Capp Towers Minneapolis
1313 Nicollet Ave.
Minneapolis
This hotel cost $6.5 million, had 350 units, and opened in March 1963.
The Minneapolis Capp Towers had several music venues:
DOME AT THE TOP OF THE CAPP
Opened on March 1, 1963, this was a jazz and blues venue. Will Jones described the plan to have a low circular bar at the center, with the bartenders working in a kind of pit in order to give everybody a clear shot at the view in all directions. “A small musical combo will work in the center of the bar, and they will make their entrances and exits on a moving stage that will rise from and descend to the floor below for loading and unloading.”
The photo above appeared in Life Magazine on July 26, 1963 with the caption: “In the domed cocktail lounge on top of 15-story Capp Towers, motel guests can enjoy a view of Minneapolis skyline. A revolving stage in the center of the circular bar, here ornamented with a statue, can be raised or lowered. This downtown inn has accommodations for 800, an underground garage, three dining rooms, four bars, a rooftop pool enclosed in glass, exercise rooms and a sauna.”
STARLITE ROOM
From the looks of it, this was the Top of the Capp with a new name.
BRANDYWINE BAR
Will Jones said the room, basically a piano bar, “with its Roman arches and wild stained glass windows by Bill Saltzmann, looks like a monastery for swingers and you almost wish the drinks were served by jolly fat monks instead of regular bartenders in red jackets.” A 1963 ad cited “the atmosphere of an early French wine cellar.”
BLUE BAR
This was “a unique stag bar for men only, 11 am to 4:30 pm. Ladies welcome after 4:30 pm.”
CARIBBEAN ROOM AND POOL
Appearing nightly in July 1963 was Sir Lancelot, world’s finest calypso singer, Hollywood and television star.”
The hotel went through several subsequent iterations:
REGAL MINNEAPOLIS HOTEL
PARK INN
HOLIDAY INN CENTRAL
This was the place celebrities stayed. Music venues included:
PIERRE’S
1968: Riverboat Ramblers with Jane Riley and Pierre’s girls.
March 1969: Riverboat Ramblers featuring Holiday in Sun Valley and Louise Drake
June 1969: Holiday in Haight Ashbury – featuring songs from Hair.
1974: “Adult swinging singles every Friday night with the best big bands in the Twin City area.”
STARLITE ROOM
1969: Tommy O’Donnell Trio, featuring Jane Riley, vocalist
LITTLE FOXES LOUNGE
March 1969: Roy Thies, Flamenco guitarist
MILLENNIUM HOTEL MINNEAPOLIS
Last I checked it was still owned by the Capp family.
