4 Track or 8 Track

8-Track Tape Players – Many of us can remember the 8-track tape players back in the 60’s and 70’s. In 1972, Sears was featuring an 8-Track stereo tape player for your car for only $79.95. This also included two 4X8 speakers. The 8-Track was the cutting edge of technology before the cassette dominated the market and way before CD’s were even thought of. There was, for a time, a 4-Track player also. In the late 60’s I was in Tempo at the Arrowhead Shopping Center deciding between an 8-Track or a 4-Track for my Mustang. I went for the advanced technology and bought the 8-Track. I think I still have a case or two of 8-Tracks that survived the flood.

The Garage

The Garage – A former automotive service center, The Garage strictly catered to youth ages 14 to 20. The garage was located ½ block north of what is now Central Campus. The building  was owned by two Minot businessmen. It was a great hangout for high school students. Many were smokers and The Garage did not discourage smoking as long as the cigarettes were not extinguished on the floor. Many students, however, complained that it was too smokey and thought it should not be allowed. On the weekends, The Garage featured dances with the band on a raised platform and psychedelic lighting.

The Bridge Coffee House

The Bridge – in the summer of 1972, The Bridge, a coffeehouse, was located at 119 West Central Avenue. The coffeehouse was open on Friday and Saturday from 8 pm to 1 am. It was a non-profit entity that catered to young people in the 18 to 25 year old bracket. The Bridge rented their location from the Sons of Norway organization. Two firm policies of The Bridge were no drugs and no alcoholic beverages. In actuality the clientele ranged from young teenagers to an occasional Middle aged Sons of Norway member. 

Piggly Wiggly in Minot

Piggly Wiggly – The first Piggly Wiggly Store opened in the mid 40’s at 213 South Main Street. In 1957, at a cost of $300,000, Piggly Wiggly opened a new store by the Fairgounds. Piggly Wiggly East was one of the largest grocery stores in the state at that time. In 1961 another store opened in the Oak Park Center. The store on Main Street closed in 1960 and shortly after a third store was opened in the Town & County Center. In 1982 the Oak Park store moved to the Arrowhead Shopping Center. At one time Piggly Wiggly employed over 250 people

Happy Thanksgiving

Entertainment in the 1970's

Dolly Parton – on Sunday, July 30, 1978 – KCJB welcomed everyone to the Dolly Parton concert at the Municipal Auditorium .. Dolly was on her way to Regina for the Buffalo Days Exhibition …. Kenny Rogers and Roy Clark – Headliners at the 1978 State Fair  -- Grand Ole Opry – August 17, 1967 – Headliners were Ferlin Husky, Hank Snow and Waylon Jennings …. Tickets - $2.50 in advance -- $3.00 at the door……

Great Northern Bank to 1st National Bank

1^st National Bank -- 1st National Bank was originally known as the Great Northern Bank when it was established in 1897. The building was constructed of brick made in a brickyard just west of Minot. This building stood until it was demolished in 1929 to make room for the new building. The bank was name the Great Northern Bank in honor of Jim Hill who was a close friend of Joseph Roach, one of the founders of the bank. Later the name was changed to the 2^nd national Bank and eventually to the 1^st national Bank. In 1887 the Bank of Minot was formed and eventually became the 1^st National Bank. In the early 1900’s there were two banks chartered under the name of the 1^st National Bank. Both of these failed, hence the name 2^nd National Bank for a period of time. No affiliation with the failed banks was wanted. In the early days, trees were planted in the boulevard to the south of the bank. They grew to be quite tall before they were cut down due to the paving of the streets.

Great Northern Bank 1895

Past Events 1960's

1967 – North Dakota State Championship Rodeo (eventually became the Y’s Men’s Rodeo – held indoors at the Minot City Auditorium –the rodeo performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday highlighted Western Week in the Magic City…… Holiday Shower of Stars – December 29, 1964 – Stars included Chad & Jeremy (just back from England) – Bobby Goldsboro – Ronnie Cochrane – Tickets - $2.50 at the door -- $2.00 in advance … At the Municipal Auditorium …… Gene Pitney Show & Dance – January 15, 1965 at the Minot Civic Auditorium -- 

More Business from the Past

Ben’s Appliance & Trading Post – 809 3^rd St NE – South & west of what is now B&D Market  (site is now a Parking Lot) in 1967 he was the dealer for RCA TV’s and stereos. Owner – Ben Mutzenberger  ….. Metzger’s Electronic Sales – 1615 South Broadway (now Paradise Spa’s) Maury Metzger – the owner – Pete Van Lith – repairman (for all makes of hoe electronics) – Zenith TV and Stereo dealer ….. Gordon’s Holiday Spot Motel – at the intersection of 19^th Avenue and South Broadway ( east of Marketplace Foods) --- Sterling Motel – on the corner of South Broadway and 20^th Avenue (now Marketplace Foods)

Sterling Motel

Restaurants – 1960’s ---

 Copper Pot Restaurant – located inside Gordon’s Holiday Spot Motel on South Broadway (now the home of the Hibachi Grill) ….. Sweden House Smorgasbord – on South Broadway – Sunday menu in 1967 featured roast turkey, bar-b-q ribs, roast beef and Swedish meatballs .. this later the home of Market place Foods Dollar Store and is now a store selling spas and other products….. Riverside Supper Club & Lounge – south of the fairgrounds – where the Holiday Inn is located …. Capri Café --  Across from the State Fair Grounds – next to the Capri Lounge … Ramada Inn Restaurant – on north hill inside the Ramada Inn – Now the Grand International Inn …. Embers Restaurant – on the top floor of the Minot Federal Savings & Loan Building (Midwest Federal) – American and Chinese food – daily luncheon special only 89 cents …..

Bars in the 1960's

Nightclubs – 1960’s – Capri Lounge – Across (south) of the State Fair Grounds – Blue Moon Nite Club – East Burdick Expressway – now Ron Lohman Motors ….. Candlelight Lounge – inside the Ramada Inn on north hill – (every Monday and Thursday was ladies night from 5 pm to closing – drinks for ladies – 2 for the price of 1 ….. 13 Club – located at 13 First St. SW – Features dancing girls and a piano bar (at times Gordy Lindquist was the entertainment)…..

Town & Country Shopping Center

 – September 1967 --  Billed as North Dakota’s largest Shopping Center in 1967, Town & Country was holding an Appreciation Days event. The claimed to have had more than 5 million people pass through their doors since opening. – Town & Country, with all 17 of its stores employed over 400 people, had parking for 1100 cars and was completely air conditioned….. Some of the merchants at the time were: Sears, Cal’s Beauty Salon, Fanny Farmer Candy, Holland House Cafeteria, JJ Newberry’s, Kinney Shoes, Steenstrup’s Jewelry, Walter’s Women’s Wear, KG Men’s Store and Piggly Wiggly Food Store. 

More Past Business

Westland Oil Co…. after completing their new addition to their office at 504 East Central Avenue – they were holding an open house in mid January of 1965 – Westland Tire & Automotive Supply Store – 425 4^th Ave Sw (Burdick Expressway) – this facility was new and replace the older facility in Downtwn Minot ….. H&H Variety – 109 South Main St ….. J J Newberry’s – In the Town & Country Shopping Center – mid January of 1965 they were holding a Winter Record Clearance – Albums as low as 77 cents and 45’s as low as 19 cents --- many big names of the time like Paul Anka, Sammy Davis, Dusty Springfield, Chubby Checker, Rickie Nelson, Hank Snow, Patsy Cline, the 4 Seasons and more …… 

Business from the 1960's - 70's

Harold’s – The ribbon cutting for Harold’s was held in early September, 1967. Harold’s was a new shop for women in Downtown Minot – 112 South Main St. Previously the Harold’s locations was occupied by Stevenson’s and was extensively remodeled prior to opening. …… Vince Lee’s Bottle Shop – 32 Third St NE (just north of the Firestone Store) --- Vince Lee suggested a gift from his bottle shop – as he was quoted in his ad – “For what it is worth, the suggestion is mine – Nobody returns their liquor or wine” ….. Poor Rog’s Surplus – in the mid 1960’s he was located the foot of North Hill in Highway 83 North ….. (I seem to remember him being located at the intersection of Broadway & Central Avenue in the later 1960’s) …..

Vince Lee Bottle Shop

North Broadway Shopping Center

Huge Shopping center – 1967 – on September 16, 1967 plans were disclosed about a new shopping center that was a “certainty” to be developed at the base on north hill on Broadway I  Minot – Crestview Development claimed the Center was “an absolute certainty. It’s just the details. There’s no way in the world it can be stopped”. The Center was to be the largest between Minneapolis and Portland and was to include two major department stores, a major drug store, 750 seat theater, and a 50 X 300 foot convention center. For whatever reason it was never built. The location is now the home to the Hampton Inn Hotel on North Broadway. 

Robo Wash

Robo Wash held their Grand Opening on Friday and Saturday, September 8^th & 9^th, 1967. They were open Monday through Saturday from 7 am to 10 pm. Located at 219 North Broadway, they were at the bottom of the Broadway Overpass on the West side. I think Robo Wash was the first “stay in your car – Drive through” car wash in Minot. The price – 50 cents for a 2 minute car wash which washed your vehicle on top and underneath in 4 cycles with a final rinse of ionized water for quick drying.  

More Business in the 60's

Business – 1960’s – Auran Chevrolet – South Broadway – now Ryan Chevrolet ….. Osco Drug – in the 60’s Osco Drug was on main Street in Downtown Minot  -- Osco Moved to Dakota Square and the Osco Drug location became B&B Drug ….. Wholesale Food Center – Across from the Post Office – formerly National Grocery – now Zimmerman’s Furniture ….. R&L Maytag Home Appliance Center – located in the Oak Park Shopping Center – Grand opening was in August of 1967 …..

Business in the 60's

1960’s –– Downtown White Drug Cafeteria --  In the late 1960’s White Drug had a supper menu from 4:30 to 7:30 pm --- All dinners included Mashed potatoes, vegetable, salad, roll & butter --- all dinners were under $1.00 except for the Swiss steak meal on Monday’s – it was $1.16…… Arrowhead Shopping Center – Operation Bounce – 500 ping pong balls released in the parking lot at 10 am and 2 pm, all numbered – customers had to match the numbers for prizes at participating merchants ……. Minot Federal Savings & Loan Assoc. – in 1959 they were on the corner of Central Avenue and 1^st St NW 

More Past Business

Collins – Russell Mortuary – just off East Burdick Expressway – across from the Fairgrounds ….. Anderson Ace Hardware – 11 1^st St SW – Across from the Federal Building ….. Smith & Lee Co. – 14 East Central Avenue – appliance and TV sales ….. 4 East Central Avenue – appliance and TV sales ….. Park ‘N Shop – in the 1960’s and 70’s, the parking lots in Downtown Minot participated in Park N Shop --- your ticket from the parking lot was validated by participating merchants and your parking fee was reduced and possibly free….. 

Business from the 60's - 70's

Northeast Super Food – at the intersection of 3^rd St NE and 6^th Ave NE (now the home of B&D Market) ….. Discount King Grocery Store – Apparently they claimed to sell everything for less – Meats included – located at the intersection of 4^th Avenue and 2^nd St (Broadway and Burdick) in the old National Grocery store (Zimmerman’s) …… PW Miller Co. – a clothing/surplus store -  in 1960 they were located in the Grand Hotel Building on Central Avenue.—after the Grand Hotel and all related businesses burned they moved to 1^st Avenue SE – next to the Parker Hotel (now the Olson Law offices …..

Business in the 1960's

1960’s Business – Newberry’s Department Store --  Located in the center area of  Town & Country Center – the Cafeteria for Newberry’s is now Marco’s Restaurant ….. Metzger’s electronic Sales --  in 1964 Metzger’s was located at 119 West Central Avenue – They would later move to South Broadway (next to Northern Bottling – now Paradise Spa’s) ….. Eatmore Sausage & Packing Co. – Whole sale and retail meat shop on the east edge of Minot (about where the Holiday Inn is located now.) ….. FW Woolworth Co .. On the Corner of Main St and Central Avenue – only escalator in Minot for years and it only went up ……