LILAC WAY SHOPPING CENTER

HISTORY OF LILAC WAY

The 30,000 square foot Lilac Way was the first shopping center in the State. Unlike Miracle Mile, which was built across the street 10 years later, Lilac Way was not so much a strip mall but a series of buildings anchored by the bowling alley, and was much smaller that Miracle Mile's 154,000 square feet. The Lilac Way/King's Inn complex was owned by Nick Phillips and Theo Theros. The partners split at some point and the shopping center belonged solely to Phillips – and then to his wife Elly when he died.

The first section, Lilac Lanes Recreation Center, was built on the site of the Baston Farm in 1941.

Permission was granted to extend it eastward in 1945, on the site of Nate Shepard’s asparagus patch. Much of Shepard's land had already been taken for the construction of Highway 100.

The National Tea/SuperValu store (5420) was originally the western-most store until about 1958, when 2-3 additional small shops were added to the west end, including the barber shop and dry cleaners.

In 1964 there was a disastrous fire.

In the mid 1970’s there was increasing talk about designating an Excelsior Blvd. redevelopment district, which threatened the continuing existence of Lilac Way. In August 1976, for the first time there was organized a Lilac Way Merchants’ Association, headed up by Leaning Post owner Phil Eder and relative newcomer Norm Kirchner of the Lilac Way Shoe Store. The Association spent $1,000 of their own money to extend the old west motif of the Leaning Post throughout the complex. (The King’s Inn did not participate.) Efforts to remove the huge Coca-Cola sign from the roof were stymied by the amount of money that Coke was paying Mrs. Phillips.

Despite these efforts, the old shopping center was ripe for redevelopment. Construction of the 36th St. overpass wreaked havoc on traffic in the area, and the businesses never recovered. The complex was demolished in 1988. (Demolition was delayed when soil borings revealed high levels of trichloroethylene.) The land lay vacant for awhile before Park Village came into being.

 

1960

September 1972

BUSINESSES OF LILAC WAY
(addresses indicated where known):

Bakery: 1941 - 64. From 1941 to 1949, Melbert E. Lenander ran the first bakery in Lilac Way at 5324. In 1945, he published a notice in the paper that due to a shortage of sugar and shortening, the store would be closed on Thursdays. The address then was listed as 5332. In December 1947 he moved to 5308. In 1954 he moved to Miracle Mile, where he sold the business to Michael and Barbara McCollor in 1957. Mr. Lenander died young. In June 1960 the bakery was listed as Bobbie’s Bake Shop, owned by Robert Byers, but on October 10, 1960 it was again the Lilac Way Bakery, run by Earl Riedeman, who moved to Miracle Mile in 1964.

Beauty Parlors: 5328. Lilac Way Beauty Salon. In 1942 the salon featured the “Commando Bob” for $7.45. This was before “going commando” meant not wearing any underpants. In 1947 it became Paul Hein Beauty Lounges.  In April 1947, Hein advertised the “radio” permanent wave, whatever that was.  "Dancing Hair" was all the rage in 1962.  He moved to Miracle Mile in 1964. In 1964-70 it was Lilac Way Fashion Salon – in August 1969 it opened a new wig store and advertised that the beauty salon would reopen soon. In December 1970, three Maxim’s Beauty Salons opened, formerly Fashion Beauty. Maxim’s had been in business for 45 years, but this location was gone by 1975.

Bonanza Steak House/Sirloin Pit: 5420. 1966-69. May have gone out of business when their application for a liquor license was denied in July 1969.

Burgundy Bull: 5420. 1969- This restaurant was run by Tom Hastings and specialized in carry-out. Their chicken was marinated in dry vermouth, beef in burgundy wine, and ham in tawny port. Perhaps this was to get around the lack of a liquor license?

C&C House of Realty: 5400. 1964 – 66

Candy Stores: 5316. Julie Ann Candies was the first of a string of candy shops in this location. Julie Ann, owned by Peter Brown. Sold to Ted Georgas in April 1948 to become (Georgas) Lilac Way Candies, 1948-1965. Georgas hand-made and dipped all of his candy in the basement of his shop. [Ted Georgas was born on September 15, 1890 in Haraka, Greece. He came to the U.S. in 1910 and apparently spent some time in South Carolina and Waseca before he came to St. Louis Park in 1946. He died on May 7, 1975.] In 1965, the store was called Dave’s Lilac Way Candies.

Cinderella Health Studio: 5304-1/2. 1958. Services included a steam bath, Swedish massage, and a spot reducing machine that looked like a human clothes wringer.

Coast to Coast Hardware: 1950 - 61. This store was originally located in a separate building south of the Mobil gas station (5430). Its Grand Opening was held on October 27-28, 1950. The store featured 1500 square feet and 11 departments, selling auto accessories, hardware, and housewares. It was owned by Nick Phillips and run by Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Cooper. On November 24, 1952, it was purchased by Sam Broude. Another name associated with the store in the 1950’s was C. Ed. Christy, who ran it from 1954 to 1956. This building was removed in December 1956, along with the service station. The store moved to 5400 and was located there in 1960. The Coast to Coast Headquarters and Distribution Center was located at 7500 Excelsior Blvd. from October 1956 to 1976, when it moved operations to South Dakota and corporate headquarters to Minnetonka.

Davis Loan Co.: 5332. 1952 – 1972. A.D. (Dave) Davis and A.L. (Al) Groos opened up shop on November 20, 1952. They advertised as the first home-owned loan company in the Park, licensed under the Minnesota Small Loans Act.

Dairy Bar: 5320. Horton’s Dairy Store/Milk House, 1941-42. Re-opened October 16, 1942 (Feb. 6, 1942?) by Fred Wolfe and Son as the Dutch Mill Dairy Bar – Wolfe had 50 such stores. From 1943 to 46 it was the Lilac Way Dairy Bar ("poultry - farm killed – drawn immediately"). In August 1946 it was run by Evelyn H. Lawyer, who moved it from the Minnesota Dutch Dairy Bar at 6570 (6508?) Walker. The store re-opened with a 22 stool lunch counter on June 28, 1947 under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip R. Zorn. In 1949 it was called Dairy Lane – in 1950 it was operated by Eggerts..

Dry Cleaner: 5434 (5320?). Lilac Way Dry Cleaners opened on December 1, 1947. The next year it was Pilgrim Cleaners. Pilgrim Cleaners started in 1940 as “Johnny on the Spot” Cleaners, serving the entire upper Midwest. In the early 1950’s they came to Minneapolis and suburbs and changed their name to Pilgrim Cleaners. From 1957-66 the store was run by White Way Cleaners (Richard F. Condon). The store was again called Lilac Way Cleaners in the ‘70’s – Mr. LaVallee was the owner in May 1970.

The Fitness Store: 1988

Genuine Parts Co./Genuine Auto Parts: 5304-1/2. 1960-71. Mike J. Storm, manager in ’71 – 5 employees. Had been at 4814 Excelsior from 1956 to 1960.

H&R Block: 5304. 1981-84. Possibly at 5316 in 1970.

Hickory Corral/Hickory Wheel: 5420. 1970-1972. Barbeque place. This property had changed owners several times before Phil Eder bought his partners out. Eder made the transition to Koogan’s Leaning Post in 1972, perhaps because the Hickory Wheel could not get a liquor license.

Hughes Furniture: 5324. Leo Hughes, 1960 – 69. The store had been at 4532 Excelsior in 1958. (That building later burned down as the Pizza House.) It went out of business in July 1969.

Kings Inn Restaurant was the former Lilac Lanes Café, renovated and renamed in about 1964. It featured the first and longest salad bar, boasting 76 items. Their motto was “Food Fit for Their Majesties – Our Customers.” Owners were George and Bob Theros, son of Lilac Way founder Frank Theros. The address, often given just as Highway 100 and Excelsior, was actually 3901 Wooddale.

Koogan's Leaning Post: 5420 (-30-34). 1972-87. Phillip L. Eder, Northern Franchises. This controversial bar closed its doors on October 24, 1987.  The picture at right was taken in September 1972.

Larson's 5 & 10: 5400-5404. 1940-42 - Irving A., Florence Larson. A Ben Franklin Store.

Lilac Lanes Barber Shop: 5434. 1964 – 66. Possibly Mel’s Barber Shop, opened long before 1964.

(Lee's) Lilac Lanes Cafe: 1942-45. On September 5, 1942, the restaurant reopened under the management of “your genial host Connie Rallis.” The menu included frogs’ legs. It was under new management once again in January 1943. [Closed January 1943 – stayed closed when bowling alley reopened.] Walter Claasen of St. Paul and Rudy Engelhart of St. Louis Park took over in 1945-46. In 1946 the manager was Al Borreson. The Lilac Way Cocktail lounge opened in 1952 – Nick Phillips received a liquor license in January despite opposition from three churches. In 1953 he petitioned to have the license transferred to Lilac Lanes Enterprises. In about 1964 the restaurant was renovated and renamed King’s Inn.

Lilac Lanes Recreation Center (opened December 27, 1941, closed for a year and a half, opened again on September 1, 1944): 20-lane Bowling Alley. In 1942 the bowling alley was managed by golf pro Jimmy Lentz.

This picture was taken in 1960.

Lilac Way Shoe Store: 5312. December 1, 1947 - 1972. Customers remember getting a prize inside the golden egg laid by the mechanical Red Goose, getting their feet X-rayed. First owned by William B. Cusack, it was owned for years by Alex Chernoff. Chernoff found he had been cheated by an employee for years – reorganized as a corporation just before he sold the business in 1972. Norman Kirschner changed the name to Norm’s Lilac Way Shoes, and was an active member of the Lilac Way Merchants’ Association. He eventually declared bankruptcy.

Minnesota Radio and Electronics: 1958.

National Tea Store: 5420. 1942-53. In 1953 the store moved to a building at 4951 Excelsior at Quentin built by Morten Arneson where it operated for a decade. A matchbook advertised “National Food Department Stores,” with “Branch Offices” in Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee.

Northland Photo: 5312. 1981. With Posters by Vicki

O'Hair International Wigs and Boutique - 1971

Park Communications Center:  5316.  1980:  Personal and Business Communication - pagers - land mobile - GMR/FM.

Park View Cameras and Flowers: 5308. 1967-1968. Had been in Miracle Mile, 64-65. By 1968 it was just cameras.

Poor Junior: 5324. 1972- Opened October 1972. China, wood, stainless gifts.

Ruby's Fine Foods: 5420. 1959-61. Opened in August 1959. Owned by Morton Silverman.

Samday Foto: 5316. 1981

Savitt Brothers Paint: 5304. 1949 - 70

Schmitt Music Co.: 5308. July 8, 1965 - 1966 Owned by Robert A. Schmitt, this premiere music store began in 1896. In 1928, the Paul A. Schmitt Co. was located at 729 Nicollet Ave. An ad from 1971 lists six locations, including Southdale. The list does not include St. Louis Park. In the 1960's, members of the Schmitt family lived in St.Louis Park.

Sherman Pharmacy: 4304. 1949-54. Fred Sherman, proprietor.

Skads Travel Service - Will Skadsberg:  1955 – present. This longstanding business was first located on the second floor of the bowling alley. Will Skasberg Jr. tells us that the business "moved in November 1987 when the building was condemned. We were actually the only occupants for about two years after the restaurant closed, spooky sometimes, only cold running water, main building not heated, we used the electric heaters for $$$$) – moved to our present location at 6250 Excelsior Blvd." Skads Travel has been in St. Louis Park for 53 years.  Bonnie Skadsberg was involved from 1956-1999, Daughter-in-Law Kathy Skadsberg from 1967, and Will Skadsberg Jr. since 1970.

C.J. Sommers Co. 5400. 1948-70. This was a Dime Store Supply Co., with merchandise ranging from 5 cents to $1.

Star Bowling and Golf: 5400. 1962 - 1988, owned by DuWayne Breault, Jim Sjostrom, and Bill Sandvig; later moved to 36th Street.

SuperValu: 5420. 1953-54. The roots of this Hopkins-based grocery retailer go back to the B.S. Bull, Newell & Harrison Co. Minneapolis wholesale grocery firms. In 1942, the Super Valu name was introduced. Entrepreneurs Winston and Newell formed a voluntary group of stores with an extensive program of services to retailers and stressed nationally advertised brand names. The company’s name was officially changed to Super Valu Stores, Inc. The Lilac Way store opened on July 9, 1953. The store advertised its exclusive “rolling cold" facilities, which meant that meat was refrigerated during all stages of preparation. Other features included air conditioning, magic carpet doors, relaxing music, Witt's Bakery, Spee-Dee checkout counters, a Kiddie Korral with TV (introduced by Red Owl across the street in 1951), and Gold Bond Stamps. The store manager was Ivan Hagen, and Chet Janson was the meat manager. In December 1956, new owner-manager Burton J. “Bud” Amlaw purchased the store from the late Harry Botten.

Tonnings Apparel Shop: 5324. 1942 – 47. Became Walboms.

Walbom's Apparel: Roy and Irene Walbom opened a women’s and men’s apparel shop in 1947. They added a children’s section, opening on November 17, 1950. In 1962, the shop was run by Irene Burkhardt. In 1963, the store was moved to Miracle Mile.

Wellington Hall Ltd.: 5324. 1969-71. Manufacturers of fine furniture. May 1970 manager Vern Lawrens. 1971 new director Thomas Alan Earle.

Wellington Hall Interior Design Center:   5324.  1969-71

Katherine White Home Interior Shop: 5332. At the grand opening on November 1-2, 1950, the first 600 ladies were presented with imported bone china demi-tasse cups and saucers.
 

Wine Art: 5308. Opened December 1969.

LILAC WAY STOREFRONTS

This is a rough reconciliation of the addresses of the various businesses that leased at Lilac Way. It is not all-inclusive, and is prone to error, as easily seen by overlapping businesses. Any and all corrections are welcome.
 

5304
1948: Pilgrim Cleaners
1949: Glueck Brewing Co.
1949-54: C. Sherman Pharmacy
1949-70: Savitt Bros.
1957: Alvin Ray
1957-1975: Lilac Way Cleaners
1981-84: H&R Block

5306 (separate building? orig. 3917A, changed to 5304-1/2 in 1958; changed to 5306 in 1965)
1957-58: Cinderella Health Studio (Allen/Alvin Roy Slenderizing Co.)
1960-72: Genuine Parts

5308
1946: C.R. Martin – 5308-12
1947-64: Bakery
1965-66: Schmitt
1967-68: Parkview
1969-84: Wine-Art
 

5312
1947-72: Lilac Way Shoes
1978-81: Northland Photo
1982: Radio Shack/Elder Jones, Inc. (5312-16)
 

5316
1941-65: Candy
1970: H&R Block
1970: Warren Hallock
1970: Vanguard Distribution Co. of Minnesota
1975-80: Amateur Audiotronics/Park Communication Center/CB Radio
1981: Samday Foto
1981: Wegner Enterprises

5320
1941-49: Dairy Bar
1965:  Lund's

5324
1941-47: Bakery
1947-63: Walbom’s
1964-69: Hughes
1969-71: Wellington Hall International Design Center
1972: Poor Junior
1974: Beautician’s Supply
1979-84: Fitness Shop

5328
1941-47: Beauty
1947-64: Paul Hein
1964-70: Fashion
1971-75: Maxim’s
1976-85: Print Shop – Howard Olson

5332
1945: Lenander’s Lilac Way Bakery
1950: White
1952-72: Davis
1973-74: Davidson Finance
1980: Avco Financial

5400
1940-42: Larson’s
1950-60: Coast to Coast
1948-70: Sommers (rear)
1964-66: C&C Realtors
1962-80: Star Bowling

5420
1942-52: National Tea
1953-54: Super Valu
1959-60: Ruby’s Fine Foods
1965:  Dante's
1966-67: Bonanza
1970-72: Hickory Corral/Wheel BBQ
1972-88: Koogan’s

5430 – Separate building. Originally 3917A, changed to 5430B in 1957 (removed 1956?)
1950: Coast to Coast

5434 – addition on eastern end, built @ 1958. Two storefronts with the same address.
1962-66: White Way Cleaners
1957-1975: Lilac Way Cleaners

1964-66: Barber

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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.