4400-30 EXCELSIOR BLVD.

There is some conflicting information about the strip of storefronts between Kipling and Monterey. Please contact us if you can give us clarification or additional information.  Here’s what we know:

4400 EXCELSIOR

This site, at Kipling, went through many iterations as a gas station, starting in 1932:

1932-33: Henry E. Mann's Service Station

1934: Sonny's Texaco, William A. Varner, Proprietor

1935: George and Bob Brooks

1938: Frank's Texaco Station

1939: (Henry.E.) Mann's and (Emil T.) Lind's Texaco

1939-45: Lind Texaco Station (4440)

1947: Texaco moved tanks 15 ft. from the building. There was one 4,000 gallon tank and two 2,000 gallon tanks.

1947-49: (George N.) Liebl Texaco Station (1948 – 3 pumps)

1950-58: Rudy's Auto Service (est. 1928) - Shell. 


Rudy's, 1955

1959-65 (Al’s) Calhoun Auto Repair and Service Station DX – opened Nov. 1959

1970-71: Gordy's Auto Repair and Tires (an expansion of Gordy Hicks' station at 4701 Excelsior)

1971: Park Jeep, Inc. – I.W. Melin

1972: Park Transmission Center

1999: Brambilla’s Auto Resources
 

4410-4420 EXCELSIOR

This is the eastern portion of the building.  The City says was built in 1932, but it was most likely built in 1950. Cronstrom’s Heating and Sheet Metal, Inc. owned the building and occupied it from 1950 to at least 1971. The ad below is undated, but guessed at 1951-65.




There were storefronts at 4410, 4412, 4414, 4416, and 4420. Tenants include:

Dave’s Shoe Repair - listed at 4414 from 1961 to 1972; currently at the eastern end of the strip at 4410.

Techline Studio Euro Pine Imports

Midwest Badge and Novelty – Founded in 1931 by the Saba Family. At this address from 1953 to at least 1984. The owner in 1953 was Frank C. Collins.

AlumaRoll Awnings by the Denesen Co.

Body Shoppe Sauna - see Police and Crime, 1974.

Today's Concept, where you could "Lose Weight Effortlessly:  Eight minutes on our toning tables equals hours of traditional exercising..  no straining or weightlifting."
 

4424-4430 EXCELSIOR

This is the western end of the building described above. Although it is attached to the building to the east, it has a different address and they are owned by different entities. The City dates this portion of the building at 1948, but we have an ad for the hardware store from 1945.

Minikahda Hardware staged a 3-day grand opening in April 1949. Festivities included an appearance by Cedric Adams and a drawing that drew 2,000 people vying for the $2,500 in prizes. In fact, the police had to be called for crowd control. The store was owned by Mayor Russell Fernstrom.

In 1952 the store merged with Suburban Appliance (4500 Excelsior) to become Minikahda Suburban Hardware and Appliance. The combined stores were located at 4424.
 

By 1956 the building housed Chamberlain windows and doors, which sold fibre glass and aluminum awnings, porch enclosures, and combination doors and windows. An open house was held on June 27, 1958.

Other tenants included:

Vent-a-Hood (1958 to September 23, 1960 – moved to Highway 7)
Baskin Robbins (1965)

Stewart Interiors (1971-75)
Bamboo Shop (1975)

Golden Swing Beauty Salon ("Where the Swingers Are") (1975-80)

CW Smith Antiques

Tan in the Dark (1987)
Salon One (2000)






 

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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.