Walker Art Center Concludes Business Relationship with Cardamom After Transition to Qr Code Service Model
The Walker Art Center announced today that it is concluding its business relationship with Cardamom. The restaurant, which is owned and managed by Daniel del Prado’s restaurant group (DDP), has operated inside the museum since 2021. The Walker’s decision follows news last week that Cardamom will transition from a full-service dining experience to a QR code ordering model, eliminating several staff positions at the restaurant as part of the shift.
The change in Cardamom’s approach does not align with the Walker’s vision for a dining experience at the museum. “We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for all of our guests at the Walker. While we do not oversee the restaurant in our museum, our vision has always been to have a full-service dining option within the Walker to complement the museum experience,” said Mary Ceruti, the Walker’s Executive Director. “We were caught by surprise by the changes at Cardamom and, after careful consideration, have decided to part ways. The reduced-service model, which favors automated efficiencies over a human-centered approach, does not align with our core values.”
The Walker will work with Cardamom over the next 60-90 days to wind down operations. Cardamom will continue limited service in the restaurant space during this transition period.
Walker staff are not affected by these changes, and the museum is immensely grateful to the Cardamom employees who helped create a welcoming and lively atmosphere at the restaurant since its opening.
About the Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a renowned multidisciplinary arts institution that presents, collects, and supports the creation of groundbreaking work across the visual and performing arts, moving image, and design. Guided by the belief that art has the power to bring joy and solace and the ability to unite people through dialogue and shared experiences, the Walker engages communities through a dynamic array of exhibitions, performances, events, and initiatives. Its multiacre campus includes 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, the state-of-the-art McGuire Theater and Walker Cinema, and ample green space that connects with the adjoining Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden, a partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, is one of the first urban sculpture parks of its kind in the United States and home to the beloved Twin Cities landmark Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Recognized for its ambitious program and growing collection of more than 16,000 works, the Walker embraces emerging art forms and amplifies the work of artists from the Twin Cities and from across the country and the globe. Its broad spectrum of offerings makes it a lively and welcoming hub for artistic expression, creative innovation, and community connection.