Minor Key
The Minor Key was located at 323 14th Ave. SE, near the University of Minnesota.
GOPHERLAND CAFE
The building dated to 1911, and housed stores and cafes catering to students at the U. From at least March of 1952 it was the Gopherland Cafe.
Photo dated November 3, 1956, courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
Inside the Gopherland. Photo dated November 3, 1956, courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
THE MINOR KEY
The Minor Key opened in October 1961 and was run by Irv Hechter, the brother of Connie Hechter, who would go on to publish Connie’s Insider, the quintessential music magazine of the sixties and seventies in the Twin Cities. For now, Connie was a percussionist, and his quintet performed in the basement of the Minor Key on the weekends. Upstairs, the restaurant served Kosher-style delicatessen. (Will Jones, Minneapolis Tribune, October 16, 1961)
Although plans were to hire and train only waiters, ads for waitresses soon appeared.
Concerts:
Greenwood Singers, January 11, 1962
Gene Farmer, Comedian and Folksinger, February 2, 1962
Beat Comedian Hugh Romney, (dubbed “Wavy Gravy” by B.B. King in 1969), March 2 – 12, 1962
But alas, on March 6, 1962, Will Jones reported, “Club Closes; Show Goes on”
Far-out comedian Hugh Romney opened Friday at the Minor Key and drew good business Friday and Saturday nights.
Sunday the owners of the near campus delicatessen decided they couldn’t keep open any longer no matter how much business Romney did. They’ve been losing too much money trying to peddle corned beef to U of M students during the day.
So they arranged with the Padded Cell to take over Romney’s contract. The Minor Key locked its doors and Romney opened Monday night at the Padded Cell, alternating with folksingers Ian and Sylvia. He will stay there through next Sunday.
RECORD STORES
After a short stint as the Starlite Cafe and Bakery, this location became a branch of the Discount Records chain in October 1964.
From 1986 to 1996 it was a branch of the Musicland record store chain.