EXCELSIOR AND JOPPA

Fine yellow brick buildings were built on the south side of Excelsior Blvd. and Joppa in 1940. Although there appears to be three buildings, there are actually two separate buildings and one official address, which is 3655 Joppa. There were three parts to the U shaped complex.  The building closest to Excelsior is known as 3651 Joppa.  Going south, the next section carries the address 3655.  The next section is a separate building, known as 3699, but legally it is part of the 3655 address. 

The first building, known as  3651 Joppa, housed the Joppa Pharmacy starting on June 19, 1948, owned by L. R. Maxfield. It was the first drug store where you could buy a TV set, in an era before there were many appliance stores. It carried the franchise for RCA televisions for the entire area. Downstairs in the “soda lounge, customers were offered "Television for your Enjoyment." The store was robbed on August 25, 1951.

The building became the Warren Drug Company in August 1953 (Warren Pharmacy until 1970), owned by Robert W. Warren and managed by L.R. Maxfield. It is reported that local TV personality Jack Thayer, who hosted a show called Jack Thayer's (Corner) drug store, spent a lot of time at the St. Louis Park store. (Ironically, the drug store wasn't technically on a corner.) In 1948 until 1967, the Irish Washerwoman (in the basement of the drug store) was advertised as the first self-service laundry, featuring 20 Bendix washing machines and a TV Lounge. It was run by Mrs. L. Casey and Mrs. M. Fagan.

1941-42



The middle section, known as  3655 Joppa, had a host of doctors and dentists, including Casey, Hogan, Pleissner, and E.V. Johnson. Dr. Richard Kindy, famous for his waiting room putting green, was in residence from 1954 to at least 1962. In the basement was a beauty/barber shop: Ruth Swanson and Norma Kadechka operated the Joppa Beauty Salon (from October 1, 1942 to 1947), offered “Pine Vapor Baths” – for ladies only, of course. Noel Nelson opened the Joppa Barber Shop at the same time. In September 1999, Jon Wiczling and his wife opened the Jon English Salon. He closed that location in 2006.



The next section was a separate building that was known as 3699 Joppa. This building housed Arcade Television and Appliances (perhaps an offshoot of the drug store) with a Grand Opening on September 28-30, 1950. In 1951 there was advertised the Arcade Record Shop. In December 1951 the store held a Saturday Night Disk Jockey Party to celebrate the arrival of Admiral TV sets. In attendance were WTCN stars Jimmy Delmont and Clellan Card. In 1952 the manager was Vic Feeny. In 1959 it was known as Arcade TV and Organ. The shop closed in 1972, when the manager was Harlan “Platz” Platzer. Wayne and Esther’s “Cameo Coiffure” was listed at 3699 Joppa in 1962.

1951

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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.