Hopkins House
The Hopkins House actually included three different venues, according to their matchbooks:
- The original Hopkins House, located at 1501 Highway 7 in Hopkins
- A second hotel in Golden Valley, located at 4820 Highway 55
- The Breezy Point Resort, apparently owned by the same people for a time
HOPKINS
The Hopkins House restaurant opened in 1948 and the Motor Hotel opened in 1963. In his column dated May 1, 1963, Will Jones said that BeBe Shopp, Hopkins’ own Miss America, was being paged to come and open the facility.
1965
Venues within the hotel included:
Madiera Room
In 1963 Jones described this as a fancy dining room.
Presumably it was here in 1965 that they had “discotheque dancing” on Tuesdays during happy hour (“Colossal Cocktail Hour”) and Wednesdays during orchestral intermissions.
Eye of the Rib
Jones described this as a less fancy restaurant. A 1965 ad boasted an open charcoal broiler.
Black Pearl Cocktail Room
In September 1966, La Lani brought Polynesian Interpretive Dancing to the Black Pearl to spice up your Wednesdays.
January 1969: Kaye Brothers, back that July
March 1969: Jan Ames
Minneapolis Tribune, January 24, 1969
Velvet Garter Sing-a-Long Lounge
This was a piano loft tucked up into the rafters of the A-frame building, according to Will Jones.
In 1967 to 1969 there was the “fun, fun Velvet Garter sing-a-long Lounge.”
Ralph Primm held forth in January to March 1969.
Rob Trebor entertained in July 1969.
In 1973 the entertainment was billed simply as the Italian Show Band.
A 1965 ad described two banquet rooms, each with a capacity of 75, and a Hall of Seasons Banquet Room that could seat 550. There was also a 60′ by 220′ exhibit arena with a drive in ramp.
The restaurant building was connected to the 64-unit motor hotel by a glass corridor. The hotel had a pool. By 1976 there were 171 rooms.
Adjacent was the Hopkins House Shopping Center, with a liquor store, convenience store, barber shop, beauty parlor, and Pure Oil gas station.
GOLDEN VALLEY
A Hopkins House – in Golden Valley? Apparently so. This Hopkins House that was not in Hopkins was new in July 1967.
The Rural English Plank ‘n’ Platter Dining Room
Ha’Penny Bar/Lounge
March 1969: Tommy Francis, Lelani
The motel had 110 rooms and a pool. The location appears to be two senior living facilities now.
BREEZY POINT, BRAINERD
The only reason I can think of as to why there was a Hopkins House in Brainerd would be that they had the same owners and they wanted to cross advertise. An ad from 1968 declares, “Now There are 3!”