Howie’s sports bar is a little “hole in the wall” establishment that is the perfect getaway for those who enjoy the company of their peers, while still able to be in a restaurant/bar type scene. Located in downtown St. Cloud, next to Taco Bell and near the courthouse, Howie’s is an easy to access, great dining option. Howie’s currently has about 29 employees, including waitresses, bartenders, kitchen staff and management. They have delicious chicken wings and a taco bar to please anyone. They also have a wide selection of other options like burgers, wraps, salads and larger entrees. My personal favorite is the buffalo chicken wrap. I first went in there and ordered the wrap, plus an extra cup of sauce. Usually the sauce is nowhere near hot enough, and I end up using the full cup. With this wrap, it was VERY hot. It was awesome. My nose was running, I was sweating, and my face was hot – just like a hot sauce should be! If you are a fan of hot buffalo chicken wraps, or hot wings, Howie’s is the place for you!

The thing I like most about Howie’s – and something that is unique to the spot – is the sports atmosphere they have in the restaurant. They have jerseys and memorabilia hanging all around from hockey (SCSU, UMD), wrestling (SCSU), and baseball (St. Cloud Rox), to basketball (SCSU, Timberwolves), fishing and golf. You can tell they really enjoy supporting the local community – and want the community to support their sports. They also have dart boards, pool tables and a shooting basketball game. If you’re skilled enough to break the record for amount of shots made in the basketball hoop game, a loud, boisterous alarm goes off throughout the whole restaurant and everyone cheers for you. It is a really cool and unique tradition that doesn’t go unnoticed in the St. Cloud restaurant scene.

Howie’s is a major gathering spot for sporting events. Vikings games, MN Wild Games and Timberwolves Games are ones to name a few. Raffles and giveaways come as second nature to the customers at Howie’s and they are eager to put in for these causes. Howie’s Facebook page gives live updates of their events and carry out options. It is a great feature for checking out information, especially during the Covid-19 changes. When Howie’s is back open for business, they are able to host events such as graduation parties, retirement gatherings, anniversaries, and other special occasions.

At Howie’s the staff are well taken care of. They host a staff picnic every year to show their appreciation. Through working at Howie’s you are able to create a second family – people you can talk to and confide in whenever you need support. Karen Loch, a manager at the restaurant says her favorite part about working at Howie’s is: “Definitely the people! We all really become a big part of each other’s lives – staff and customers – and become like family. Ours is a very laid-back environment, which makes it comfortable and homey. I personally love taking care of people and interacting with all types of personalities.” Due to Covid-19, measures are being taken around the state to comply with regulations, while attempting to keep these businesses afloat. Karen mentions: “Continuity is important for development and retention of a customer base. We thrive off of our “regulars,” and those who come on specific days/nights (lunch regulars, hockey shuttles to SCSU games, Meat Raffle, etc.). Consistency is something there isn’t too much of in this world, and I think that a lot of our customers/regulars appreciate our consistency and the safety and security that comes with it. As a customer and an employee, I can go in there at any time, any day, and know people there and have someone to talk to. Obviously, that has all drastically changed due to Covid-19. It definitely creates a big hole, not being able to see and talk to friends, coworkers, and customers.”

Howie’s is open only under limited hours at this point: M-F 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This limits business interaction and retention and has laid off a majority of the staff. Karen is hoping most, or all will return, but that is an unknown at this point. If you are able, please help out the small businesses in our area! It is a great opportunity to do your part in contributing for the future of these establishments!