On a lighter note. I am only in my 30's but remember what was on Franklin
Ave (80's and 90's) from 35 to Hiawatha, then as opposed to now. Red Robin
Liquor Store, Bill Blass, Red Owl Grocery Store, the Porno theater, Red &
White Taxi Native American Center, Models Cities Clinic, Franklin
Library..etc. What have I missed?
Oh god, some of the most heinous bars ever to exist in the city. Next to the Bill Bliss liquor store was a joint called Aslessens (sp?). I lived across the street in the late sixties. If you were still awake at 1:00 a.m. entertainment was provided nightly when the place emptied into their parking lot and nearby streets. Virtually every single night there were mass fights.Looked like something out of fifties tv westerns. I mean---Every Night! It later became, I think, the Polar Bear Lounge and the clientele changed from white to Indian; and that's all that changed. Same damn deal every night only now it looked like a miscast fifties tv western.
Joints like this lined the Ave. After Kaplan's and the drug store burned things just got worse. There were virtually no legitimate businesses left. This was well before gangs and drugs but it was pretty bleak. My duplex apt. cost $60 a month so there wre some redeeming factors.
There's been a sea change in these last ten years. Franklin looks the best it has in my lifetime and I'm a tad older than Mr. Cook
Jon Gorder
Loring Park.
