Criterion Bloomington
5001 W. 80th Street (now American Blvd.
Bloomington
The building was built in 1970, according to county records. It is the Southgate Office Plaza, located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Highways 100 and 494. In that time, it has gone through a lot of changes.
DADDY’S
In 1976 the place was called Daddy’s (or Daddys’ Money). A review from that year lists the lobster dinner at $6.95 and the highest priced dinner at $7.50. Here’s what the reviewer said about the entertainment:
Speaking of waiters and waitresses, they’re only hired if they can sing, dance or play a musical instrument of one kind or another. That’s right. All evening long your entertainment is provided by one waiter or another (and occasionally, but not enough, the manager himself).
Courtesy Mark Youngblood
CRITERION
Another restaurant to occupy the space was the Criterion, presumably after Daddy’s, since the Criterion had to move from its original location in St. Paul because of a fire in March 1978. Although the popovers were just as good, many folks thought that it just wasn’t the same.
PURPLE ONION SPORTS BAR AND RESTAURANT
This shows up in August 1991, but apparently went bankrupt two months later.
BILLABONG AUSSIE GRILL AND PUB
Opened about August 1993, went bankrupt in November 2006
EL LORO MEXICAN RESTAURANT
The space is now the El Loro Mexican Restaurant, one of several in the Twin Cities.