The Hub Bar was located at 224 Hennepin Ave., in the Gateway district of Minneapolis.

THE BUILDING

This tavern was located above the Little Holmes Hotel, 220-226 Hennepin Ave.  From the 1870s the site was a ladies hat and clothing store, Williams’ Book Store, other clothing and grocery stores.  In February 1931, Communist demonstrators wrecked and looted the Gateway Market.  Their reasoning was that if a man was hungry, he had the right to obtain food any way he could.

1943 Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

THE HUB BAR

On September 28, 1934, soon after the end of Prohibition, the Hub Bar was created when an on-sale liquor license was issued to John V. Dougherty.  Permit records show 2-3 Floors of the building were demolished in May 1934, but just at 224.

On February 7, 1935, an ad was placed for a young woman to play and sing in a tavern – preferably an Alto voice.  (Minneapolis Tribune)  Dougherty also received a Dance Hall permit in 1935.

On July 29, 1938, the business was incorporated as the Hub Bar, Inc. with John Dougherty as president.  Other officers were Mrs. Mary E. Wright, secretary, and J.E. Wright, treasurer.  In August 1938, John and Mary Dougherty transferred their liquor license to Hub Bar, Inc.  Dougherty exited the Hub in 1939.  (Minneapolis Tribune, August 13, 1949)

On August 30, 1940, an ad was placed in the Tribune for a “SNAPPY girl to play piano in tavern.”

The bar owners lost their license on March 29, 1940, on charges of maintaining gambling devices.  A “14” and a Bing game had been found there on December 23, 1939, by self-appointed bar inspector Rev. Henry J.  Solteau.  (Minneapolis Star)

[In 1941 to 1967, the Silver Hub Bar was sited at 2500 24th Ave. So. in Minneapolis. ]

On November 12, 1941, Charles L. Clarity claimed that he had signed a partnership agreement with Mrs. Louis Banks to draw a salary to manage the club.  In December 1945, Clarity had been locked out of the bar and sued the partners for back pay.  The other partners were named as Mr. and Mrs. Louis Banks and Marty Joyce.  (Minneapolis Star, December 7, 1945)

Mr. Louis Banks died in September 1949, and on October 1949 the City Council approved the transfer of the license from his widow to Morris Dworsky.

E.F. Dougherty was named as the manager in an article from March 1953.

As of February 1962, the Hub was one of only 11 bars left in the Gateway, which was being demolished for redevelopment.  James S. Enger was the holder of the license at the time.

The building was demolished in November 1962, and an apartment complex was constructed on the site in 1965.