The Peacock Alley Bar and Cafe was at 214-220 N. Fifth Street, Minneapolis. In 1965 the bar was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Jones. The deed and license had to be in her name because she was white and he was black. In a December 1967 article in the Minneapolis Star it was described as “a long, narrow, high-ceilinged room that is dark even during the noontime rush.” Mr. and Mrs. Jones wanted to move the business 1 1/2 blocks away to 325 First Ave. No., but the move was opposed by neighbors. “We’d like to run a
nice Negro bar – be able to bring in name entertainers from time to time,” said Mrs. Jones. “I wish you could see some of the places Harvey and I have looked at in Chicago, in some of the Negro areas there. But here – well, there aren’t even many nice places where whites can go to meet their friends and have a good time without spending a lot of money.”

Al Senter bought the bar in 1972, in the face of problems with fights and shootings after which witnesses would not testify. Until January 1972 the manager was Charles Bryant. That July a group of 20 to 25 black youths, one reportedly carrying a high-powered rifle, entered the premises and told customers that the bar “had beer be closed down by 8 o’clock.” The bar did not close, but most of the customers left and did not return. The group of youths closed down at least two other bars with bad reputations that night as
well. Senter discontinued the live music and disk jockey and even took out the pool table to curb the rowdiness. In November 1972 Senter reported that there had been only one
shooting since he began in January and that incidents were on the way down.

Other memories are that at one time the club was owned by Imogene “Fair Lady” Hargrove, who had been a band singer in the 1960s. There was apparently also a sign at the door that said “Your Pistol is Not Welcome Here.”

Photo by Charles Chambliss, courtesy Minnesota Historical Society