5001 EXCELSIOR BLVD.

The building at 5001 Excelsior Blvd. was originally built for Citizens State Bank, which opened for business on January 16, 1950.
 

At first, the bank rented out the basement, first to the Three Gentlemen Furniture Studio. The three gentlemen, Russ Clark, Earl Maynard, and Dick Pollard, displayed modern, moderately priced furniture in their downstairs studio, which was done in “a unique shade of green never before used in this section of the country.”

The basement became the offices of the Citizens State Insurance Company, which was sold in 1980.

In December 1956, a 10 ft. by 6.3 ft. addition was made to the building on the east side. This picture is from 1957.

The bank was moved to a new building across the street (site of the Rixon home) in 1973. The building was then purchased by Gil Braun for a warehouse for his Miracle Mile Braun's store.  At some point it was purchased by ICI, the owners of Miracle Mile.

When Red Owl burned down in 1973, there was hope that a new grocery store would go in or near Miracle Mile. Anderson Cherne had even proposed to tear down the old bank building, medical center, etc. all the way to Quentin, but the project was dropped because of the projected high condemnation costs.

Instead, in 1977, B. Dalton Booksellers operated the building from 1978 until August 1997. It was the first freestanding B. Dalton Store in the area.

5001 Excelsior was a Perkins Restaurant from September 1997 to December 2000.


2000


It was the Sage Hen from January 2001 to December 15, 2002.

It has been a Dairy Queen since November 2003.

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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.