Jun 01, 1970
165 Western Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Restaurant Row By Paul Nelson The familiar Midwest urban decline began along Selby during the Depression, accelerated after World War II, then hit its nadir with two nights of violence after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968. Several Selby Avenue businesses were firebombed; a year later one remaining merchant pronounced Selby commerce near death. A street that had once thrived with hundreds of business was reduced to a few straggling survivors. A slow revival began in the mid-1970s; it is still going on today, exemplified by “restaurant row” between Western Avenue and Dale Street. Moscow on the Hill – 371 Selby Solo Vino – 517 Selby French Hen - 518 Selby W.A. Frost - 374 Selby Cheeky Monkey – 525 Selby Nina's Coffee Cafe – 165 Western Great Harvest Bakery – 534 Selby Costello's Bar – 393 Selby Chocolate Emporium – 579 Selby Fabulous Fern's – 400 Selby Mango Thai – 610 Selby La Grolla – 452 Selby Louisiana Cafe – 613 Selby Bon Vie Bistro & A Piece of Cake – 485 Selby Muddy Pig – 162 Dale St. The Happy Gnome, 517 Selby Sweeney's – 96 Dale St. Except for the old Angus Hotel building (Nina’s), the showiest of these buildings is the former Trott-Birch house at 579, a rare four-story double house in the Chateauesque style. It catches the eye, but its size makes it a challenge to sustain as a commercial building. Contrast it to the low brick structures occupied now by French Hen and Cheeky Monkey; these adaptable spaces have been home to dozens of cafes and shops over the decades. Selby now rivals nearby Grand Avenue as St. Paul’s “eat street.” Cite this Page Paul Nelson, “Restaurant Row,” Saint Paul Historical, accessed July 4, 2022, https://saintpaulhistorical.com/items/show/112.
165 Western Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Restaurant Row By Paul Nelson The familiar Midwest urban decline began along Selby during the Depression, accelerated after World War II, then hit its nadir with two nights of violence after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968. Several Selby Avenue businesses were firebombed; a year later one remaining merchant pronounced Selby commerce near death. A street that had once thrived with hundreds of business was reduced to a few straggling survivors. A slow revival began in the mid-1970s; it is still going on today, exemplified by “restaurant row” between Western Avenue and Dale Street. Moscow on the Hill – 371 Selby Solo Vino – 517 Selby French Hen - 518 Selby W.A. Frost - 374 Selby Cheeky Monkey – 525 Selby Nina's Coffee Cafe – 165 Western Great Harvest Bakery – 534 Selby Costello's Bar – 393 Selby Chocolate Emporium – 579 Selby Fabulous Fern's – 400 Selby Mango Thai – 610 Selby La Grolla – 452 Selby Louisiana Cafe – 613 Selby Bon Vie Bistro & A Piece of Cake – 485 Selby Muddy Pig – 162 Dale St. The Happy Gnome, 517 Selby Sweeney's – 96 Dale St. Except for the old Angus Hotel building (Nina’s), the showiest of these buildings is the former Trott-Birch house at 579, a rare four-story double house in the Chateauesque style. It catches the eye, but its size makes it a challenge to sustain as a commercial building. Contrast it to the low brick structures occupied now by French Hen and Cheeky Monkey; these adaptable spaces have been home to dozens of cafes and shops over the decades. Selby now rivals nearby Grand Avenue as St. Paul’s “eat street.” Cite this Page Paul Nelson, “Restaurant Row,” Saint Paul Historical, accessed July 4, 2022, https://saintpaulhistorical.com/items/show/112.
Jun 01, 1970
Posted Date
Jul 04, 2022
Historical Record Date
Jun 01, 1970
Source Name
Saint Paul Historical
