Saddle Bar
The Saddle Bar was located at 415 Hennepin Ave. It was basically a strip club that employed jazz groups.
THE BUILDING
The 413-415 Hennepin Ave. building predates 1888, and has had a restaurant since at least 1893. It had a lot of alterations along the way, and seems to have had a lot of fires through the years. Before it was the Saddle Bar, it was a store building, selling used furniture, cigars, and off-sale liquor.
The two story building is wedged between the Andrews Hotel (below on the left), and the Lumber Exchange building at the corner of Fifth and Hennepin.
THE RED FEATHER
The Saddle Bar started up in 1949 with the liquor license of the Red Feather Cafe, which had been at 18 South 4th Street at Hennepin Ave.
In 1947 Carl A. Rees transferred the liquor license of the Red Feather to brothers and former U of M football players, Allen “Tuck” and Alvin J. “Nip” Teeter. In August 1949, the licensee was Mrs. Allen Teeter, Tuck’s wife.
In November 1949, Mrs. Teeter asked to move her license to 415 Hennepin Ave. to start a bar with no food. The name would tentatively be called the 415 Bar. (Minneapolis Tribune, November 10, 1949)
THE SADDLE BAR
Saddle bar with saddle barstool, April 4, 1950. Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
In January 1952, the license was transferred to A. Edward “Eddie” Holman.
The bar featured unique saddle-shaped barstools, which had to be removed when the City decided to enforce an old ordinance prohibiting unaccompanied women from sitting at bars. Many places had to reconfigure their whole layout to take out parts of bars and add booths for the ladies. (Minneapolis Tribune, October 13, 1953)
But Eddie got in trouble with his taxes, and in June of 1954 the license was transferred to Oscar Rubinsky, who had previously been the manager of Curly’s Café.
THE HIDEAWAY ROOM
The Hideaway Room sounds intriguing – perhaps just a piano bar?
Minneapolis Star, December 17, 1954
1967 photo courtesy Hennepin County Library
Minneapolis Tribune, December 31, 1968
The building, which also held the Copper Squirrel, was owned by Harry Smull, who also owned the Copper Squirrel next door. Smull died in 1972.
The Andrews Hotel, Copper Squirrel, and Saddle Bar, 1970. Photo courtesy Hennepin County Library
From 1959 to 1975, the business was operated by William R. Engfer, Smull’s Son in Law. A co-owner was Peter W. Giedras
On October 10, 1975, the liquor license was transferred to Howie’s Bar.
Saddle Bar sign, November 10, 1978. Photo courtesy Hennepin County Library
On January 15, 1984, the building was demolished along with the adjacent Andrews Hotel.