Eddie Webster’s was a formal, white tablecloth restaurant located at 1501 E. 78th Street in Bloomington.  It was one of the first restaurants on the 494 Strip, and endured in a quickly-changing market for 28 years.

EDDIE WEBSTER THE MAN

Edward Scott Webster began his restaurant career in 1948, opening the Rainbow Grill in Pipestone, Minnesota.  He expanded to Slayton and Winona, and when his place in Rochester burned down, he set his sights on the outskirts of the ‘Cities.

The Strip came into being when I-494 was completed in 1961, and Bloomington allowed liquor in hotels and restaurants in 1962. Webster first proposed his restaurant at 10620 France Ave. So., just north of Old Shakopee Road (now the Valley West Shopping Center, built in 1970).  Facing neighborhood opposition, he changed his request to 494 and Bloomington Ave.

EDDIE WEBSTER’S RESTAURANT

Groundbreaking was in November 1964, and the 10,000 sq. ft. building was erected at a cost of $500,000.  Will Jones reported that even before it opened it bore a sign that said “Will Open in Time for the World Series.”  It did – on October 6, 1965.  The Twins, only in its fifth season, didn’t win, but it was a big deal!

 

Things didn’t start out so well, according to a scathing review of the food by the Star’s Don Morrison on December 4, 1965.  But the kinks got ironed out and the restaurant gained an excellent reputation.  It was a place you dressed up to go to for special occasions with your family.

 

 

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THE PEANUT BAR

Bill Webster, Eddie’s son, described the origin of the popular Peanut Bar in a Facebook post:

Eddie’s was the original “Peanut Bar” that I know of in the country. It originally was called the “Pub,” a “working man’s” bar.  He was insistent on the bartenders pouring a “good drink” as he called it. My dad wanted something “salty” to give away so that people would drink more. Obviously it worked, by the number of stories [on Facebook]. He originally wanted bowls of pretzels; however the Bloomington Health Department told him everything had to be “individually wrapped” for sanitary reasons. Our cleaning lady, Mrs. Sieple, (spelling) a little German woman who spoke broken English, overheard the conversation that my dad and mom were having about this. She said, “why don’t you use peanuts, they come individually wrapped, and they are very salty, plus the shells would make a good floor cleaning compound when the people walked around on them.”  (The cleaning crew originally used a sawdust compound sprinkled on the floor to absorb the spilled drinks). Hence, the “Peanut Bar” was born. Unfortunately, the little German cleaning lady never got any public recognition, other than from us, for having come up with the whole concept. My dad did take care of her, money wise, when her idea exploded into a success.

There was no live music in the Peanut Bar – the revelers apparently created their own entertainment, fueled by much alcohol.

THE CABARET

Downstairs was the Cabaret, a bar with live music, and later a disco.

DECLINE

Eddie Webster died on February 16, 1980, in a snowmobile accident in Crow Wing County at the age of 52.  The business was taken over by his wife Betty and son Tom.

 

By 1986 sales had become flat and the family was rethinking the concept that had been around for 28 years.  One Facebook comment was that all the crowds had moved to the Cattle Co.  The last day of Eddie Webster’s was April 13, 1993. Tom Webster immediately oversaw a $400,000 renovation.

CALISOTA CAFE

The renovated restaurant, now called the Calisota Cafe, opened on about April 21, 1993.  The goals of the renovation were to make the restaurant more casual, offer more menu choices (130!), and make the meals less expensive.  Unfortunately, the concept did not catch on, and Webster found himself unable to pay expenses, including health and pension benefits.  The Calisota Cafe closed on October 14, 1993.  The restaurant was auctioned off in April 1994, and Eddie Webster’s, Inc. filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in December 1994.  The party was over.

 

 

MORE HOTELS ON THE STRIP

The site of the old Eddie Webster’s, location of much merriment, alcohol, music, dancing, and peanuts, is now occupied by two hotels, built in 1997.