WELCOME TO MIRACLE MILE, HOIGAARD'S!

Hoigaard’s, that venerable St. Louis Park business, has moved to Miracle Mile, St. Louis Park’s landmark shopping center. It’s time to review the history of this important Park business.

Conrad Hoigaard learned sailmaking during a brief stint as a sailor in Norway, and starting in about 1879, he honed his skills at a tent and awning firm in Minneapolis. When he opened his own business in 1895, the company's products were limited to tents, tarps, and awnings. He soon expanded into fly nets, horse covers, cow blankets, and custom-made products.

The business became a going concern in the early days of the 20th Century, with factory and office located on Washington Ave. No. (an area known as the Gateway). During World War I, the company manufactured canvas products for the military. In the 1920’s, the company moved into products like sporting goods, directors' chairs, and sun umbrellas.

World War II: the factory converted to wartime production and suspended retail sales for the duration. All 125 employees worked to produce gun mount covers, aircraft covers, machine covers, and tents. Conrad’s son Cyrus J. Hoigaard took over the business in 1947. Conrad died in 1950.

By 1960, the Gateway had become an embarrassment to the City, filled with liquor stores, bars, and flophouses. The wrecking ball of Urban Renewal eliminated the blight, but as a result, many businesses were displaced. Hoigaard's took this opportunity to move to larger quarters, and purchased three acres in St. Louis Park from Charles Friedhem. The new building had an expanded showroom that replaced the small showroom and a fleet of salesmen. Hoigaard's opened for business in May 1960 at 3550 So. Highway 100.

Business at the new location was successful; in 1961, the Dispatch reported that "the company operates in 16 states and had gained national recognition for its unique, patented football field cover." In 1963 the Ski Chalet was added to beef up sales in the off-season, and by 1966, skiing had really taken off.

Hoigaard's made one of their most unusual products in honor of a 1965 visit to the Cities by the Beatles. Archie Walker owned West Side Volkswagen, which for years featured a revolving VW Beetle on its roof. In honor of the moptops from Liverpool, Archie decided to put a Beatle wig on his Beetle, and Hoigaard's was up to the challenge, making the wig out of dyed… mops!

Cyrus's son Conrad J. Hoigaard II became President of the company in 1975. In 1989, the adjacent City incinerator was demolished, ending the shower of white ash over the area. Hoigaard's expanded onto the land, keeping the chimney as an advertising landmark.

Hoigaard Village will now stand on the site, and we hope the move will be successful for both Hoigaard’s and Miracle Mile.


 

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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.