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Minneapolis Signs

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Peter's Grill [gone]
Minneapolis, MN		 Murray's Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge
Minneapolis, MN
Peter's Grill opened in 1914. I believe this sign was from the early 1930s. The restaurant moved a couple of times and the sign and a number of fixtures were brought along. This photo is from 2007. Peter's Grill closed in 2013 and this sign was gone by 2014. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Murray's Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge opened in 1946. The porcelain enamel panels and these signs were added in 1956 by General Outdoor Advertising Co. The steak panel on the facade was removed in 2017 after it was damaged by wind. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Hum's Liquor Store
Minneapolis, MN
Hum's Liquor Store opened in the mid-1960s and this sign appears to be from then. For more, see this website. [map]

Aqua City Motel [gone]
Minneapolis, MN		 Imperial Room
Minneapolis, MN		 Zipp's Liquors
Minneapolis, MN
The Aqua City Motel opened in the 1950s and this sign was from then. The sign was auctioned off in 2023. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Imperial Room opened around 2002. This is a modern sign. This photo is from 2011. The restaurant and bar closed in 2015. The building remains vacant and the sign is still there. [map]

Zipp's Liquors opened in 1961 and this sign appears to be from then. This smaller, modern sign above the door was built in the same style. For more, see this website. [map]

Snoboy
Minneapolis, MN		 Buca di Beppo
Minneapolis, MN		 Minneapolis Floral Co. [gone]
Minneapolis, MN
The Snoboy character was created in 1925 by Pacific Fruit & Produce which marketed fruits and vegetables nationwide. The company, now known as Amerifresh, continues to use him in their advertising. This sign was installed in 1954 at the site of their former headquarters. For more, see this website. [map]

Buca di Beppo is part of a nationwide chain of Italian restaurants. This is the company's first location which opened in 1993. The owners studied signs from the 1940s and 1950s before settling on this design. This was most likely modeled after Cantina Italiana sign in Boston, MA. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

The Minneapolis Floral Co. opened here in 1936. This sign appeared to be from then. These photos were taken in 2007. The business closed in 2009. In 2011, a US Bank branch moved into the building and the sign was removed. It is now in a private collection. The bank sign that replaced it was built in the same shape and style, without neon. For more, see this website. [map]

Nye's Polonaise Room [gone]
Minneapolis, MN
The Nye's Polonaise Room sign was probably from 1964. That's when Nye's expanded and added the dining room. The Nye's bar signs were most likely from around 1950. These photos are from 2011. Nye's closed in 2016. The signs were removed soon after that. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Metro Inn Motel [gone]
Minneapolis, MN		 Minnehaha Liquors [gone]
Minneapolis, MN
The Metro Inn Motel opened in the 1950s as the Boulevard Motel. The sign was auctioned off in 2023. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Minnehaha Liquors had been around since the 1920s. This sign was probably from the 1950s. The building and sign were destroyed by fire in 2020. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Halek's Bar
(now Cliff-n-Norm's Bar)
Minneapolis, MN		 Modern Times Cafe
Minneapolis, MN
The Halek's Bar opened around 1948. This sign may be from then. This photo is from 2012. The bar closed in 2013 and soon reopened at Cliff-n-Norm's Bar. A new panel was added to the top of the sign for the name change. By 2017, all the lettering had been changed to backlit plastic. For more, see this website. [map]

The Modern Times Cafe has preserved the sign letters from the Modern Cleaners which opened here around 1943. [map]

Skol Liquors
Minneapolis, MN		 Lee's Liquor Lounge
Minneapolis, MN		 Monte Carlo Bar & Grill
Minneapolis, MN
This Skol Liquors sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Lee's Liquor Lounge has been here since at least the early 1960s. It is closing in 2019. The plans for the sign are unknown at this point. They were still there in 2021. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Monte Carlo Bar & Grill opened in 1906. This sign might be from the 1950s or 1960s. This photo is from 2011. Around 2013, this sign was either refurbished or replaced. The sign was repainted and the neon words "Bar" and "Food" were replaced with backlit plastic letters. For more, see this website. [map]

Starlite Motel
Minneapolis, MN
The Starlite Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. The sign was originally painted light blue. It is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The top half of the sign is identical to the Starlite Motel in Salina, KS. [map]

Franklin Nicollet Liquor
Minneapolis, MN
Franklin Nicollet Liquor signs appear to be from the 1950s or 1960s. They are lit at night. For more, see this website. [map]

Cathay Chow Mein [gone]
Minneapolis, MN		 Don's
Leather Cleaning
Minneapolis, MN		 Bunkers Music
Bar & Grill [gone]
Minneapolis, MN
Cathay Chow Mein opened in 1945 and this sign was probably from then. The place had closed and the sign was gone by 2021. It was saved by Signature Electric in Victoria, MN.

This Don's Leather Cleaning sign originally advertised for a Bridgeman's Ice Cream parlor. [map]

I believe Bunkers Music Bar & Grill opened around 1981. This sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. It was most likely adapted for Bunkers Music. Does anyone know what was here originally? Around 2014, the neon was removed from this sign and backlit plastic letters were added. [map]

Nate's
Clothing [gone]
Minneapolis, MN		 Park & Lake Car Wash
Minneapolis, MN
Nate's Clothing was founded in 1916. The store closed this location in 2008 and the sign was removed in 2009. For more, see this website.

The Park & Lake Car Wash opened around 1966. The sign was repainted around 2008. These photos are from 2011. It probably had neon originally. For more, see this website. [map]

More Minneapolis:
American Rug Laundry
The Diner: 1, 2 [removed; private collection]
Edina Realty
Friedman's Department Store
Gardner Hardware Company [gone]
Gold Medal Flour
Grain Belt Beer
Grumpy's Bar
Hagen's Wildest Traders: 1, 2 [gone]
Little Jack's Steak House
Lowry Hill Liquor Store [gone]
North Star Blankets
Northwest Graphic Supply Co. [map]
Pillsbury's Best Flour
Red Owl Supermarket [vintage; gone]
Skyline Neon [map]
Town Talk Diner [gone]
Weatherball [gone]
Woodcraft Hobby Store [vintage; gone]

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