This building was located at 2705 Highway 55 at Lexington in Mendota Heights, 2.5 miles south of the Mendota Bridge.  It hosted two teen clubs:  the Safari Club and Bobby’s.

THE SAFARI CLUB

The Safari Club opened to teenagers in 1963, Thursday to Saturday nights.

Irv Letofsky, subbing for Will Jones in the Trib on October 25, 1963, told of receiving a flier addressed as “Dear Teen-ager” which had been sent to 3,700 “highly moral” teenagers in the Twin Cities area, and, should there be enough response, the club would be opened in a former appliance store on November 15. The decor would be Polynesian and the club would feature exotic soft drinks. Charter membership was $10/year; regular membership $15/year. Guest admission was $1.25.

 

Another article described it as the Upper Midwest’s first teen-age night club, “a members-only key club,” open to kids from 16 through 20. Entertainment was to include folk singers, jazz combos, surfing music, and comedians. A hootenanny was tentatively planned for every Sunday afternoon. The Saturday night dress code was to be semi-formal. Much was made of the code of conduct, including no alcohol; detectives would be on duty.

 

The club was to be owned by a corporation, whose principal stockholders were Bobby Mecay, a University of Minnesota student and ice skater; Charles Mecay; Richard H. Murray; and David Eckstrand, a former instructor at St. Thomas Academy who would manage the club.

 

In January 1964 Will Jones reported that an ad in the Minnesota Daily described it as “A Plush Polynesian Pad” that featured folk music, but as he was over 21 he couldn’t investigate.  The ad warned in large type, “IF YOU ARE 21 STAY OUT.”

 

Facebook folk remember that teargas was let loose inside a couple of times, and that kids had to escape through the back door to get some air?

 

 

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BOBBY’S

Prior to about 1965 the Safari was renamed Bobby’s Teen Club, owned by Bobby Mecay.  Mecay was in the paper often for his skating up until January 1966.  Bobby’s was open to teens ages 16-20 only and featured movies and a slot car track.

In 1966 Tom Castaneda was General Manager. There was music on two floors and variety in the back room.

 

 

 

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In 1967 it was only open on Fridays and Saturdays.  In April 1967 the Underbeats recorded 43 songs at Bobby’s for Metrobeat Records.

 

Bobby’s burned down in November 1967.  Bobby Mecay became a real estate executive.