Today's teaser for the upcoming 1960s Survey project - an enormous then-and-now look at downtown Minneapolis, seen through the archives of the Strib - features this unremarkable structure:
Recognize the location? It's a building no one bothered to pretend was historic. Just another 1920s commercial structure, this time on the end of the Nicollet Mall, between 11th and 10th. I interviewed someone on the 2nd floor in the late 80s; it was a big seamstress shop, the sort of quasi-light-industrial spaces that once were common downtown. Some details:
Gigi's Cafe. There's a place that goes by the same name in Uptown today; wonder if there's any possible connection. I called Gigi's, and they said the name came from the owner's grandmother. Did she run a cafe in 1960? "Probably just a co-inky-dink," said the manager.
Up the block: love that Brideswear typeface.
The upper floors have signs for an "Airline School" - could be a stewardess school, perhaps? Gager's was a craft store with a few outlets, if I recall correctly.
The site today: much better.
