ROBERT JOHNSON

Robert Johnson was something of a Renaissance man in the early history of St. Louis Park, particularly in the area of Excelsior Blvd. He was a master builder, a restaurant proprietor, and gas station owner. At one time he owned businesses on three of the four corners of Excelsior Blvd. and Ottawa: a family garden spot, a gas station, and a root beer stand – which was eventually the site of the Classic Motor Club.

Johnson started his career as a limosine driver for the Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. Ahead of the crowd, he owned 30 Gold Star gas stations along Franklin and Lake, selling gas for 9.9 cents a gallon.

Johnson was a builder starting in 1913, and his work can be seen on Park and Portland Avenues, around 49th and 50th. He built many houses in St. Louis Park as well, including two on Natchez Ave. south of Excelsior Blvd. In 1938 he specialized in 5 room houses in Minikahda Vista. His homes were high quality, and can often be distinguished by their flagstone trim. He himself had two houses – one faced north next to the gas station at 4711 Excelsior, and the other faced Natchez. His granddaughter remembers that he seemed to alternate which house he lived in.

The first Mrs. Johnson (Christine Kingstrom) was said to be an accomplished singer, and her husband considered putting her on tour, the way P.T. Barnum did with Jenny Lind. The couple had three children, Ruth, Leslie, and Paul. Christine died young, at age 46. Robert married again, Annie was her name.

Son Lester Johnson was also a builder, building a great deal of Veterans’ housing immediately after the War and into the 1950’s. Many of these homes were in the Minikahda Oaks neighborhood north of Excelsior Blvd. He also built moderately-priced houses on the east side of Vernon Ave. south of Excelsior Blvd. – houses that were moved in the 1960’s to make way for the expansion of the highway. The family home was a flagstone house at 3755 Ottawa, which had to be torn down to make way for Park Commons. Les Johnson’s children include Joan Gullickson, who served as Miss St. Louis Park 1949-50, and Gloria Kingston.

BUSINESSES OF ROBERT JOHNSON:

3900 Excelsior (at France): In 1929, Johnson got permission from the Village Council to install two 10,000 gallon gas tanks on the site of the former Marting Manufacturing Co. and erect two buildings for greasing pits. (The Minikahda Club was in place by 1916.)

4300 Excelsior (at Joppa): In 1931 Johnson made an addition to his stucco gas station. By 1938 the property belonged to George Brooks.

4637/4649 Excelsior: This property goes back to 1922, when Robert Johnson ran a store. He was still there in 1932, when Village water was connected. In 1933 there was a soda fountain addition to the property, possibly made of logs. Johnson owned the property at least until 1936.

4700 Excelsior: Before 1932, Robert Johnson ran an A&W Root Beer Stand. [A&W had started on June 20, 1919 in Lodi, California by Roy A. Allan and Frank Wright.]  After 1932 it was the Yum Yum Root Beer Stand, owned by a Mr. Donovan.

4701/4711 Excelsior (at Natchez): In 1925, a permit was issued to Robert Johnson to build a gas station, known as the Robert Johnson Oil Company. By 1935 it was the Gold Star Service Station, similar to Johnson’s other stations. That December, a Frank Scoville had a permit to operate two pumps at that location, but Johnson apparently still owned the property. In 1938, Johnson's ad offered two of the finest grades of gasoline money could buy, including "Q" leaded regular. The building was rebuilt in 1941, still in Johnson’s name, but it appears that shortly afterwards it was no longer owned by Johnson.

Behind the gas station, from 1926 to 1939, Johnson ran Johnson's Family Garden, a local fun spot. It featured a rock garden and canaries.

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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.