Al's Place was built in 1926 at 3912
Excelsior Blvd. This two-story establishment was originally
faced with red Chicago brick. We’re unsure of the original
owner, but in 1927, Al J. Lovass and Mary Vlavianous
obtained a license to sell soft drinks and operate a
restaurant. Others remember it as a grocery store or a
confectionary. Whatever was going on upstairs, bootlegger Al
and his wife supplied their customers with more than pop in
their basement "party room"/speakeasy that featured a large
fieldstone fireplace. Al's friendship with the Sheriff
ensured that he and his card playing, drinking customers
were safe from prosecution. Al, of Norwegian descent, and
his wife lived above the bar until they bought a house in
southwest Minneapolis in the 1940's. John Reid remembers
that Al wanted to sell the bar after WWII, but local
attorney Heine Kuhlman talked them out of it because he knew
it was a gold mine. "Heine was upset because they never gave
him anything for that good advice."
In 1933 the establishment was listed as Al's Cafe in the
first St. Louis Park Directory, reflecting its status before the end of
prohibition the following year. The first addition, to the
east, was built in 1934. This room originally had big
windows so one could see the golf course, but in one
misguided fit of remodeling the windows were covered over
(they’re still there in the wall). In 1952 the liquor store
was added to the west side but closed in 1980. Because of
regulations imposed by the City, the former liquor store can
now only be used for storage.
Al died in 1952, and his liquor license went to William C.
Lovaas and NW National Bank as co-administrators of the
estate. In 1960, partners were listed as Melvin D. Lovaas,
Clair H. Reed, James H. Holme, Paul B. Haugejordan, and
Woodrow W. Jones. Haugejorden, became the manager/owner. He
was a bachelor who lived upstairs at one point, and at
Minikahda Court when he died in September 1966. Jim Holme,
Al's nephew, and Walter J. Holme, Al's cousin, ran it from
1966 to at least 1977, when Jim Holme sold it to bartender
Woody Jones and David Payne.
Al's was an especially popular place when there was an
election in Minneapolis and the Minneapolis bars were
closed, since Al's was the first bar across the city line.
Al's had a collection of "character bartenders:" Gar Case
was a song and dance man from the old vaudeville days. He
knew every joke and story ever told and liked to share them
with his customers. If he started to tell a story he never
quit until he finished, regardless of who was waiting for a
drink. Another bartender was Knox Delaney. He had a diamond
in one of his front teeth and loved to flash a big smile,
especially to the ladies, so you could see the diamond.
Al's never closed because of inclement weather. During the
Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940, people walked on top of cars
to find refuge at Al's, where they partied for 3-4 days. Al
cashed checks, and opened at 8 a.m. to accommodate third
shift workers who were just getting off work. Al's also
strove to be a good neighbor by buying up adjacent lots as a
buffer between the bar and nearby houses.
This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.