Rudy Gobert invests in Minneapolis organic cafe as expansion plans grow

Rudy Gobert’s investment gives Parcelle Organics something a lot of independent restaurants chase but rarely get: instant name recognition. The Minnesota Timberwolves center is backing the northeast Minneapolis cafe as founder Kamal Mohamed prepares to push the fast-casual concept beyond its first storefront at 233 E. Hennepin Ave.

That matters because Parcelle has already moved past the one-location stage. The cafe opened with a grand opening on Jan. 24, 2024, in the former New Bohemia spot near Hennepin and University, and built its identity around organic meals free of pesticides and herbicides. The menu leans into the wellness economy, with smoothies, breakfast and lunch, plus breads and milks made in-house. Some local coverage has even compared the brand’s positioning to Erewhon, the California grocery and cafe chain that has become shorthand for upscale health food.

Gobert’s backing comes as Mohamed lines up expansion. Parcelle planned two additional locations for spring 2026, including one in Wayzata and another downtown at LaSalle Plaza. The downtown site was slated to be a 2,700-square-foot cafe on the building’s first floor, with an opening expected in the second quarter of 2026.

For restaurant workers, that is the part that matters most. Celebrity investment can be a flashy headline, but the real test is whether it turns into more shifts, more prep work, and a larger footprint for the staff who have to keep a breakfast-and-lunch operation moving every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If Parcelle’s growth holds, the model will not just be a celebrity endorsement on a local menu board. It will be a case study in whether athlete-backed money can help an independent restaurant add locations without losing the neighborhood feel that made it attractive in the first place.

Mohamed already has experience building concepts in Minnesota, including StepChld and Nashville Coop. Parcelle now has a higher-profile backer and a clear growth path. Whether that translates into a real multi-unit business, or just another well-marketed wellness name, will show up in the dining room, the kitchen, and the payroll.