Our Story
Read full article here - https://citylifestyle.com/articles/hidden-treasure-in-plain-sight
Article by Ann Schreiber
Photography by Amanda Stamm
Originally published in Eagan City Lifestyle
If you’ve ever driven down Highway 3 through the Eagan and Rosemount areas, you’ve probably noticed the restaurant tucked a bit back on the west side of the road. Though the building has had a few names over the years with an evolving menu, it has become and continues to be a place for the community to come together, break bread, and enjoy a few cocktails.
Today, that place is called Greg & Lisa’s Hidden Treasure. The restaurant officially opened under its new name on April 1, 2024, in the former Cooper’s space. After a long journey filled with challenges, the new owners, Greg and Lisa Petersen, have found a deep sense of gratitude in the support of their community and the opportunity to keep a local tradition alive.
A Legacy of Community Handed Down for a New Start
It wasn’t just about opening a restaurant for Greg and Lisa—it was about continuing a legacy. The former owner, Randy Cooper, who owned and operated the restaurant under the name Cooper’s, battled cancer and often talked to the Petersens, who had worked there for about 19 years, about taking over Cooper’s someday. Later, Randy recovered from his illness but was still looking to sell. “Randy had been developing a three-year plan to sell the restaurant, and we always had our eye on it,” Lisa shared. But just as they were planning their next steps, the world threw a series of curveballs their way.
First came the COVID-19 pandemic, then illnesses in Greg’s family, and finally, a health crisis of their own. In the summer of 2023, Greg suffered a stroke. The recovery was long and difficult, but through it all, the idea of taking over the restaurant never wavered. By November of that year, Randy was ready to sell, and the Petersens officially opened Greg & Lisa’s Hidden Treasure.
An Ongoing Road to Recovery Supported by Locals and Those Far Away
Greg’s stroke has been a turning point in his life in many ways. “I was closing down the bar one night and started feeling odd—my arm went numb,” he recalled. By the time he made it home and awoke the next morning, it was clear something was very wrong.
Greg was hospitalized for nearly a week, and though the doctors couldn’t pinpoint the cause of the clot, it was a life-changing event. “Recovery took months. Six months where Greg couldn’t do much of anything,” Lisa said. “It was scary and chaotic. I was used to working side by side with him, and suddenly, I had to hold down the fort at the restaurant all on my own. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to do it without the bartenders, servers, and cooks stepping up in any and all areas.”
During Greg’s recovery, the community rallied in ways that left them both speechless. “People came in from other states just to show support,” Lisa shared. “There was a benefit for Greg after his stroke, and I remember having to step into the backroom a couple of times to pull myself together. The generosity was overwhelming.”
This outpouring of love and kindness solidified their belief in the restaurant’s future. “We realized that we wouldn’t just be the future owners—we would be part of something bigger. The community was behind us, and that meant everything.”