There were two locations called Danti’s Bar.

1370-1372 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis

The building was built in 1922, according to ads.

1923:  New Nicollet Cafe (1372)

Confectionery, was sold in 1924.  (1370)

1928:  Papke’s Pet supply store (1370)

March 1929:  Jack’s New Music Store  (1370)

 

December 7, 1929:  Minneapolis Shoe Co.  (1372)

In April 1933, Sam Kohn got an off and on-sale 3.2 beer license.  The tavern and smoke shop owned by Joe Beebe was opposed by neighbors.  (1370)

January 30, 1934:  Marguerite Dantis:  Dantis Cafe; tavern and dance hall.  (1372)

In the 1930s the bar had a basketball team in the city league.  (1370)

Marguerite Dantis died on January 19, 1938 at age 43. (1372)

The on-sale liquor license of the bar was revoked on April 1, 1940, as a result of gambling violations.  It was back open by March 1944.

December 1946 – April 1947:  Top Flight Super Valu (1372)

July 1947:  Top Flight Cafe  (1372)

October 1947 to January 1948:  Union Food Market aka  UE-CIO Market

June 1948:  Ads for waitress, fry cook

September 1948:  Owner had to sell cafe

July 1952:  Nicollet Dairyway

December 1954:  For sale

March 1955:  Broiler Burger Shop for sale

September 1958:  Loring Liquor Store, headquarters for the Kid Cann Syndicate.  Closed March 1961.

August 1964:  Chestnut Tree Restaurant to February 1972.

April 9, 1974:  Building wrecked, to be replaced by apartments.

 

---

 

1416-1418 Nicollet Ave.

This location was open by July 1946.   There seemed to be a regular occurrence of sluggings and muggings at or around the bar.

 

In an article in the Tribune dated January 8, 1956, the owner was identified as Theodore C. Dantis, who was Marguerite’s son.

 

At Loring-Nicollet Krazy Daze in October 1963, Dantis Bar offered special entertainers and “gorgeous entertainers in costumes (?)”

In October 1963, two patrons sued Dantis for being beat up by the sadistic bouncer identified as “Buster.”  (Tribune, October 31, 1963)

Dantis went out of business in May 1969, as evidenced by a notice of the sale of the bar’s equipment published on May 16, 1969.  The items advertised were:

• 77 ft. bar
• 65 ft. back bar
• 17 booths
• 8 tables
• 32 chairs
• 1 complete serpentine bar
• back bar with two coolers

An article from 1975 about a shooting at the Flame down the street mentions Dantis in the present tense.  (Tribune, December 9, 1975)

 

---

 

This building later became the Bowery Boys Co., and in the 1980s the neighbors were up in arms about the establishment’s nude dancing.