The building at 3410 Dakota Ave. was part of the Lake Street commercial development built in 1948 – 1950.
The photo below had the caption:
NEW SHOPPING BLOCK IN ST. LOUIS PARK
Nearing completion is the last of three buildings in a shopping block on Lake Street at Dakota Avenue, St. Louis Park. The block represents a total investment of about $140,000. The building at left [6422-6424 Lake Street] is owned by Mary Daly and is 48 by 60 feet in dimension. It was designed from private plans and was built by the Holt Construction Co. of Minneapolis. The structure under construction, center, [6414, 6416, and 6418 Lake Street] will be 90 by 128 feet, and will house three stores. Owned by Emanuel, Raymond, and Enoch Anderson, it was designed by the Colstrom Planning Service of Minneapolis, and is being built by Holt. The largest building, right, [3410 Dakota Ave.] is 109 by 60 feet, and houses a drug store and a doctor’s clinic. It was designed by Saul C. Smiley, and built by the Ring Construction Corp., both of Minneapolis. Dave Posnick is the owner.
DR. IRVING POSNICK
The following information comes from his obituary as published in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune. Posnick was born on September 13, 1923, and attended North High in Minneapolis. He graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1946, and served in the Navy as the sole dentist at the Marine base on Attu Island, Alaska.
He started his private dental practice here in 1949; in 1976 he was joined by his son Steven. He was a pioneer in hospital dentistry for children. His memberships and leadership positions included president of the Minneapolis District Dental Society, National president of the American Society of Dentistry for Children, and lifetime member of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association and President’s Club.
In the 1950s he founded and ran Aqualand Pool Co. in the 3410 Dakota building, a family business that operated until all four of his sons moved on to their professional careers 20 years later. Each son became a doctor.
In retirement, he became a certified golf club maker and founded Custom Clubs by Irv, a home business that combined his hobby of golf with his love of business.
Dr. Irving Posnick, dentist to thousands of St. Louis Park children and adults, died on December 24, 2010, in Boynton Beach, Florida.
PARK DRUG
Park Drug opened in the building on June 1, 1949 (Grand Opening on June 22). The proprietor was Myron “Mike” Zoss, who had previously managed a store in St. Paul. Mike was from Ohio. At the opening there was ice cream for the kiddies, gardenias for the ladies and cigars for the men. The “new and modern” drug store was completely air conditioned. Zoss soon moved to Texa-Tonka, opening there on November 29, 1951. In November 1956 Park Drug advertised in the Echo “We Carry All Elvis Presley Records.” In August 1971 the manager was R.K. Lockner, who expressed to the Echo that he was against open lunch at the high school, citing too much littering and hanging around.
In the 1960s Dr. Posnick opened the Aqualand Pool Supply Company in the same building.
Your Total Look Beauty Salon was/is owned by Geri Jacques and was around in 2011.
Tan-Tique Tanning Studio was at 3410 Dakota in 1988 – 1989.