TAXI SERVICE IN ST. LOUIS PARK

Information on this subject is extremely scattered.  Please contact us if you have any further information or corrections.
 

In 1907, the Germans invented a "taximeter" that allowed drivers to know how much to charge for a ride.  Soon it was shortened to "taxi," and referred to any kind of cab:  "growler," hansom, and auto.

In 1918, an ordinance was passed regarding “Jitney buses.” The word jitney may have meant that the ride cost a nickel.

Liberty Cabs advertised in the 1937 directory.  It was "100 Minneapolis owned." Also in the book was the Edina Auto Livery, at 50th and France

The St. Louis Park Cab Company was in business in 1940-41. Names associated were Paul Jones and Bill Chowning.

In 1945, Bud Grossman was granted a license to provide taxi service through his St. Louis Park Auto Livery Co. “The Blacks and Whites are Here.”

In 1948, Alfred W. Hay was the president of the SLP Radio Cab Co. (It may have started before that.) The company was headquartered at approximately the intersection of Highway 100 and Minnetonka Blvd. In 1956  it was listed at 3424 Louisiana Ave. (no such address today).  In 1960, Hay changed the company's name to the Golden Valley Cab. Co.

A 1956 ad for the Yellow Taxi Company of Minneapolis read as follows:

Prompt service in St. Louis Park, Morningside and Minneapolis.  Radio towers located both north and south assuring you prompt service.  80 cab stands at convenient locations permits us to give you prompt service when you call.  New fleet of limousine taxicabs, roomy and comfortable 7 passenger limousine models.  For your protection ride the best, responsible and fully insured.  40 years of continuous cab service.

Town Taxi, owned by Leslie R. Johnson, would come on the scene in January 1957, driving light blue 1957 Fords.  There appear to be quite a number of taxi services working in the City in the 1950s, perhaps due to the fact that most households only had one car.

The June 9, 1966 issue of the Dispatch announced that Town Taxi was to offer airport limousine service starting June 13.  The company planned to operate three limousines from the West Minneapolis area to and from the airport on a half-hour or hour schedule daily, at #2.75 per person.  This replaced a meter charge that could go as high as $7. H.C. Bierbrauer, manager of Town Taxi said that the cars would serve the Ambassador Motor Hotel on Highway 12 and 100, travel west to the Hyatt Lodge on Highway 12 and then south to the Hopkins House on Highway 7.  The final stop would bee at the Tremont Plaza in Hopkins before heading for the airport.  Town Taxi also offered metered cab service to St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Morningside, and Minnetonka.

Urban Cabs came and went by 1969.

Suburban Yellow Cab, a national outfit, received 15 licenses in 1970, over the objections of Town Taxi, which had 34 cabs. Yellow Cab had new checker cabs, according to President John F. Daly.

Suburban Yellow Cab applied for licenses for 50 cabs in 1983 but was at least initially turned down. Another company called the Other Cab Co. was also turned down for 30 licenses. At the time, Town Taxi was the only company licensed in the Park.

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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.