The Northstar Grille never got a chance to shine.

Plans for the $1.3 million restaurant inside Woodbury’s new Bielenberg Field House are dead — killed by a squabble between the city and the restaurant developer.

Each side said the other failed to meet terms of the lease. But they agreed on one thing — when the Field House opens in August, it will be without the ambitious restaurant promised last summer.

“We are not weaseling out of the agreement. The city is weaseling out of its provisions in the contract,” said Matthew Resch, a lawyer for the restaurant developer, Gartner Restaurant Holdings of Stillwater.

He said Gartner can’t move in because the city has not installed several items: a fireplace, floor tile, walk-in cooler and freezer, 12-foot exhaust hood, 70-foot bar and electrical and plumbing hookups.

But Woodbury officials said the city has spent $500,000 on building improvements for the restaurant, as specified in the lease. It is Gartner, they said, that has not taken steps to build the restaurant.

In August, city officials were delighted with Gartner’s proposal for the upscale restaurant. It was going to be a vast improvement over the hot dogs-and-pop concession stands of most civic arenas.

Company owner Greg Gartner, who owns a Dairy Queen and five buildings in downtown Stillwater, planned a restaurant with seating for 200. He talked about providing food-and-drink delivery to spectators at outdoor games.

The restaurant was to be a key part of the $22 million Bielenberg improvements, which will create the state’s largest indoor soccer field. The complex also will include three ice rinks and 36 outdoor playing fields.

Besides the city’s $500,000 investment, the lease called for Gartner Restaurant Holdings to spend about $300,000.

Much of the remaining cost also was to be covered by Gartner. For example, Resch said, the company already has spent $200,000, including costs associated with a general manager, architects, kitchen equipment and developing the name Northstar Grille.

Resch said it’s common practice for a landlord to make permanent improvements and install fixtures a tenant would need. He accused the city of spending some of the $500,000 on improvements not related to the restaurant.

One example, he said, is the copper tubing needed for the building’s geothermal heating and cooling system.

Resch said the city notified him Monday that the lease would be canceled unless Gartner pays the city $116,000 by next Monday.

He said it is still possible the city and Gartner would partner in the opening of a restaurant in the future.

“We are exploring all options at this time,” he said.

City officials said they have met their obligations. They wouldn’t give further details, citing the possibility of litigation.

“We are confident in our case and stand by the details to be provided in our complaint,” said city spokesman Jason Egerstrom in a statement.

“Food service (at the center) will be provided at the main-level concession stand, which will be operational in August,” he wrote. “The city intends to further explore food service options for the second-level space.”

Bob Shaw can be reached at 651-228-5433. Follow him at twitter.com/BshawPP.