Harold Grossman was a Lake Street advocate

The Twin Cities car dealer established the Greater Lake Street Council to fight for area businesses during development projects and during construction of I-36W.

By Brad Stokman, Star Tribune

Last update: March 1, 2007 - 7:07 PM

Harold Grossman, former owner of Grossman Chevrolet and an advocate for Lake Street businesses, died Monday in Hopkins from complications of Alzheimer's disease.

The longtime Minneapolis and Edina resident was 90.

When he was just a kid, Grossman began working at the family-owned dealership founded in 1919 by his father, L.S. Grossman. The business, now in Burnsville, was originally at 13th Avenue S. and E. Lake Street in Minneapolis.

Harold Grossman became part-owner in 1948, then owner in 1967.

In the mid-1960s, he co-founded and served as president of the Greater Lake Street Council. He established the council in part to fight for redevelopment of the avenue and for a Lake Street ramp to the soon-to-be completed Interstate Hwy. 35W.

"Without redevelopment and access to Interstate 35W," Grossman said in 1967, "Lake Street's economic importance would continue to decline because of competition from Nicollet Mall and suburban shopping centers." The council's request failed, as a ramp was built at E. 31st Street.

"He was very determined to fix the Lake Street decline," said his son Mike Grossman of Lakeville. "He had a very strong moral compass and wanted to do the right thing and maintain the street."

Grossman also co-founded the Powderhorn Development Corporation, an agency formed in 1970 to seek ways to restore the economic health of Lake Street.

In 1978 Grossman moved the business to the suburbs because of declining sales. And in 1985 he sold the business completely to his son Mike.

Harold served as president of both the Minnesota and Minneapolis Automobile Dealer Associations in the late 1960s.

He owned Great American Finance and Grossman Insurance Agency. He also founded and operated Harold Auto Supply, an auto parts store; Allied Leasing Co., an auto and equipment leasing company, and Lake Street Pure Oil Co., a gas station located across from the dealership.

Grossman enjoyed downhill skiing and served as a ski instructor at Buck Hill in Burnsville in the 1960s and '70s. He "got a big kick out of teaching others to ski," said Stuart Campbell, a Buck Hill board member. "He was very persistent and a very good instructor. He really enjoyed the sport of skiing and enjoyed teaching."

Grossman was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Mary, in 1995.

Besides his son Mike of Lakeville, he is survived by another son, Bob Grossman of Edina; a daughter, Ginny Grossman of Edina; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and brothers Norman Grossman of Edina, Burton Grossman of Minneapolis and Allen Grossman of Boston.

Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel, W. 50th St. and Hwy. 100, Edina.

Brad Stokman • bstokman@startribune.com

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