Artist’s Quarter
Minneapolis
St. Paul
The Artist’s Quarter was a Jazz club that featured both local and national acts.
THE MERRIMAC CAFE
The first location of the Artist’s Quarter was 14 E. 26th Street in Minneapolis, at Nicollet Ave. This was originally the location of the Merrimac Cafe, a beer hall which can be traced to at least November 1939. In 1953 the proprietor was Floyd M. Hughes.
The Merrimac went up for sale in 1969, and from the end of January through the end of March 1974, it advertised heavily for pizza cooks.
In December 1974 it was purchased by William Wanner, and in 1975 Wanner was able to transfer a liquor license to the place from Ted’s Bar, a skid row bar that had been displaced by urban renewal.
In 1974 and 1975, ownership of the liquor license changed several times in a real estate scandal involving Frank Wolinski, who had installed his 18-year-old daughter, a U of M student, as an operator and co-holder of the liquor license. She withdrew and the license was transferred to Wolinski’s nephew. Then the license was transferred to Lloyd Wilberg, presumably Wolinski’s barber. Unfortunately, papers were not properly filed, and it was difficult to determine who was in charge at the Merrimac, now known as the Merrimac Lounge.
THE ARTIST’S QUARTER – MINNEAPOLIS
Jerry Kennelly bought the Quarter in 1975, according to Karin Winegar of the Minneapolis Star in 1978. Hard to know if this means the business and/or the liquor license. The building apparently continued to belong to Wilberg and Wanner.
The first appearance of the name Artist’s Quarter in the Minneapolis newspapers is found on April 6, 1976.
Wilberg and Wanner hold the Merrimacs property in partnership. Wilberg runs the business known as the Artist’s Quarter and is the license holder. (Minneapolis Star)
The original Artist’s Quarter would often host local musicians such as:
- Butch Thompson
- Lazy Bill Lucas
- Spider John Koerner
A long article was published by Minneapolis Star food editor Karen Winegar on September 29, 1978, about the Artist’s Quarter. Here are some excerpts:
The Quarter, a bunker-like concrete block building, incorporates some elements of the fern bar (plants, hip music, light food, lots of wood) superimposed on a neighborhood working folks’ bar (vinyl booths, battered bar, pinball machines).
In true artists’ quarter form, it’s an informal, mellow place where age doesn’t matter, although the lunchtime geezers give way somewhat to overage hippies in the evening. The Quarter is garnished with a handful of amiable seniors, including Robby Fassbinder, who is given to leaping and pirouetting through the dining room when the music moves him.
Jack Kerouac would have felt at home in the Artist’s Quarter: it has a mood of tolerance for all faiths, and both Dionysians and loftier types lock in nightly for the live music (Eddie Berger and the Jazz Allstars are the top draw), the drinking and the abundant chatter.
The bulk of the Quarter’s trade is with neighborhood regulars or jazz and blues aficionados. [my emphasis]
Classical music is piped in during the noon hour and until 9 pm, when the band of the day takes the stage.
Jerry Kennelly sold the club to Mitch Murphy, owner of Black Hair Design, in October 1989. Murphy bought the building from Bill Wanner. He retained the club’s collection of jazz memorabilia, including the Minnesota Jazz Hall of Fame photo gallery. At the time of purchase he reported that he intended to keep the name Artist Quarters until Kennelly could find another location, upon which he would rename the club Murph’s. Murphy announced that he would change from all jazz to a mix of blues, rock, and country starting on November 1. That would leave the Dakota as the only full-time jazz venue in the Twin Cities. (Jim Fuller, Minnesota Star Tribune, October 20, 1989)
Jerry Kennelly, was said to have “transformed it from a grubby neighborhood joint to a respectable restaurant.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 2, 1990)
The Minneapolis location closed in November 1989. The venue became known as Crossroads.
THE ARTIST’S QUARTER – ST. PAUL I
From 1995 to 2001, the Artist’s Quarter was located in the basement of the McColl (now Brooks) building at 366 Jackson Street in St. Paul. This iteration was owned by Kenny Horst.
ARTIST’S QUARTER – ST. PAUL II
From 2001 to 2014, the Artist’s Quarter was moved to the basement of the Hamm building at 7th Place and St. Peter in St. Paul, also owned by Kenny Horst.
The club closed on January 1, 2014.
The club’s history can be found Here.