Charlie’s Cafe Exceptionale
Charlie’s Cafe Exceptionale was located at Seventh Street and 4th Avenue South in Minneapolis.
It opened in 1933 and was originally to be run by Charles Saunders and Charles “the Finn” Herlin, an influential bartender. Herlin had created “the President” cocktail (a mix of orange, lemon, gin and finished with a dash of grenadine.) Herlin died soon after the restaurant opened, leaving Saunders to run the cafe until his death.
Charlie Saunders. Photo from the Cedric Adams Estate, from Dearly Departed Restaurants Website
The ad below came from a 1939 entertainment magazine, so Charlie’s musical enticements were emphasized:
Rollie Altmeyer at the Hammond Organ and the Novachord. Hmm. According to Wikipedia, only 1,069 Novachords were built over a period from 1939 to 1942. Here’s a photo of one:
Also, Eunice Johnson singing your requests
Ad from July 1939
Charlies, 1960 – Image courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
When Charlie Saunders died from a heart attack in 1962, his wife Louise took over running the restaurant. Louise had been a speed skater, was an avid golfer, and was one of the first women to become a partner in a law firm in the Twin Cities. She ran Charlie’s until the end serving as she said, “Beer, bourbon and beef.”
Louise Sanders in 1974 – Image courtesy Minneapolis Star and Tribune
Charlie’s provided entertainment nightly in the cocktail lounge and also had a piano bar.
Souvenir of Charlie’s posted by Jarrett Smith
One of Charlie’s biggest boosters was journalist Cedric Adams, who patronized the place so often he had a sandwich named after him.
Charlie’s coffee cup – Image courtesy Dianne Damman
1980
The statue in front was called Scherzo, created by Sylvia Whitney Frishmuth. It was originally located in a roof garden at the Foshay Tower. It was sold to a private party for their home.
Facebook fact: Go to the Super Eight in Bloomington and ask to see the wall mural of Charlie’s.