KNOLLWOOD PLAZA/MALL

Plans for the $5 million Loehman's Knollwood Plaza Shopping Center were announced in the Dispatch on October 22, 1953. The announcement was made by Calhoun Realty (G.F. "Cliff" Loehman, President) and Henry Shanedling and Sons Corp. The shopping center would accommodate 35 stores, including J.C. Penney, Walgreen's, National Tea grocery store, Hove's grocery store, Sears, Woolworth's, Kinney's shoe store, Three Sisters, Town and Country Hardware, Johnston Appliance, and Fanny Farmer Candy.  The structure was planned at 300,000 square feet with 300 parking spaces. It was to be the first suburban Sears store and the "first in this section of the nation with a Woolworth store."

The 1953 announcement reported that the designer would be Raymond Loewy Corp. of New York.  The architect would be Thorshov and Cerny.  Contractors would be Alexander and Kingbay.  Donald Schanedling was named as the builder.  Managing agents were to be David P. Jones Co. and Towle Co.  Sale of the land was done by P.H. Andares of Calhoun Realty.  The Lohman Knollwood Plaza Corp. had Donald Shanedling as president, Robert Henretta as secretary and J.P. Cattanach as treasurer. 

At the same time as the announcement of the shopping center, Lohman announced a $10 million housing development project for a 155-acre tract of land north of Highway 7 between Minnehaha Creek and Hopkins, adjacent to the shopping center.  Plans were to build more than 350 homes. 

The shopping center opened on August 17, 1955 at 8337 Highway 7 (at Texas Avenue). Loehman had owned the land since 1929, which had previously been used as Pringle's Driving range (Jim Pringle), cornfield, and pasture for the herd from the Glen Lake School for Boys. Legend has it that he would only sell the land if his name was on the Knollwood sign.  His name went up, but it was carved on a white wooden sign, which couldn't be seen.  Present at the opening were Governor Orville Freeman, Hubert Humphrey, and singer Rosemary Clooney.

A fun item is a barbeque contest held at Knollwood on May 25, 1963.  Promotion chairman Earl Pleticha announced that more than 1,00 pounds of prime roast beef would be prepared by 33 amateur chefs in front of each store.  For the kids there was a "mutt" contest, with prizes to be awarded to the ugliest mutt, the mutt with the most spots, and the mutt with the best trick or costume.  A "colossal outdoor carnival" was also planned for the Monday before.  Fred Shelton was the President of the Knollwood Merchants Association, and announced a huge sale of leisure living merchandise ever offered in the State.

An addition to Knollwood was built in 1973 at 8020 Highway 7. Still, sales fell and fell, and between 1975 and 1976, sales at the center dropped $5 million. Signature store Young Quinlan left during this time. Extensive remodeling was done in 1978, expanding floor area from 250,000 to 500,000 square feet. This was when Park Knoll Elementary School was demolished to make way for a Montgomery Ward’s (now Cub) parking lot.

In 1980, Knollwood Plaza became Knollwood Mall, with the stores now facing in instead of out. Stores surrounded a center court with a skylight. The floor area was expanded from 250,000 to 500,000 square feet.  The Grand Re-Opening was held on October 8-18.

Despite its hard times, Knollwood at one time advertised that it was "The Suburb's Main Street," which, of course, being St. Louis Park, it wasn't. But in the days before online shopping, the Mall of America, and even some of the Dales, Knollwood was the place to go for clothes, fabric, and much more.

In 1994, the building that had begun as Powers, then Donaldson's, and finally Carson Pirie Scott was torn down to make way for Kohl's. 

The mall was renovated in 2005. 
 

For pictures from the Minnesota Historical Society, go to http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/ and put in Knollwood Plaza as the search terrm.

STORES AT KNOLLWOOD

The following is a partial list of stores that have been located at Knollwood.  The stores could have been located there before and/or after the dates given.  Please contact us if you know of other dates or have other stores you remember and we'll add them to the list. A huge thanks to intrepid researcher Mark Toretsky for finding so many of the stores listed below, using Polk Directories, phone directories, newspaper ads, and more.

Ace Cash Express

All Pro Sports

American Family Insurance:  1970-72

Applebee's

Arby's

Army Career Center

AT&T

Avenue:  2003-

Aqualand

Bath and Body Works

Beaute' Techniques:  1993

Beauty Mart:  1993

Berland's Shoes:  1963-70

Betlach Jewlers:  1963-72

Big Lots

Bishop's Buffet/Cafeteria:  1981-86.  Opened in 1981

Black's Photography

Braun's Women's Apparel:  1963-93

Brown Photo:  1982

Burger King

Camera Center:  1963-70

Caribbean Tan and Beachwear:  1993

Caribou Coffee

Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Carson Pirie Scott - 1991-94

Casual Corner:  1993

Chaffee's Jewelers:  1982

Chicken Little

Christopher and Banks:  1991

Claire's Boutique:  1993-

Clear

The Closet:  1993

Coach House Gifts:  1982

The Coat Company:  1993

The Cotton Shop

Country Club Market

County Seat:  1993

Crystal Door Gifts

CTN/Prestige Travel:  1993

Cub Foods:  1998-  (3620 Texas Ave.)

The Dahl House
 

Dairy Queen:  1993

Dental Clinic:  1993

Desmond's Formal Wear:  1993

Diet Center Knollwood

The Diner-Knollwood:  1963

Dollar Store

Donaldson's.  Located for a short time in the old Powers building.  Succeeded by Carson Pirie Scott before being torn down for a new Kohl's store.

Dreamer's

Dress Barn:  2003-

DSW

Duling Optical Superstore:  1993

El Gordo (until June 2011)

El Patron

everGreen Jewelers:  1993

Everyday Hero:  1993-94

Everything's $1.00:  1993

Extra Special Inc.:  1993

The Eye Guys:  1993

Factory Card Outlet

Fanny Farmer:  1955-93

Fashion Beauty:  1963-66

First Barber Stylists:  1993

First Western State Bank:  1972

Fitwell Men's Store:  1955-1972

Flower Fair:  1993

Foot Locker:  1982-93

Foreman & Clark:  1993

Foss Swim School:  1993-

Fun Shop:  1993

Gagers:  1982

General Nutrition Center:  1993

GiGi:  1972

Glamour Shots:  1993

Gold Mine Arcade:  1993

Golden Chain Gang:  1993

Gordon's Jewelers:  1982

Great Clips:  1993-

Gyros

Hal's Sportswear:  1982

Harold, Inc.:  1963-72

Heakin Research:  1993

Hennepin Lake Stationers:  1963-72

Heritage House Fabrics:  1970-72

Herbert's Knollwood OK Hardware

Herman's World of Sporting Goods:  1985-93

Hobby Fair:  1963-66

Hoff Jewelers

Ho-Ho Cafe:  1965-72

Homedale Nursery:  1963-66

House of Racette:  1982

House of Salisbury

House of Tran:  1993

Hunt and Peck

Hunter's Plaza Bakery

id:  1993

Initial Idea:  1993

Jack and Jill:  1955-1972

Jay's Cameras

Jensen Optical:  1963-72

Jewelart:  1982-97

John W. Heller

Johnston's Appliances

Junior Miss:  1955-1972

Just Petites

Kay Bee Toy & Hobby:  1993

Keith's Furniture Outlet

Kinney Shoes:  1955-1993

Kitchen Window:  1982

Knollwood Barber Shop:  1955-93

Knollwood Hardware: 1963-70

Knollwood Hobby & Toys

Knollwood Liquors:  1970

Knollwood Plitt Theater (Knollwood 4 Theaters):  1993.  This popular theater closed with plans to open a 16-screen theater in 1999, but those plans fell through.  The place was filled by relocating and expanding T.J. Maxx and converting additional space for smaller retailers. 

Kohl's:  Built new in 1994 at the site of the old Powers/Donaldson's/Carson Pirie Scott.

LeeAnn Chin

LeMonde Tailors:  1993

Lerner New York:  1993

Les Gourmets:  1956

Lillian's Gifts

Linens 'n' Things:  1993

Lyndale House of Antiques

McDonald's:  1993

Malibu Print Gallery:  1993-2000

Mark It Shop:  1982

Massage Oriental

Matin Restaurant II

Maurice's

MC Wireless/AT&T

Merle Norman:  1993-

Minnesota Army National Guard:  1993

Minnesota Federal:  1970-72

Montgomery Ward:  1978-1994

Mrs. Field's Cookies:  1993

Music 2:  1982

Musicland:  1970-93

Myron's Hallmark:  1993

Nagel's Restaurant:  1956

National Tea Food Store:  Opened shortly after the center opened. 

Naturalizer:  1993

Northwest Fabrics and Gifts:  1993

Old Navy:  2000-

1 Potato 2:  1993

Orange Julius:  1993

Paddy-O-Furniture

Pako Film Shop:  1972

Pandee's Restaurant:  1965-66

Panders

Panera Bread

Park Plaza State Bank:  1965-70

Party City

Party Plus:  1982-93

Pay Less ShoeSource: 1993

Peanut Shack

Pearle Vision Center:  1993-

J.C. Penney:  1955-72.  With Sears, broke ground by opening on Sundays starting in November 1969. 

Perfect Nails
 

Pet Center/Knollwood Pet Shop:  1965-66

Pet Circus:  1993

Pet Ranch

Petland Pet Store

Pilgrim Cleaners:  1965-93

Plaza Barber Shop

Plaza Finance:  1965-66

Powers Department Store:  1955-85.  Powers Knollwood was the first complete suburban department store in the Twin Cities. Dayton's and Donaldson's had the Dales sewn up, so Powers moved to the smaller venues.  The store had two floors and a mezzanine, the only two-story store in the center.  It was "dedicated to family living and keyed to a casual way of life." The first Powers store was established at 5th and Nicollet in 1881. It was originally called the S.E. Olson Co., but was renamed Powers after being taken over by St. Paul drygoods merchant Alanzo J. Powers and his son, Fred E. Powers.  The Powers family sold out in the 1920s but the name stuck.  In 1960, another suburban store opened in Highland Park. Click here for an aerial view from 1962. The store was replaced briefly by Donaldson's and then Carson Pirie Scott before being demolished and rebuilt for Kohl's. 

Pretzelmaker

Private Lines:  1993

Pro Central:  1993
 

Proex Portrait Studio:  1993

Radio Shack:  1982-

Rainbow's End

Record Lane:  1965-66

Red Key Restaurant:  Opened January 15, 1970.  Described as an Old English, yet fast-food restaurant, it was owned by a subsidiary of Red Owl Foods.  It was a free-standing building, 2,100 sq. ft. with a seating capacity of 50 people.  Lloyd Berkus described it such:  Finished in Old English wood beam and wrought -iron chandeliers, with high ceiling and leaded windows, the warm, comfotable atmosphere combined with the Red Key's exclusive recipes, will make the restaurant one of the finest fast-food outlets in the area."  Red Owl entered the restaurant business in 1962 when it bought Snyder Drug.  In 1970 it owned 27 restaurants in Snyder Drug Stores and 11 in Red Owl Stores.  Despite six years of research, all indications are that the Red Key Restaurant didn't last long.  The site became a Twin City Federal Bank. 

Red Owl:  1955-83

Reedy Camera and Card Center:  1970

Regis Hairstylists:  1993-

Richman Brothers Men's Clothing

Ritz Camera and  One Hour Photo:  1993-January 1997

Roberts Plaza Bakery:  1965-72

Royal Courts Restaurant and Liquor Store:  1970-72

Saigon Too Restaurant:  1993

St. Louis Park Police Substation

Sam Goody Record Store

Sbarro:  1993

Sears & Roebuck Co.:  With Penney's, broke ground by opening on Sundays starting in November 1969. 

SharePoint Credit Union

Sheer Treasures

Sherwin Williams Paints:  1965-72

Shoe Care & Repair:  1982

Singer Sewing Center:  1970-72

Software, Etc.:  1993

Sport Card Shop

Squirtworks:  Reader Mike says "This store sold shirts and tee shirts that the customer squirted paint on then spun on a spinner for a unique design."  Thanks for the info, Mike!

The Stable

Stevenson's

Stride Rite Shoes

Stuart's:  1993

Style Togs

Subway:  1993-

Suzy Hats Millinery

Taco Maker:  1993

Tacos Plus

Telephone Store

Three Sisters:  1955-66

Tilt - successor to the Gold Mine Arcade?

T.J. Maxx Homegoods:  Opened May 22, 1983.  A subsidiary of Zayre, the chain started in 1977.  The store has 17,000 sq. ft. and occupies the space formerly occupied by Red Owl.  The first store manager was Mike Skrec. 

T-Mobile

Total Sports:  1982

Towne & Country Ace Hardware

Trade Secret

Transtech

Twin City Federal:  1972-  (8020 Highway 7; Standalone Building)

Unique Bath Boutique:  1982

Ups & Downs

Uptown Finance:  1970-72

U.S. Video:  1982

Vision World:  1993

Waldenbooks:  1982-1993

Walgreen's:  1955-93

Wooden Bird:  1993

F.W. Woolworth:  1955-72.  Soda fountain, photo booth, goldfish for sale
 

Young-Quinlan Rothschild:  1955-72


Interesting Link:  Deadmalls

 

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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.