Kmart and Parking Ramps in 1970

News Stories – May 28, 1970 – On the front page of the newspaper was a story about the proposed parking ramp in Downtown Minot. This ramp was to be built in the ½ block just south of the old Midwest Federal Building or just west of what is now Wells Fargo Bank. Cost to build the ramp in 1970 was $1,600,000 – the ramp was never built … also in the news was the announcement of the store manager for the new Kmart Store being built at the intersection of Highway 83 South and the 2&52 Bypass. The store was scheduled to open on July 9, 1970 – the first store manager was Roger Atkinson – The Kmart store is still in this location ……

1971 Cigarette Rumor –

Trinity Hospital was the recipient of over 25,000 empty cigarette packages from all over the state. Many believed the rumors that cigarette companies would redeem the empty packs for items such as seeing eye dogs, wheel chairs and other medical supplies. Over 10,000 empty cigarette packs came from the Westhope School District.  Unfortunately there was no truth to the rumor. Trinity thanked all those who tried to help the cause. The empty cigarette packs ended up in the Minot landfill.  

Medora Musical in Minot –

on June 16, 1970 sixteen performers from the Medora Musical were in Minot and preformed at the Municipal Auditorium…. The funds raised were earmarked for relocation and restoration of the Teddy Roosevelt statue in Roosevelt Park. The statue fell victim to the 1969 flood. Funds would also be used to help straighten the river channel through the park and improve animal pens in the zoo….. the performance was sponsored by the Minot service clubs….

Shirley Room Cafeteria –

 Located in the basement of the Minot Savings & Loan Building…. They claimed to have the lowest prices in Downtown Minot …. One special in 1970 was Soup, sandwich, coleslaw, chips and beverage for on 75 cents…. You could order breakfast and pay between 35 cents to $1.15….. Dinners were 89 cents to $1.20 …. A salad side dish was only 10 cents. ….. King Leo’s – also in 1970 for fast food at low prices --- King Leo’s on South Broadway (now Arby’s) was offering Hamburgers – 20 cents --- Cheeseburgers – 25 cents --- Fries – 20 cents and Milk shakes – 25 cents … a quick meal for 65 cents……

Other Ads of Interest – November 1963 –

Minot Federal Savings (Midwest Federal or the Big “M” Building) was new. During normal business hours daily tours were being offered with free refreshments and free brochures …. Arrowhead Shopping Center was advertising the fact that 2^nd Avenue was now paved all the way to the shopping center …. Prices on a local car dealer’s used car lot – 1958 Ford Fairlane - $285.00 .. 1959 Pontiac Catalina - $995.00 .. 1961 Ford Fairlane - $1065.00 …. Vince Lee’s Bottle Shop on 3^rd Street NE was advertising the right wine for any occasion …. Self Service Furniture had a Full size crib and mattress for $29.95 (They were located on South Broadway across from Ryan Chevrolet) …  And White’s Dairy was advertising BEEP – A fruit flavored, dairy processed breakfast drink …. 

Tempo – Christmas Specials 1963 –

Tempo – Xmas Advertised specials – 1963 – For the automobile Tempo was offering a pair of 15 inch snow tires for $27.95 .. no more down and payments of $1.23 a week …. A 6/12 volt battery charger was $2.97 …. Gas line antifreeze – 14 cents a can …. Battery booster cables were only $1.07 ….  A wooden snow brush for 23 cents …. Tempo also had an ad running featuring winter footwear for the family …. Girl’s snow boots - $2.68 pr …. Women’s snow boots - $4.28 pr … Men’s four buckle overshoes - $4.58 pr …. Men’s insulated pac boots - $4.38 pr ….

Tempo – More Christmas Specials 1963 – In 1963 Tempo was featuring many toy and Christmas specials in their newspaper ad. Kids tricycles were on sale for $7.79 …. Regular size Christmas lights (replacement bulbs) 5 packages of 5 bulbs for 28 cents …. The Mouse Trap game - $4.22 …. A 34 inch red wagon - $7.47 …. Christmas Tree stand – 81 cents …. A cuddly Teddy Bear - $1.68 …. A basketball, hoop and air pump - $3.68 …. Rummy Royal card game - $1.78 …. Monopoly Game - $2.97 …. Santa was on hand to meet the kids in Santaville located inside the Tempo store. Tempo used the slogan – “Your Store with More at Lowest possible prices.”

Jupiter Christmas Specials – 1963 –

The Jupiter Store in Minot was located at 8 South  Main Street. The building is now the home of Western Paint Home Center. In 1963 the newspaper ad featured these specials for the Christmas shopper. A boy’s or girl’s 26 inch bicycle for $29.88…. ¼ inch electric drill - $7.72 …. 6 big rolls of Christmas wrapping paper – 88 cents …. Sorry game - $2.27 …. Monopoly game - $2.99 …. Ladies Dusters - $1.88 …. Men’s thermal sox – 2 pr – 66 cents …. A 4 foot aluminum, Christmas tree - $2.87 …. A 6 foot tree for $4.68 ….  And an 18 ounce can of mixed nuts for 57 cents

1963 S&L ads –

In November of 1963 S&L Department Store on main street was running the following items in their newspaper ads. Women’s fleece lined snow boots - $3.99 a pair and Women’s high fashion leather boots only $8.95 a pair. The men good purchase a pair of zipper galoshes for $4.99 a pair or a pair of 4 buckle work overshoes for only $5.99 a pair. Women also had the opportunity to purchase holiday print dresses for$5.98 for cotton to $14.95 for wool. In 1963 a woman’s mohair sweater was only $12.95.

1963 Cox’s Bakery Specials –

Cox’s Bakery was located on Main Street, north of Central Avenue on the west side. The unusual thing I noticed about their pre-Thanksgiving ad in the 1963 newspaper is that it did not list their phone number or address. Some of the specials they were advertising were: Luncheon Rolls – 5 dozen for $1.00. Hamburger buns – 4 dozen for $1.00 and assorted cookies – 5 dozen for $1.00.  One could purchase a ½ pound of peanut brittle candy for 39 cents. For your Thanksgiving Dinner, Cox’s Bakery also offered pumkin pies, mince meat pies,  Yule kage, fruit cake and decorated Thanksgiving Day cakes.

The Minot Steam Plant

 The Minot Steam Plant was located west of what is now the Cenex Store on Central Avenue. It was by the old Kedney warehouse which has also been demolished. The Steam Plant provided heat to most of, if not all of Downtown Minot. The steam ran through pipes in a series of tunnels throughout the downtown area. In addition to the steam tunnels, many downtown businesses also had freight elevators on the sidewalks in front of the store. This open basement concept under the sidewalk had a tendency to heat the sidewalk a bit in the winter… helped snow removal. I have been told that at times the snow in downtown Minot was covered in ash from the smoke stacks of the Stream Plant

Past Restaurants –

 The Wooden Platter – in the late 1970’s the Wooden Platter was located inside North Hill Bowl – Besides a restaurant menu they also offered to bake pies – especially at the holiday seasons…… The Dog House – this was located one half block south of Town & Country Center --- their specialty was hot dogs and sausages of all types – a regular hot dog was 59 cents --- in a basket it was 99 cents – the basket included the hot dog, fries and coleslaw --- The Dog House also featured homemade chili and fish sandwiches …..  

South Broadway Business

 Mr. Taco-  Mr Taco was on South Broadway where The Adult Bookstore (Risque’s) is now located. Mr. Taco  was owned by Sam Butts or Taco Sam as many called him. I may be wrong, but I believe the Taco Shop had the first, only and best tacos in Minot at the time, in the late 60’s. Mr. Taco also was the first shop to sell Grinders... Similar to a sub sandwach. Next door to Mr. Taco's  was another South Broadway “landmark”. Bennie’s Magic Mile Market  or as many referred to it … the Bubble Up Store. Bennie’s was just one of many neighborhood grocery stores in Minot at one time. Bennie’s Store is now and oil change shop. I believe B&D Market in northeast Minot is an off spring of Bennie’s on South Broadway.

Mitchell’s Hardware -

 Mitchell’s Hardware was on the corner of Central Avenue and 3^rd Street South East, where Val’s Cyclery is now  located. Prior to Mitchell’s this locations was the home for Oppen’s Grocery Store. Oppen’s had a lunch counter or cafeteria in the store. I believe this was known as the Central Avenue Café. For a while Mitchell’s Hardware also maintained the Central Avenue Café even though it was a hardware store.  One of Mitchell Hardware’s claim to fame was a talking Myna bird named Mack.  Mack had the reputation of uttering four letter words, especially the s--- word, so many younger shoppers were not allowed to hang out around him. After Mitchell’s and before Val’s Cyclery, this location was the home of Ben’s Appliances.

Flat Iron Building –

The Flat Iron Building was located on the northeast corner of Broadway and Central Avenue. It was called the Flat Iron Building because of its triangular shape – similar to that of an old flat iron. One of the businesses in the Flat Iron Building was the Spudnut Shop. The Spudnut Shop specialized in hamburgers and Spudnuts. A Spudnut was a doughnut made from special potato flour, apparently that one had to purchase from the Spudnut Company. Reportedly the doughnuts were the best when fresh.. Another business I remember in the Flat Iron Building back in the late 60’s was Carl’s Music Store. Not sure when it went out of business, but he handled musical instruments and supplies.musical instruments and supplies.

1965 - Illegal Sunday Shopping

Sunday Shopping before its time – Apparently the last Sunday of November, 1965, Tempo, located in the Arrowhead Shopping Center and White Drug, Downtown Minot opened their doors for business. Sunday opening was a thing of the future at this time. The States Attorney issued a warning to both stores and any others that Police and Sheriffs officers will be on duty in those stores. If they opened the following Sunday, all clerks would be arrested and charged with Sabbath Breaking. Store managers and the parent company could be charged. If violations continue the license to operate in North Dakota could be in jeopardy.

Past Business from the 70's

Past Business -- Maid For A Day – In 1972, two men, Arnie Merkel and Julius Jahr started a new business called Maid For a Day. The new company would provide cleaning af various types on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis. Maid For A Day would clean windows, walls, carpets and floors and even do minor household repair…. Schriok’s Lawn & Trail – located on the 2& 52 Bypass at 10^th St. SW. (now the home of IHeartmedia) – John Deere dealer …… The Grog Shop -- $the Avenue & Valley Street (Burdick Expressway at the west end of the viaduct)—Bottle Shop……. Fireside Lounge – inside the Sandman Hotel ( at the West Bypass and 4^th Ave.) ….. Pizza Plus (formerly Our Place) – at South Broadway and the Bypass – Pizza and sandwich shop …..

Minot’s First City Hall --

 The first building to serve as City Hall for Minot was the home to the Police Dept in the basement, the Fire Dept. on the main floor and dormitory above, the jail, magistrate’s office and the City Manager office and staff also on the main floor. It was built in 1905 and was located mid block between Main St. and 1^st St SW. (or next to the Alley behind the Montgomery Ward building – across the street from the 1^st Avenue Building). In the early 1900’s, this was quite literally the center of Minot. DA Dinnie was awarded the bid for construction for the price of $11,171.00. The new building to be the best facility of its kind in the country for cities the size of Minot. However the Minot Aldermen were so disenchanted with the finished result they refused to occupy it as they claimed it had not been built to specifications. About 6 months later they resolved the conflict and moved in. 

Terhorst Manufacturing

Terhorst Manufacturing --  Started in 1928 by brothers Harvey and Willis Terhorst, and located at 615 4^th Ave SE, (under the Burdick Expressway viaduct). Terhorst is in the business of making molds for all types of products. The original building was expanded in 1936, 1940, 1951 and again in 1967. During World War II, Terhorst made fuse adapters for bombs. The machines needed to make the adapters were designed by Terhorst as they did not exist to purchase them. In the 1960’s, Terhorst got into the plastic molding business. They still remain one of the lesser known long term businesses in Minot.

Terhorst - 1972

Minot Eagles Club --

  In April of 1972 the new Minot Eagles Club was dedicated and opened to members. The club was located at the intersection  of 2^nd Avenue and 16^th St. SW, across from Arrowhead Shopping Center. In less than a year, the Eagles membership had grown from 1800 to over 3200. The Minot Eagles Club was organized in 1942 and the new home was the fourth location. Prior to this opening the club was located at 110 1^st Street SE, now the home of the Chicago Club. The new club was about 17,500 square feet and built at a cost of $483, 365.00….

December 1965 - Park & Shop

Downtown Minot 1965 – In December of 1965 Downtown Minot was “the heart of the area’s largest and most complete shopping district. Downtown Minot boasted 690 business firms in their trade area. Downtown Minot claimed they gave you Variety, Service and Price… all of that added up to more shopping pleasure. Their motto was “If It’s in Town,  It’s Downtown. The Downtown merchants also provided free parking to customers in the Downtown Parking lots with Park and Shop. When shopping you could have your parking voucher validated at participating merchants.