This is a road that has had many names: Superior Blvd., Wayzata Blvd., Highway 12, and Highway 394. The name Wayzata endures on the service road to the freeway, and businesses dot that ribbon of road on both sides of Interstate 394.
At one time there was a part of St. Louis Park that was on the north side of the highway, but the freeway took care of that, and now the only section of St. Louis Park north of the highway is the Shelard area, at the westernmost part of the City.
Golden Valley, however, does have some significant patches of land on the south side of the highway. To avoid total confusion, the buildings have been listed on two different pages; this for those north of the freeway, and another for those south of the freeway.
The years indicated are based on available sources and the buildings and businesses may have existed before or after the years indicated. Please contact us with any information or corrections.
Also see:
Superior Blvd., Wayzata Blvd., Highway 12, I-394 for information about the road itself
Wayzata Blvd. Buildings South of I-394
Underlined items are links to more information.
3900 Wayzata Blvd.
- This is listed as a Golden Valley residence in the 1951 St. Louis Park Directory. It would have been on the border of Minneapolis, on France Ave.
3940 Wayzata Blvd.
- This was the address of truck farmer Herman H. Held. In 1943 his farm extended from Glenwood Ave., Wayzata Blvd., Highway 100, and Turner’s Crossroad. In 1935, Held was investigated for being paid an exorbitant amount of money for the right-of-way for the extension of Highway 100 by the Highway 100; his attorney, Fred Ossana, was suspected of pocketing some of the proceeds. (Minneapolis Journal, April 3, 1935)
- Held’s sister was Wanda Evanoff, who was part of the Evanoff Gardens empire on the other side of Wayzata Blvd.
3950 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Residence, 1939.
- Possibly the current site of 1125 Tyrol Trail, built 2022
4000 Wayzata Blvd.
- Residence, 1939
4012 Wayzata Blvd.: 1961
- Residence
4016 Wayzata Blvd.
- Residence, 1939. Possibly the current 4022 Wayzata Blvd.
4220 Wayzata Blvd. G (Approximate address)
- This was Bill’s Place from at least 1939. Bill was William J. Schindler, who went on to own the Boulevard. A relative describes him as a real estate investor who moved around a lot. A 1939 ad offered “Dancing and An Enjoyable Time. Nice menu: Bar-B-Q-Ribs, Chow Mein, Home Made Chili, Hot Tamales, and Glueks on Draft!”
See picture below.
4230 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Eddie and Freddie’s Bar, 1939 – 1949. Owner Fred Sarenpa lived in the building.
- The bar moved to 5612 Wayzata Blvd. in 1951.
- This may have been in the area of North Tyrol Park, where it intersects with Ravine Trail.
4338 Wayzata Blvd.
- Residence, 1949
4404 Wayzata Blvd.
- Wycoff and Swenson Repair Shop, 1947
4400 Wayzata Blvd.
- Residence, 1952
4412 Wayzata Blvd.
- Martin Larson Tavern and Grocery, 1947. Martin and Minnie Larson
4900 Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley (NE corner of now Hwy 394 and 100):
- Ye Tavern Inn (1921)
- Pershing Inn. Burned down, bankrupt, 1926.
Highway 100
5000 Wayzata Blvd.: G Taken out by Hwy 100/394 Interchange
- 1962: Rees, Thomson Scroggins Real Estate
- 1967: Kaye Construction
5050 Wayzata Blvd.: Vacant land, owned by the City of Golden Valley.
5100 Wayzata Blvd.: Talo Apartments, 2017
5150 Wayzata Blvd.: Listed as an apartment building, built in 2017. Small footage on Wayzata Blvd.
5200 Wayzata Blvd: Global Pointe Senior Living – 2018
5250 Wayzata Blvd.: Tyrol Medical Dental Building – 1967 G
GOLDEN HILLS SHOPPING CENTER
The Held family and a developer from California built the Golden Hills Shopping Center in 1950 on what had been Julius Held’s melon field. Golden Hills was a victim to construction of 394 in about 1988. The western end, including Good Day Café and the Metropolitan, still stands. The huge, now crumbling parking lot may also still be there as it was in 2007. The parcel is now officially listed as 5410 Wayzata Blvd.
Here are some addresses and stores:
5300 Wayzata Blvd.:
- 1952: Golden Hills Drug and Liquor Store. This had been located (or at least addressed) at 5400 Wayzata since the opening of the shopping center. It changed locations (or addresses) sometime between 1967 and 1969. It was described to be across from the Ambassador Hotel.
5320 Wayzata Blvd.
- GH Heating and Sheet Metal, 1954
- Northern States Radio Service, 1961 – 1967
- Schlotzky’s
5324 Wayzata Blvd.
- Boulevard Cleaners, 1956 – 1958
- Char-Mar Cleaners and Tailors, 1968
5328:
- George’s Steak House – 1956
- Har-Mar Cleaners
5332 Wayzata Blvd.
- Robert Early Interior Shop, 1954
- Mr. Joseph Hair Fashions, 1967 – 1968
5340 Wayzata Blvd.:
- Duling Optical
- Palace Restaurant
- Skelgas Division, Skelly Oil – 1953
- John’s No. 1 Son – 1968
5400 Wayzata Blvd:
- Golden Hills Drug and Liquor Store
- Samuel A. Lavine, Prop., 1951 – 1952
- Mel Shink, Prop., 1952 – 1954
- Tom Stember, Charlie Green, 1956 – 1966 – added Liquor Store
- The store’s address was listed as 5300 Wayzata Blvd. in the 1969 Directory “Across from the Ambassador.”
1969: 5300 (across from Ambassador)
- Restaurant MN Network Liq.
- Doug’s Outlet
- Rapid Oil Change – 1986
5404 Wayzata Blvd.: Golden Hills Gambles – 1952
5408:
- Baby and Toyland, featuring Wonderalls – 1951
- Golden Hills Hardware – 1956
- B&F Meats, 1967 – 1971
- My Pi, from at least 1978 to 1982.
5410 Wayzata Blvd.
Current address of entire western tract. This section was built in 1985 and still stands.
- Good Day Café
- Rupert’s Cafe and Nightclub – 1984 – 1989
- Remy’s Nightclub. Although the ad below is labeled 5418, the fact that it was a night club makes it possible that it was a precursor to the Metropolitan.
- Metropolitan
5412 Wayzata Blvd.
- Milk House, 1952 – 1954 (a/k/a 5408)
- Ginger’s Barbeque – 1961
- Pittsburgh Paint and Plate Glass – 1967 – 1968
5418 Wayzata Blvd.:
- National Tea, 1951
- Jolly Troll Smorgasbord – 1967 – 1968
5426 Wayzata Blvd.:
- Possibly Gatten’s Skelly, 1938, listed as Wayzata Blvd. and Turner’s Crossroad.
- Larry’s “”66” Service, Larry Ramacher, Prop. – 1951 – 1968
5426 Wayzata Blvd. is shown on the county map as being on the northeast corner of Turner’s Crossroad and Wayzata Blvd. It is listed as vacant land, owned by Mn/DOT.
Other stores without addresses:
- Jensen’s Super Valu – 1956
- Post Office – 1967
- Arcade TV and Appliance – 1951
Cross street Turners Crossroad
A Northfield Cement Block Co., Ralph Jensen, Prop., was described in the 1947 SLP directory as being located at Turner’s Crossroad and Wayzata Blvd.
This location was mentioned in GVHS 1986 as across Turner’s Crossroad:
- Residence (burned)
- The SLP 1926 plat map shows “Gluek Brewing Co.” in this general location, on the north side of Wayzata Blvd. in a triangular piece of land, just west of Turner’s Crossroad.
- Woodfill Diner (Tom Woodfill): 1934
- Woodfill Filling Station (Abandoned): After WWII to 1986
1200 Turners Crossroad: Jerry Cramer’s Very Complete Super Market, 1951 – 1956 G
5520 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Grant Radio and TV, 1956 – 1958. The 1958 directory described this business as “by McCarthy’s Cafe and Cramer’s Market.” Grant W. Larson, Prop. In a subsequent directory the address was given as 1202 Turner’s Crossroad.
The picture below shows a building on the northwest corner of Wayzata and Turner’s Crossroad – the name seems to say Forrester. Is this 5520? The Boulevard (5530) and McCarthy’s (5600) are seen going west.
5530 Wayzata Blvd. G
- This may have been the second location of Bill’s Place, first located at about 4220 Wayzata Blvd.
- The Boulevard Cafe replaced Bill’s, from at least 1945 to at least 1968. Plat maps show the site being owned by Glueck Brewing in 1950, perhaps through the ’60s.
- The Golden Valley Historical Society’s history book of 1986 said that the former Garcia’s of Scottsdale restaurant and the Boulevard building would be demolished as part of the upgrading of Highway 12.
- The site is now the 16-floor Colonnade office building, built in 1987.
5548 Wayzata Blvd.
- Superior Golf Course, 1949
Cross Street Xenia
5701 Golden Hills Drive: 2000
Everything between Xenia and the Railroad tracks was demolished for the new corporate headquarters of the Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America. The compound consists of two connected buildings and structured parking facility. The complex entails 685,000 sf.
These are the buildings that had been in that area:
5600 Wayzata Blvd.: McCarthy’s – 1942 to 1992 G
- An odd dual partnership is the existence of the H.G. Ormes Construction Equipment Company, listed at 5600 Wayzata Blvd. from 1955 to 1960.
5612 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Sarenpa’s Place Tavern, Fred Sarenpa, Prop. “For That Good Glass of Beer.” 1951 – 1967
- Print Works
5650 Wayzata Blvd.: Animal Hospital G
5720 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Associated Contractors, 1958
- South Side Lumber Co., 1967
5722 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Caswell Engineering, 1958
5728 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- KUXL Radio – 1967
- Tersch Paper Co.
5740 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Mn/DOT District Office
- A.M. Jorgenson Machine Shop
- Contemporary Design
5760 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Willys Motors, Inc., 1956 – 1958
- Lu Mac Real Estate and Insurance
- Car Rental
- Simca Dealer
- Dodge Truck Center
- TBA Marketing
5800 Wayzata Blvd. 1958 G
The indoor Ice Center opened at 5800 Wayzata Blvd. in 1958. Although it was in Golden Valley, it was the site of Park hockey games before the Rec Center was built. The rink measures 185′ x 85′.
At some point it was purchased by Breck School and was called the Breck Ice Arena. It is not open to the public.
In 2001, the Breck School Anderson Ice Arena opened at 4210 Olson Memorial Highway in Golden Valley.
The site is now part of the Allianz Complex at 5701 Golden Hills Drive.
5830 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- John A. Skermo Landscaping, 1956 – 1967
5900 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- DeVac Self-Storing Window Co., Inc., 1952 – 1967
5910 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Martin Antonsen and Sons Inc., 1958
- John K. Cheese, Junior Accountant – 1967
- Rusten Film Associates – Film Production
- Wal-Vac Inc.
5912 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Horton Sales, 1967
5920 Wayzata Blvd.: G
This was a strip of land between Colorado and Xenia, west of the Railroad tracks; fronted 6022 Wayzata Blvd.
- Residence, 1956
- Omni Design Corp. – 1967
- Electro Mechanics Productions
6000 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Suburban Lumber Dealers, 1956 – 1968
6008 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Bury and Carlson Ready Mix/Blacktopping, 1954 – 1968
6010 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Small strip of land on Wayzata Blvd. in front of 6105 Golden Hills Drive.
- Midland Welding – 1967
6012 Wayzata Blvd.: Offices. G
6012 Wayzata Blvd. G
- 1954 – 1960: Thermotech Industries/Cosom (a subsidiary of Thermotech). Clinton V. Carlson, President. This company manufactured plastic sports and play products. Products included Fun Ball, Little Fun Ball, Scoop Ball, Saf-T-Bat, Pee Gee Bee, Bowlite, Safe-T-Mallet. Endorsed by SLP gym teacher and coach Lloyd Holm in an ad in 1959.
The Cosom company was a kind of percolator for new ideas, and inventors would come with their ideas to be evaluated. Their biggest product was plastic practice golf balls. Other businesses listed at the address included:
- Rainbow Plastic Products, 1956 – 1958
- Walter Erskine Machine Co., 1956 – 1958
- Coin Controlled Washers, Inc., 1967
6014 Wayzata Blvd. G
6020-II Wayzata Blvd.: 1995. G
- Christianson & Torgerson, LLP
6030 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Residence, 1951 – 1958
6040 Wayzata Blvd. G
- The Sorgenfree Tavern was run by Martin and Ethel Christensen in 1938. It was a 3.2 beer tavern where the neighbors collected from time to time.
Dan Patch Railroad Tracks
6051 Golden Hills Drive: 1995. Holiday Inn Express
6105 Golden Hills Drive: Built in 1999
6100 Wayzata Blvd.: Hussman’s – 1967 G
6118 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Hammer X-Ray; B.F. Hammer, Prop. Distributor of X-Ray apparatus, film accessories and supplies
- B.F. Hammond Development Co. – 1965
6140 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Crow Foot
6150 Wayzata Blvd: G
- Decca Record Distributing – 1967
- TDC Inc.
6160 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Benson Pump Co.
Cross Street Colorado Ave. So.
6200 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Plywood Minnesota – 1967
6210 Wayzata Blvd.: 1962.
- Business Furniture, Inc. – 1964 – 1967
- Choice Bank. Although the building as it stands in 2024 looks entirely different, tax records still stay it was built in 1962.
THE PYLON
6224 Wayzata Blvd. G
In 1949, North Side St. Louis Park brothers Albert and John Yngve and their friend Bill Nordstrom built the Pylon Drive-In at 6224 Wayzata Blvd. in Golden Valley. When they opened for the season they did it up right, with DJ Sandy Singer coming out to do a remote broadcast, searchlights, etc. The first ad in the St. Louis Park High Echo was on May 23, 1950.
One of the features of the Pylon is that it played rock ‘n’ roll. Al Yngve recalls that the carhops (all the staff was from SLP) would bring in their 45s, starting in about 1955 with “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock,” which played over and over again. The young owners were very protective of their carhops, taking them home at night themselves. By 1957 the Yngves were in into their law careers and they rented out the Pylon for a couple of years. They built a building on the site (6250) in 1966, where Al Yngve had his law practice and later a travel agency.
6250 Wayzata Blvd.: 1966. Built by Albert Yngve
- Yngve, Yngve, & Reirsgord Law Firm, 1967 – 68
- Travel Specialists
6300 Wayzata Blvd.: 1980.
- Super 8 Motel
- Golden Valley Ramada
Cross Street Edgewood Ave. So.
6400 Wayzata Blvd.: 1981
- Ground Round Restaurant
- J.J.’s Clubhouse – Opened in 1992
6440 Wayzata Blvd.: 1980 G
- El Torito – built in 1980
- La Casita
- Billfish Bar & Grill – closed in 2003
- Majors Sports Café – closed in 2010
- Ciento Tequila Bar & Mexican Kitchen
- Osaka Sushi & Hibachi – online reviews 2011-14
- Sushi X Hibachi & Grill
- Six Korean BBQ & KTV
- Thai Paradise Korean BBQ & KTV
6450 Wayzata Blvd.: 2022
- Blaze/Spire Credit Union
6480 Wayzata Blvd.: 1958
This building seems to be two buildings joined together. The photos below are from 2024.
Cross Street Florida Ave. So.
6620 Wayzata Blvd.: 1998. Taco Bell
6660 Wayzata Blvd.: 1973. Burger King
Cross Street Hampshire Ave. So.
6800 Wayzata Blvd. I: 1969.
- Chrysler City. 1969: Chrysler City was the largest car dealership in the U.S.
6800 Wayzata Blvd. II: 2010
- Menard’s. In 2010 the original Menard’s was demolished (and the concrete recycled). The new store opened in 2011.
6850 Wayzata Blvd.: 1986. G
- C.O.M.B. Stood for Close-Out Merchandise Buyers, and its inventory consisted of buyouts, insurance losses, etc. Possibly owned by Irwin Jacobs and Ted Deikel.
6920 Wayzata Blvd.: 1962
- Uncle John’s Pancake House, 1962 – 1968
- Perkins Pancake House
6944 Wayzata Blvd.: 1995
- Car X Tire and Auto
825 Louisiana Ave. So.: Mr. Steak G
901 Louisiana Ave. So.: Originally 6980 Wayzata Blvd. Rebuilt in 1995
- Don’s Texaco, 1967
- Wayzata Skelly
- Mermaid Car Wash
- WaterWerks Car Wash
Cross Street Louisiana Ave. So.
7000 Wayzata Blvd.: Rent-a-Car G
7100 Wayzata Blvd.: Jim Lupient Olds came to this site in 1970 or earlier. It was rebuilt in 1996.
7300-7400 Wayzata Blvd.
7400 was built in 1965.
- Anderson Cadillac moved here from Excelsior Blvd. in 1965 and it operated until 1975.
7300 was built in 2014.
- 2014: Morrie’s Cadillac, Morrie’s Aston Martin
7430 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Residence, 1956
Cross Street Pennsylvania Ave. So.
7500 Wayzata Blvd.: 1950.
- Suburban Sinclair Station, 1968
- Commers Water
7520 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Weavewood Wood Products, 1956 – 1967
7528 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Susie Maintenance Co., owned by Roy A. Soucy. 1951 – 1954
- Abco Concrete Industries, 1956 – 1958
7530 Wayzata Blvd.: G
- Jenson Concrete Products, Inc. Cesspool Blocks, Building Blocks, 1951 – 1952
- Valley Products, 1956
The County shows the next building as having the address of 7550 Wayzata Blvd., built in 1961.
- Suburban Tire/Goodyear – 1962 – 1974. Chuck Meyer, President in 1974. 1962 ad: “Largest New Tire and Tire Recap Center in the Suburbs.”
It has been divided into two storefronts; in 2024 they were:
- 7560 Wayzata Blvd.: Neptune Society
- 7570 Wayzata Blvd.: Twin Cities Diagnostic Center
7600 Wayzata Blvd.: 1960
- Heilicher Record Distributing – 1967
- Advance Music Coin Machine
- Pickwick International
7650 Wayzata Blvd.
- Red Crown Lanes, 1958
- In 1967 it was called Celebrity Lanes. An old bowling alley website says that it closed in 1967.
- Alan Goldman remembers that after the bowling alley closed, it became part of the Heilicher Bros./ J. L. Marsh/Musicland complex next door at 7601. The old bowling alley building was a retail store and All Sound Center repair shop.
- Curiously, there is a building at 7650 Wayzata Blvd., but it isn’t shown on the county’s property tax database map. It is just east of Rhode Island Ave. According to my friends on Facebook, this is the old Red Crown Lanes.
Rhode Island to Hanley Road: Residences
8100 Wayzata Blvd.: 1956
- Hope Chest, Inc. – 1960 – 1961
- Streaten Store Fixtures – 1967
- Shedd Brown Calendars
Cross Street Brookview Parkway
BROOKVIEW GOLF CLUB
200 Brookview Parkway/8200 Wayzata Blvd.: The Superior Golf Club was built in the 1920s by Archie Walker and his father, lumber magnate T.B. Walker. They operated it as a private country club until 1947. Under new ownership the course was named Brookview Golf Club and remained a private 18-hole regulation course, complete with a swimming pool, a clubhouse with a full dining room, a bar room, a pro shop, and locker rooms. In June 1967, Golden Valley voters overwhelmingly passed a $1,600,000 bond issue for the purchase and development of the area. The City of Golden Valley began official operations at Brookview Golf Course in 1969. A renovation costing $1.3 million took place in about 1986. (GVHS 1986)
Cross Street General Mills Blvd.
1 General Mills Blvd./ 9200 Wayzata Blvd.: 1958
Much of this information came from the General Mills History website.
HEADQUARTERS BUILDING
General Mills Headquarters had been located in a 12-Story building at 400 Second Ave. So. in Downtown Minneapolis since 1946. Built in 1885, it was first known as the Hodgson Building, then the General Mills Building, and was renamed the Title Insurance Building when GM moved out.
The company bought a 20-acre site in Golden Valley for construction of a manufacturing plant and offices in February 1955. (Minneapolis Tribune, February 17, 1955) On February 21, the acreage was cited as 40.
On October 16, 1956, Johnson, Drake and Piper were named General Contractors for the Headquarters building, and it was announced that construction would begin immediately. (Minneapolis Tribune, October 16, 1956) On November 2, 1956, the company announced that the planned headquarters building was to be 18 percent larger than originally planned. (Minneapolis Tribune) Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill were the architects-engineers.
A fleet of movers worked 16-hour shifts on Friday, February 28; Saturday, March 1; and Sunday, March 2; to empty the Downtown office. General Mills opened its world headquarters in Golden Valley on March 3, 1958.
CENTRAL RESEARCH LAB
In July 1955, GM put an option on a 118-acre site that was a mile and a half north of the office building site, up Highway 169, for what would become The Central Research Laboratories of General Mills. (Minneapolis Tribune, July 7, 1955) GM’s website described it as “in the middle of several farms and the beginnings of new residential developments.”
GM:
The new research facility almost ended up a half-hour away. The company had purchased land north of Anoka. But that site that ultimately was viewed as a challenge for our research staff because of its distance from Minneapolis and our new headquarters.
So Arthur D. Hyde, vice president for Research, and Warren B. Wade, began searching for a new location. They stumbled onto the available farmland in Golden Valley, which at one time was meant to be home to a Catholic high school (Holy Angels Academy, which ended up choosing a site in Richfield).
The campus-like appearance of the first buildings in the complex was designed by a New York architectural firm, Voorhees, Walker, Smith, Smith & Haines. It had an attractive brick exterior, over long-span structural steel and concrete.
The first group of employees moved in on December 19, 1960. GM President James Ford Bell had only one opportunity to visit the facility, as he died in 1961. Just a few months later, the facility was renamed the James Ford Bell Research Center of General Mills in tribute.
9500 Wayzata Blvd. G
- Mengelkoch Residence, 1934 – 1935
Cross Street Highway 169
The two properties below were where the interchange of 169 and 394 are now:
9604 Wayzata Blvd. belonged to Harold and Fred Johnson in 1955. G
9708 Wayzata Blvd. housed the Peterson Russell Greenhouses in 1955. G
Shelard Park
Thank you to Mr. Sheldon Wert for information for this section.
The name Shelard Park denotes several things: a neighborhood, a subdivision, an office complex, a City park. It is the idiosyncratic piece of land that lies north and west of the intersection of Highways 169 and 394. According to the 2002 Census, Shelard Park occupies 109.6 acres (3 blocks residential). Parks and open space – 6.3 percent; Commercial/industrial -33.9 percent. Shelard Park has 809 housing units (308 condominiums and 501 apartment units). Population – 1,559.
ANNEXATION
The Shelard Park neighborhood was annexed by St. Louis Park from Minnetonka in 1955. It was originally planned to be a shopping center, but plans fell through. The force behind the original annexation was Wallace E. Freeman, whose family owned Freeman’s Department Store at 2700 E. Lake Street from 1917 to 1975. At the time (in the 1950s), Freeman owned just a small part of the parcel, but apparently bought up the rest, as he hired a contract farmer to grow corn on 80-90 acres during the ’60s.
Shelard is a difficult area to describe, because it is basically a series of buildings that are inside a loop consisting of Ford Road and Shelard Parkway. It has also changed over the years – even the map below from 2016 has been reconfigured recently.
SHELARD PARK BUSINESS COMPLEX
The land for the Shelard Park office building project was purchased from the Freemans by the Shelard Development Co., named for partners Sheldon Wert and Richard Lurie. The company put in the infrastructure and submitted the plat for Shelard Park subdivision, which was filed on October 9, 1969. The Shelard Development company then sold the land to four different entities that would built the office towers. Sheldon Wert was also part of those companies, but eventually parted ways with Richard Lurie. Robert Liesen, an associate of Lurie’s, participated for a few years but had no equity in the company. The project was part of a Planned Unit Development (PUD), and the developers worked closely with the City to define the plan, which changed during the process. Mr. Wert said that he never missed a City Council meeting in ten years, and had an especially good relationship with City planner Bill Thibault. One aspect of the plan that changed during the process was a 27-story apartment building with 1,500 apartments!
The four-building office complex was built between 1970 and 1982. The architect for all of the office buildings was James M. Cooperman and Associates. All of the buildings and ramps are built with pilings down to bedrock.
The complex, by then called the Metropoint, The Center For Business, was purchased by BPG Properties, Ltd. in 2007 for $86 million.
In 2012 the complex (by then called Metropoint) was owned by BPG Properties, Ltd. and managed by Cushman & Wakefield. The following are the individual buildings of the complex, identified as they are on the management company’s web site.
BUILDING 400 (400 Highway 169 South): The first component of the complex was the 8-story Shelard Park Office Building, opened on February 1, 1971. It was built by the Shelard Development Co. and sold to the Equitable Life Insurance Co. The Shelard National Bank was located on the first floor of this building.
BUILDING 600 (600 Highway 169 South): First called Shelard Tower, this building of 21 stories reached its full height in November 1974, to be occupied in October 1975. The building cost $17 million. The complex also includes a 1500-stall, 5-story parking ramp, which may have been the first suburban parking ramp built in Minnesota. The building was built by the Shelard Development Co. and sold to the Equitable Life Insurance Co.
THEATER
The General Cinemas Shelard Park movie theater was attached to the lobby of the Tower and extended into the parking ramp. In 1975 a fire ripped through the theater, causing $100,000 in damage. Fire departments from Golden Valley and Edina were called in. The damage was repaired quickly, for in the same year, the three screen theater opened with “Breakout,” “Young Frankenstein,” and “Shampoo.” The theater eventually expanded to five screens; General Manager was Scott Denfield. The theater operated until September 2000. The current Willow Creek 12 Theater is located at 9900 Shelard Parkway in Plymouth. The complex would eventually encompass 109.6 acres when completed in 1986.
BUILDING 300 (300 Highway 169 South): This 8-story office building was completed in 1979. It was built by the Shelard Development Co. and sold to the Equitable Life Insurance Co.
BUILDING 435 (435 Ford Road): This 10-story office building was completed in 1982. Its legal address is 400 Ford Road. Unlike the others, this building was specifically built for the Equitable Life Insurance Co.
9808 Wayzata Blvd.
- This house had been moved in from Minnetonka Blvd. by Handley M. Cornish in 1955.
- In December 1959, Ruth A. Cornish received a permit to mine clay and gravel at this address.
- In 1960 it was a house with an animal pen in the back.
- By 1969 the house had been “Tudorized.”
- In 1976 owner George C. Gubbins, Jr. sold it to Restaurants No Limit, which used it as an office until 1984.
- By 2007 the house had been torn down, except for the garage, which was in the corner of what was Santorini’s parking lot.
9808 and 9920 were combined to build a new 9920.
9920 Wayzata Blvd. has changed hands several times.
- Merry Hill Kennel: 1953. The Merry Hill Kennel was run by the DeMuth family. The DeMuths were village dog catchers for a time.
- The Amalgamated: 1973
With the development of Shelard Park, Restaurants No Limit broke ground for the Amalgamated Eating and Drinking Co. in August 1973. Restaurants No Limit was owned by Bill Naegele, son of Robert O. Naegele, Sr. of Naegele Outdoor Advertising Co. The father started the restaurant business when he bought Lord Fletcher’s. Son Bill Naegele took over that restaurant and eventually expanded to own Prachna on Main and Herman’s 1890 in SE Minneapolis; Lord Fletchers, the Beanery Cafe, and B. Flanagan’s Bar in Spring Park; D.B. Searle’s in St. Cloud; and Forepaugh’s in St. Paul.
Naegele made great efforts to make the mining-themed restaurant authentic – he took a trip to Tower Soudan, in mining country, where he met a miner named Skybo Thomas. Thomas put him in touch with other miners, and Naegle got ideas for menu items, took photos, and obtained some ore cars and track. He also bought out the artifacts of a gold mining museum in South Dakota, including a swing seat used to do maintenance work at Mount Rushmore. One of the highlights of the Amalgamated was the “elevator” door where a guest would walk in and the walls would shake and pulleys move as if it was a real elevator. The door would then open on the other side into the restaurant. In 1978 it was apparently the Amalgamated Underground, with “Appropriate Entertainment” (this was in a High School program). “Home of the Famous Fried Ice Cream.” The Amalgamated operated until 1979.
- Jose’s: 1980
In 1980, Naegele redecorated the inside of the Amalgamated and made it into a Mexican restaurant called Jose’s. The idea came when Chi Chi’s approached him about opening one of their restaurants at the site.
- Naegele’s: 1983
An article in the St. Louis Park Sailor on January 24, 1983, showed a picture of the building with a huge billboard in front of it that said “Man cannot live by tortilla alone! Naegele’s” The caption reads: “After many decades of advertising other companies throughout the Twin Cities – and the nation – with the familiar Naegele logo at the bottom in small letters, the Naegele name, itself, is going up now in a big way. Jose’s, which has been a Naegele Mexican restaurant on Wayzata Boulevard, has been remodeled and redesigned and just opened with a completely new personality. The main body of the restaurant is a toast to the billboard business with an important collection of memorabilia – as well as murals duplicating famous billboards of the past – decorating the walls. Some Mexican cuisine will be retained in the three different areas in the restaurant but more American favorite dishes will be used as suggested by the billboard outside the restaurant. Naegele’s is also the first restaurant in the metro area to introduce a favorite cooking method of the Southwest – cooking over mesquite which imparts a unique flavor to fish and meat.”
There were three distinct areas in the restaurant: The Roadhouse had a 1930s theme, with Naegele Outdoor Advertising memorabilia as decor. The Southwest Grill featured food grilled over mesquite and featured harp music. The Burma Shave bar was billed as “an evening gathering spot where you can work up a lather and come out smooth. .. designed to the theme of the thirties and the road, offers dancing, chancing, beverages and food to the wee small hours.” Burma Shave had a ’50s theme with waitresses on roller skates. The restaurant was hurt by the construction of I-394 – whereas it had been easily accessible from Highway 12, now it could be seen from the freeway but patrons really had to know how to get there from the correct exit.
- Edward’s
An undated matchbook tells us that at one time it was Edward’s Restaurant and Bakery. Edward was Edward Christie.
- Polo
Polo was run by Chris Coyer. At one time it was Italian and then a sports bar. During the construction of I-394 they ran into financial difficulty and started overcharging peoples’ credit cards, leading to a conviction for fraud. One patron reports that he was billed $25 (the correct amount) on his credit card the night of his visit, but when he got his bill there was an additional charge of $2,500 the next day! He got it reversed, but Polo was in a lot of trouble.
- Santorini: 1995
The building became the Santorini Taverna and Grill, co-founded by Tony and Bill Nicklow, in April 1995. A private preview cocktail party and dinner was thrown on April 25; here is the front of the invitation:
The Nicklows first rented the building from Naegele and then bought it 2007 for $1.8 million.
Mn/DOT condemned some of the property in June 2003. Santorini moved to Eden Prairie in 2009 and the building stood empty for years. The building was severely vandalized and the owners and the city went through some legal wrangling before the Nicklows had it demolished on January 23, 2013.
Nicklow marked the demolition with a toast of Greek ouzo and a party bus.
- Mera Apartments: 2022
In 2022, the property (9808 and 9920 Wayzata Blvd.) became the Mera Apartments, with the address 9920 Wayzata Blvd. It featured six stories and 223 units.
1155 Ford Road: 2007
The Court House Racquetball and Handball Club opened on the east side of Ford Road in December 1972. It was owned by Richard Lurie, who was a financial advisor to many of the area’s top athletes. An ad in the St. Louis Park Sun listed the club’s co-owner/operators:
- Bill Goldsworthy
- Lou Nanne
- Barry Gibbs
- Murray Oliver
- Jerry Burns
- Bud Grant
- Jim Finks
- Bill Brown
- Dave Osborn
- John Michaels
- Jim Kaat
- Rich Reese
- Paul Giel
- Bus Mertes
Facilities included 8 courts (one glass exhibition court), a nursery, walk-in whirlpool, sauna and lounge. The ad also announced a National Racquetball Invitational Singles Tournament, featuring the Nation’s Top 16 players.
- 2007: Condos
9950 Wayzata Blvd.: 1979
- October 1981: Benjamin’s Restaurant and Bakery (with another location at 13050 Aldrich Ave. So. in Burnsville).
- In 2007 it was (one of) Denny Hecker’s offices.
- In 2011 it was purchased by Martha O’Hara Interiors.
500 Ford Road: Commercial, 1982
460 Ford Road: Condo, 2005
462 Ford Road: Condo, 2011
464 Ford Road: Condo, 2014
450 Ford Road: Condo, 1972
400 Ford Road: Apartments, 1971
300 Ford Road: Condo, 1980
255 Shelard Parkway: Apartments, 1986
301 Shelard Parkway: Apartments, 1971
350 Shelard Parkway: Condo, 1980 (West of Shelard Parkway)
375-491 Shelard Parkway: Condo, 1982
9970 Wayzata Blvd.: 1986
- The Minneapolis Marriott West Hotel has 7 floors, 171 rooms, and 24 suites.
1000 Shelard Parkway: 1985
This is a six floor office building called Superior Plaza, home to Bell Mortgage “Since 1880.” David C. Bell was active in the formation of several companies in Minneapolis. A 1956 story says that the company was wholly owned by its employees. At that time company offices were at 501 Second Ave. So.; downtown; and 15906 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka.
