This page purports to tell the history of the music venues at 1528 University Ave. NE, in Minneapolis.  They include:

• Denny’s and Don’s Saloon and Restaurant (@1970 to 1973)
  
• Sun Saloon and Restaurant (@1974 to 2000)
• Shaw’s Bar and Grill (2000 to present)

Although Shaw’s started up 25 years after my cutoff year of 1975, the building had predecessors that had live music before that magic year, so here we go!  I’m naming this page Shaw’s, since it’s the best-known of the many many inhabitants of the building.

To trace those inhabitants of 1528 University Ave. NE, in Minneapolis, I used my usual resources (newspapers, inspection and permit cards).  Bill Roy also did some digging, and posted a list on Facebook.  If I could verify the listing, I gave the primary source.  If not, I give the source as Bill Roy.  I thank Mr. Roy for his assistance, as well as everyone on Facebook who provided information for this page.  It’s not too late to provide more or better information; please Contact Me to provide additions or corrections.

 

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BUILDING HISTORY

The building was erected in 1901 by the Schlitz Brewing Company.  It is a two-story brick store and apartment measuring 22 x 55, built at a cost of $4,000.  S.J. Bowler was the Architect.

SALOON

It was a “tied” saloon, which meant that it only sold Schlitz beer.  Proprietors changed fairly often:

Ignatius Minczac:  May 14, 1901 (Minneapolis Times)

Perlick & Skochinski Saloon:  1904  (Bill Roy)

(John) Pearson and Johnson Saloon:  May 18, 1904 (Minneapolis Journal)

A.K. Dahlberg Saloon:  1905 (Bill Roy)

Henry Holmes:  1905.  Holmes was fined $45 and lost his license in July 1906 for selling liquor on a Sunday (Minneapolis Journal)

Holmes and Dahlberg Saloon: 1906  (Bill Roy)

Frank Grill Saloon:  1907  (Bill Roy)

Dark:  1908 (Bill Roy)

B.S. Weinstein Dry Goods: 1909  (Bill Roy)

Patterson & Weinstein Dry Goods:  1910  (Bill Roy)

W.J. Patterson Dry Goods:  1911  (Bill Roy)

Louis Brezenski Saloon:  1912  (Bill Roy)

Louis Brezelski’s (sic) Saloon:  May 14, 1915, Minneapolis Tribune

Brezenski & Schutta Soft Drinks:  1919, (Bill Roy)  The only Schutta found was a Deputy Sheriff, with no mention of a soft drink bar.

Edward Loskowski’s Drinkshop:  1920 – 1923 (Bill Roy)

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PROHIBITION

Prohibition began on January 17, 1920, when the Volstead Act went into effect.  For a space built specifically to dispense alcohol, this was particularly devastating, and “Drinkshop” owner Edward Loskowski may not have taken it seriously enough.  From the April 1, 1922, Minneapolis Tribune:

Hose Leads to Moonshine – A drainage hose found by federal agents at the baseboard of an ice box in the drink shop of Edward Loskowski, 1528 University Ave., yesterday led them to a 10-gallon can built in the ice chest wall.  Five gallons of moonshine were found in the can.  Loskowski was placed in the city jail.

Dark: 1924-1926  (Bill Roy)

John Legut Grocery and Meats: 1927 – 1933  (Bill Roy)

John Legut, Meat Market:  July 27, 1929, Minneapolis Tribune

John Legut hit a 67-year-old man with his car:  June 23, 1930, Minneapolis Tribune

Billiard Parlor sold cheap.  4 pool tables and equipment.  See John Legut, 1528 University Ave. NE  (May not actually be at this site) July 21 to August 18, 1930, Minneapolis Tribune

 

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REPEAL

The first step in repealing Prohibition came on April 7, 1933, when 3.2 beer and similarly low-alcohol wine became legal for the first time.  John Legut got one of the first 3.2 liquor licenses in Minneapolis in 1933. (Minneapolis Tribune)

Legut was fined $100 for selling beer after hours – the City  Council threatened to take all of his licenses away, but apparently they didn’t do it.  August 1934, Minneapolis Tribune

John Zyck came on the scene in February 1936.  He may have taken over the liquor license, although the building seems to have still belonged to Legut and the bar was still called Legut’s.

Legut’s, John A. Zyck, Prop.  Found slot machines, March 1938.  Minneapolis Tribune

The bar was for sale in May 1938.  Minneapolis Tribune

Legut built a 1-story addition costing $700, April 1939.

Legut again listed the building for sale in April 1940:  Minneapolis Tribune

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B & B BAR AND CAFE

The building hosted the B & B Bar from about January 13, 1942 to June 1970, although it could have been earlier and later.

The B and B were  Julian Boyda and Daniel Bucknok

Air Conditioning was installed in 1948.

On February 15, 1965, Frank Boyda was the Manager.

 

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DENNY’S AND DON’S SALOON AND RESTAURANT

Denny was Dennis Sazenski (who later owned Thumper’s and Peabody’s, according to his obituary.)  This was a Cowboy Bar that closed in about August 1973.  Denny died in 2012.

 

 

 

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SUN SALOON AND RESTAURANT

This new iteration opened on or about July 4, 1974.  This was the same year that Patrol Limits were finally abolished from the City of Minneapolis.  Patrol Limits, dating back to 1884, limited the geographical areas where people could establish liquor bars (vs. 3.2 bars) in the City of Minneapolis.  They were basically limited to Skid Row, the Near North Side, and Northeast.

An article in 1991 said there were then 34 bars in Northeast vs. five in South Minneapolis.  The Sun Saloon attracted “hardcore bikers.”  (Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 25, 1991)

 

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SHAW’S BAR AND GRILL

Michael Shaw took possession of the bar from John McGuire at midnight on April 1, 2000.