Growing up on the Northside, many of us lived by what now days would be referred to as a “business node.” It was an intersection or a block with a number of different small, locally owned, shops and stores. Having these little businesses in the neighborhood meant you could often get whatever you needed without leaving the neighborhood.
The businesses I remember from my neighborhood when I was growing up centered around the intersection of Floyd B. Olson Memorial Highway and Penn Ave N. On the south side of the highway from Oliver Ave to Penn there was a solid block of shops, and there were a few more from Penn to Queen.
Starting at Oliver and heading west there was:
The New Oliver Market. I’m not sure why the word “new” was in the name because it always seemed old to me. It was owned by a guy who’s name was Rudolph, so we always just called it Rudy’s store.
Pearl’s (later Elizabeth’s) Beauty Shop. We never went there because my mom and I had the perms that you did at home.
Rex Dry Cleaners. I don’t remember my family ever taking any of our clothes to a dry cleaner when I was growing up.
The Highway Book Nook. This little gift shop was run by Mrs Mira Bell Schilling and Miss Irene Morse who were part of the Lutheran Temperance League. The shop sold a wide variety of items, all of which had a bible saying on them. On Fridays after school, the ladies held a bible class for the neighborhood kids, and they had vacation bible school and picnics in the summer. We were a rag-tag bunch of kids of all races and ethnic groups who went to the Book Nook. I have very fond memories of the going to the Highway Book Nook.
Pudas Hardware. Like most hardware stores of the 1950s, they carried everything imaginable – tools, paint, housewares, toys, you name it.
Auto-Coin Laundries (laundromat). My family didn’t go to the laundromat like some families did because we had a washer and hung laundry outside on a clothes line.
Bill’s Barber Shop.
Sam Brown’s Shoe Repair. Instead of just throwing shoes out if they got a hole etc., we would have them repaired.
Glenwood Market. I have no idea why this store on Olson Highway was called the Glenwood Market since was called this as far back as the 1920s when Olson Highway was 6th Ave N.
Minneapolis Shoe Company. Just before the beginning of each school year, my dad would take me to this store to get a new pair of white and black saddle shoes. Saddle shoes, which were quite popular in the 1940s and 1950s, were very sturdy and would last the whole year (if my feet didn’t grow).
Olson Highway Drug Store. This drug store was owned by two brothers, Joe and Jerry Shink. Besides the pharmacy, they also sold a variety of other items. Even though the Shink brothers were Jewish, they sold an assortment of items for Christmas. It also had a soda counter in the back where you could get such treats as a cherry Coke, an ice cream soda, a malt or a sundae. In the winter, they would let us come in and stand in the doorway to warm up on our walk up to John Hay School.
Then after crossing Penn and going towards Queen Ave there was:
A Standard service and gas station.
M & I Auto Supply.
Block’s Ice. When it was really hot in the summer, my dad would go and buy a large block of ice from Mr. Block. We would put the block of ice in a large metal wash tub and have a fan blow across it to cool our living room where we’d all sleep on the floor.
Moe’s Tavern.
All of those shops have been torn down but the memories still remain. I’m sure many of you also have fond memories of the businesses in the neighborhood you grew up in.