks through our doors.”
