Russian Club

A CLUB FOR RUSSIANS?

 

First there was apparently a “Russian Club,” intended to be a Russian Cultural Center, that started in the summer of 1933.  It was located at Ashland Ave. and MacKubin Street in St. Paul.  It was a private club, and had a 3.2 beer license.  The first mention in a Minneapolis paper was on January 28, 1934, when the Minneapolis Journal reported that the St. Paul City Council revoked its beer license because guests were making too much noise in the street.  The Minneapolis Star reported that the club was deemed a commercial enterprise and should not be allowed in a residential district.  The club retained its restaurant license and remained open to members only.  Reports of the Russian Club (presumably this one) as a meeting place appeared through February 1934.

 

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THE RUSSIAN CLUB

 

The opening of the Russian Club night club was on or near June 9, 1934, as reported by the Minneapolis Journal.  This club was located at 379 Minnesota Street, a two-story brick building that was built before 1897.  Almost immediately, the Russian Club Orchestra was broadcasting on KSTP Radio.

 

 

In a “Let’s Poke Around Town” column in the Minneapolis Journal (November 25, 1934), the Russian Club was described like so:

Its fascinating foreign atmosphere is completely outdone by superb cocktails, Russian cooking, and a native-costumed orchestra that plays for dinner, replaced later by an American dance band.

 

The Club may have been closed during the summer of 1935.  An ad dated September 14, 1935, in the Minneapolis Journal announces a Grand Re-Opening with New Music, including Gypsy String and Dance music.

 

 

An interesting note about the Russian Club is that it often hosted parties for Russian ballet troupes that came to town after their performances.

 

 

A fire on December 22, 1935, damaged furnishings and decorations to the tune of approximately $5,000.  (Minneapolis Star, December 23, 1935)  No one was in the building at the time.  The fire started on the first floor.  Although there was a dinner-dance held on December 29, it appears that this marked the end of the Russian Club.