Rush restaurant and Gallery 512 boutique joined together to create a Fashion Fusion event featuring a sneak peek at the latest clothes and menu items for both businesses.

Aron Bode, owner of Rush restaurant, said the idea behind the Fashion Fusion is to have a birthday party for the two businesses. Gallery 512 has been part of downtown New Ulm for 11 years and Rush is celebrating one year.

Bode said instead of holding separate anniversary parties, they decided to do a group celebration.

“Why not be entertaining,” Bode said. “We can show off some of their fashion and we can show off our new menu items.”

Samantha Kraus walks the runway at Rush’s rooftop restaurant wearing one of the latest looks from Gallery 512 Boutique. The fashion was part of the Fashion Fusion event.

Rush hosted the celebration on its rooftop patio overlooking Minnesota Street. Those attending the Fashion Fusion event were treated to six courses of new appetizer items from Rush’s menu. The Rush six courses began with teriyaki chicken pot stickers, followed by sweet potato round, cranberry, feta and toasted walnut; demi-glazed rib eye fingerling; stacked rye bacon grilled cheese; a signature birthday cupcakes and a champagne toast.

In between courses, guests were treated to a fashion show of seven models wearing 14 fall looks from Gallery 512. The seven models included Bethany Braulick, Samantha Kraus, Marja Sowers, Leah Treleven, Brittney Schmiesing, Kirsten Bowler, Noelle Hauge and Avary Roiger.

Co-owners of Gallery 512, sister Danielle Fischer Marti and Jessica Fischer Hoffmann, said they tried to include a variety of outfits to represent the season.

“We’ve got a good sampling of what we’re known for,” Marti said. “We have a lot of different layers. The dressed up look dressed down looks.”

“We wanted something for all women,” Hoffmann said. “Something they could all see themselves wearing.”

Leah Treleven (left) passes Bethany Braulick on the runway for Friday’s Fashion Fusion event. Treleven and Schmiesing wearing simple fall outfits from Gallery 512.

This is not the first time Gallery 512 participated in an autumn fashion show. The local downtown boutiques previously joined forces to host a fall and spring fashion show. However, the COVID pandemic put a stop to the shows.

“It is something we are hoping to bring back,” Hoffmann said.

The challenge of putting on a fashion show is doing it with a single business. Marti said it was difficult to go alone. That’s why they partnered with Rush to make it possible.

Marti and Hoffmann were also excited to have Rush host the venue. They believed it was a remarkable opportunity to have a rooftop restaurant in New Ulm.

Bode said Rush is always trying new things and the Fashion Fusion event worked well. The menu items featured in the show should be available in early November.

For the second course of appetizers at Friday’s Fashion Fusion event, Rush served guests at the Fashion Fusion event sweet potato rounds, with cranberry, feta and toasted walnuts.

With the success of the Fashion Fusion event, Rush and Gallery 512 owners expressed a desire to try it again. Fashion Fusion events could soon become very fashionable.

The final course of Rush and Gallery 512's Fashion Fusion event was a birthday cake with vanilla frosting, butter cream filling and edible gold sugar pearl candy. All appetizers were made in house by Rush staff.