Peacock Tavern

The Peacock Cafe started life as the Northwest(ern) Terminal Cafe, so we’ll explore that history first.

 

NORTHWEST(ERN) TERMINAL CAFE

 

Thank you to Jeff Neuberger for his contributions to the research for this page.  If ads or pictures are out of order, please feel free to contact me.

 

The building that would become The Peacock Tavern was built as the Northwestern Terminal Cafe, completed on October 29, 1920. Permit records show that it was built at a cost of $15,000, specifically for a cafe.  Interestingly, the cafe was located in the Minneapolis Industrial District.  Jeff Neuberger explained:

 

The Northwestern Terminal Cafeteria served as the cafeteria for the Northwestern Terminal, also completed 1920. It was a seven-warehouse project which ran on the west side of Stinson Boulevard from 14th Avenue NE to Traffic Street, which was just before East Hennepin. It had access to the rail yard there at East Hennepin.

 

Ads for help would use either Northwestern or Northwest.

 

 

TERMINAL CAFE

 

The name was shortened to the Terminal Cafe in about 1942.

 

TERMINAL “CAY” RESTAURANT

 

On May 7, 1945, the address was listed as a member of the Minneapolis Restaurant Association as the Terminal “Cay” Restaurant.

 

In April 1946 it was back to the Terminal Cafe.

 

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PEACOCK CAFE

 

Paul R. Peacock bought the Terminal Cafe in 1949, according to his obituary.  The ads for help did not give the name of the restaurant until August 11, 1953. Paul Peacock was a self-employed accountant.

 

 

In 1962 the place was renovated.  A classified advertised the sale of the lunch counter, stools, booths, grill:  “not modern but nice.”  (Minneapolis Tribune, April 1, 1962)

 

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JOHN RIMARCIK

 

In April 1964, Paul Peacock sold the restaurant to John Rimarcik, who was 25 years old.  The Peacock was the first of 50 restaurants that Rimarcik would own over the next 60 years, according to his obituary.  Rimarcik turned the Peacock into a music venue, starting with the Hall Brothers Dixieland Jazz band, the best of its kind in the area.  Their first performance was on November 29, 1964.

 

 

Will Jones tells us that the Hall Brothers came to the Peacock with their full seven-piece band on Fridays and Saturdays, and a “cut-down contingent” on Sundays.  (Minneapolis Tribune, January 22, 1965.

 

On January 29, 1965, Rimarcik obtained a permit to operate a dancehall/tavern.

 

 

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THE NOBLES

 

In the spring of 1965, perhaps as an experiment, Rimarcik hired the rock band the Nobles.

 

 

 

 

In June 1965, the Peacock had an equipment sale, getting rid of china, pictures, a cash register, beer pitchers and mugs, sound equipment, and appliances.  There must have been quite an overhaul, because there was no activity in the papers for five months.

 

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PEACOCK TAVERN HOUSE

In November 1965 through 1966, the Hall Brothers were back, playing every Friday and Saturday at the new Peacock Tavern House.

 

 

The undated ad below must have been later, because it has a modern phone number and the name of the place is called the Peacock Tavernhouse.  The Group was a rock band from out of town.

 

 

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PEACOCK TAVERNHOUSE AND PIZZA PARLOR

 

In 1967 the Peacock perhaps changed its name and its focus, as music ads were no longer found in a newspaper search.

 

 

In 1973, at 631 Stinson Blvd., there were ads for the auction of furnishings of Junior’s Restaurant.

 

The building was demolished on September 13, 1984.