5408 MINNETONKA BLVD.

Gone now, this was a drive-in restaurant built at the intersection of Highway 100 and Minnetonka Blvd. (northwest quadrant). 

One source said it was built in 1948 by O.B. Erickson, a former Park mayor, who also had a hand in the gas station next door at 5430 Minnetonka.  A photo from October 1951 (below)shows the gas station but not the drive-in, however, so this is in question.

Department of Public Works, October 27, 1951


Marie and Cliff J. Amlaw ran a Dairy-Way, which held a Grand Opening on August 22, 1952. An ad in a September 1952 Echo touts "All Flavors of Sundaes, Malts, Milk Shakes, made the delicious Dairy-Way.  Also pints and quarts, Malts and Sundaes to Take Home.

The Dairy-Way became Cliff's Drive In, owned and operated by the Amlaws.  An ad in the Echo from June 1956 calls it "America's newest and most modern."

 

Cliff's Drive-In, 1956.  Photos above and below courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

By 1961, Cliff's was listed as owned by Mrs. C.J. Amlaw and Rella McComb, and had 40 seats.

From 1964 to at least 1971 it was Jack Reed's Restaurant.  In 1968-69, Jack experimented with roller skating carhops but there were too many spills.  Al Hartman says "The W-2s and the check stubs all still said Cliff's Drive In on them but Jack said he owned the place. Jack's wife worked there as a cook some of the times. His son, John Reed, worked as a cook by night but was a deputy sheriff by day. Jack's daughter, Margie, kept the books."
 

This was also the site of a Dairy Wipt Drive-in, and the Radio Cab Co., owned by Alfred Hay.

The gas station is still there, but the restaurant got crowded out with highway expansion. 

Here are some pictures of Cliff's,  all from the Assessor's Office:

1957

1960



1963

Home    St. Louis Park History    History Index    About the Society    Research Resources
Brookside Timeline    Something In The Water    The Re-Echo    Contact Us

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.