HUDSON, WIS. — The Twin Cities restaurant community is mourning the loss of David Burley, a beloved hospitality leader and co-founder of Blue Plate Restaurant Co., who died in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon in western Wisconsin. He was 58 years old.
According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, the crash occurred just before 2:45 p.m. on westbound Interstate 94 near Hudson, not far from the Minnesota border. Authorities said the driver of a car in the right lane attempted to bypass traffic by using the right shoulder, struck a guardrail, and veered back into traffic — colliding with Burley’s motorcycle. Both vehicles crashed into a concrete median. Burley was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The car’s driver, identified as Andre Lamont Mathews, 33, of Brooklyn Park, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
Burley was a driving force behind several popular dining spots in the Twin Cities. Alongside business partner Stephanie Shimp, he opened Highland Grill in St. Paul in 1993 — the first of what would become a portfolio of well-loved neighborhood restaurants. Over the next three decades, the pair launched Groveland Tap, Longfellow Grill, Edina Grill, 3 Squares, The Lowry, and The Freehouse, as well as the popular Blue Barn at the Minnesota State Fair.
In a heartfelt social media tribute, the Blue Plate Restaurant Group described Burley as “the heart and soul of Blue Plate — a visionary leader and a joyful, generous spirit who made everyone feel welcome. Since opening our first restaurant in 1993, David’s energy, creativity and kindness have shaped everything we are today.”
All Blue Plate restaurants were closed Monday in remembrance of Burley, as staff and the community reflect on his legacy.
Known for his passion for hospitality and his ability to foster welcoming spaces, Burley’s influence extended beyond his business ventures. He was widely regarded as a mentor, a community-builder, and a man who led with compassion.
As news of his passing spread, tributes poured in from across the Minnesota restaurant scene, with friends, employees, and fellow restaurateurs remembering him as an innovator and a kind-hearted leader whose presence left an indelible mark on the city’s culinary identity.
The Wisconsin State Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
Burley is survived by his loved ones and a restaurant community that considered him family.