Claude Sparks in this undated photo at 2021 Broadway….when a day’s pay was just $2.95! Notice the unpainted knotty pine walls and the potato chips instead of French fries. Believe it or not, TT didn’t serve French fries until 1983!
Today is National French Fry Day! We like ’em thin and crispy here at Town Topic!
Our final stop at Minneapolis diners and burger joints is The 5-8 Club. In 1928, at the height of Prohibition, the 5-8 Club opened amid the high living flapper era operating as a “speakeasy” serving beer and liquor illegally, along with a light food menu. “Speakeasies” got their name because those wishing to enter were advised to knock softly at the door and speak quietly (easy) to the doorkeeper so that no law enforcement authorities could overhear their conversation.
The 5-8 Club now is best known for it’s version of the Juicy Lucy. Check it out next time you’re in MNLPS and see how you think it compares to the Jucy Lucy at Matt’s Bar! www.5-8club.com
We hope you enjoyed our tour of Minneapolis diner and burger joints this week – we sure did!
Continuing our visits to burger joints and diners in Minneapolis. We stopped at Band Box Diner for an AWESOME breakfast. Band Box Diner is modeled after White Castle, and has many similarities to Town Topic. Band Box opened in 1939, eventually growing to 15 diners in MNPLS by 1950. In 1953 the chain was sold, and by 1972 this location was the only one that remained. It was purchased in 1998, and the building has since been renovated and expanded.
Would love to return here and try their burgers! Visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bandboxeats
Today is “The Real Thing Day”, the day Coke Classic debuted. We always have ice-cold Coke at TT on crushed ice. Great on a hot summer day!
Stopped by Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis last week, home of the Jucy Lucy burger. AMAZING. Founder Matt Bristol says the Jucy Lucy was created when a local customer asked for two hamburger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle. Upon biting into this new, molten hot burger, he exclaimed “That’s one juicy Lucy!”, and a legend was born. Customer demand grew so quickly, they forgot to add the “i” and the misspelled “Jucy Lucy” has now become a local culinary hero.
Check it out next time you’re in MNLPS! www.mattsbar.com
Just got back from a family vacation to Minneapolis. While we were there we stopped in at 4 of the top diners/burger places. We’ll give a shout out to each one over the next 4 days.
First up is Mickey’s Diner, an art deco-styled, dining car restaurant located in St. Paul. It was prefabricated in 1937 by the Jerry O’Mahony Diner Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey; shipped to Saint Paul by rail; and installed just before World War II. Measuring just 50 feet long by 10 feet wide, the 24-hour diner has operated non-stop since it first opened.
Grilled cheese/chili combo was awesome. Such a cool place with so much history! Stop by if you’re ever in St. Paul. www.mickeysdiningcar.com
Happy 4th of July, everyone. God bless the U.S.A.!
Today is National Eat Beans Day – really, it is! This chili is calling your name!
July is National Hot Dog Month! Celebrate at Town Topic with a loaded chili cheese dog – don’t forget the onions and jalapeños. Whew!