Tempo
THE TEMPO BAR AND RESTAURANT
The Tempo was located at 2027 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis.
EARLY HISTORY
The building appears to have been built as a store. In October 1935, the store fixtures were put up for sale.
Owner Ray Eckberg spent $6,000 to add a story and alter the building to a “beer parlor” in 1937.
The first ad for the Tempo shows up on January 1, 1939, in the Minneapolis papers.
GUS NELSON
From 1948 to 1950 it is advertised as Nelson’s Tempo Bar. Nelson was John “Gus” Nelson.
TOMMY ANDERSON
In 1952 the liquor license was transferred from Vincent F. Danzer and David S. Anderson to Danzer and Thomas J. Anderson. (Minneapolis Tribune, February 9, 1952) “Tommy” Anderson would own the Tempo until 1962.
Tommy Anderson, Minneapolis Tribune, January 7, 1955
Would have loved to see the Congo Room!
Minneapolis Star, November 13, 1953
Image courtesy Mark Perrone
There was always a dog sitting in the doorway at the Tempo, simply referred to as ”The Tempo Dog.”
Here’s something you don’t see every day: a hosiery mending kit:
From the collection of Mark Youngblood
ADDITIONS
In November 1958, Anderson remodeled the bar, installed a new lobby, and enlarged the parking lot to accommodate 150 cars.
In June 1959, a 5,000 sq. ft. addition was being built to house a new kitchen and three private dining rooms on the first floor, and a butcher shop, laundry, bakery, and 200-seat banquet room in the basement. A coffee shop was moved into the addition. The exterior was redone in cut gray Bedford stone and plaster. J.V. Vanderbilt was the architect, and Boe, Inc. was the contractor. (Minneapolis Tribune, June 22, 1959)
Minneapolis Tribune, June 22, 1959 (architect’s sketch)
1959 – 1963: Organ and piano bar.
Fraser and Nevers were the musical comedy duo that played there from about 1966 to 1970.
1969: Judy Richmond and her Trio; also Carla Elliott Trio featuring Judy Perkins.
Ad from Minnesota Daily courtesy Robb Henry
21 EAST
In March 1972 it re-opened as “21 East,” with a Cantonese menu. This did not last long. But it had a great band!
Minneapolis Star, March 2, 1979
Ad courtesy Robb Henry
EARL MONTPETIT
Earl L. Montpetit purchased the Tempo in 1973. The family owned bars in Minnesota and Wisconsin, starting with Earl’s father Archie in 1909.
Ads to sell the baby grand and other accoutrements of the old Tempo began to appear in May 1973.
Started featuring rock in August 1973.
Minneapolis Star, August 10, 1973
Muddy Waters performed here, the first time not at a so-called “black club.”
There were two distinct venues at one time: one was a disco frequented by a predominantly black clientele, while the other was a rock ‘n’ roll biker bar. Must have been interesting!
Photo above posted to Old Minneapolis Facebook page by Ken Ring.
Ashtray from the collection of Mark Youngblood.
West Bank Trackers poster probably 1974 according to days of the week – Posted on Facebook by Paul Pash.
Explodo Boys at the Tempo, March 17, 1975. Photo courtesy Stephen Cowdery
The Tempo closed on Labor Day, 1979.
MONTANITA’S
Montpetit transformed the Tempo into a Mexican restaurant called Montanita’s – Spanish for the French name Montpetit – in January 1980. A Spanish guitar player accompanied patrons at the restaurant, which seated 240.
Earl Montpetit. Photo by John Croft, Minneapolis Tribune, February 23, 1980
Montpetit tried to build one in the World Trade Center in downtown St. Paul, but it went bankrupt. There was also one in Spring Lake Park.
Earl Montpetit sold Montanita’s on Franklin in January 1990. He died on January 8, 1992, at the age of 64 of liver cancer.
Montanita’s on Franklin closed sometime between September 1994 and February 1995.
BLUE NILE
The Blue Nile was an Ethiopian restaurant that moved into the building from its former location on Lyndale in January 1997. One of the musical performers there was the Electric Arab Orchestra. The Blue Nile closed on November 15, 2015.
The building has been torn down. In 2020 the property is shown as vacant land owned by the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis.