Past Businesses - 1960's

Buttrey’s Ladies Wear – Downtown Minot on main Street…… Grand Photography Studio – 108 west Central Avenue ……  Coast to Coast Store – 14 First Avenue SW. Coast to Coast started in business in 1957.  They were home owned and home operated. The owner of the Minot store was Glenn Simard. Coast to Coast carried items for the farm, sportsman, and the car. ….  Hoiland’s Floor Service – Odin Hoiland was the manager and owner. Hoiland’s Floor Service was located on Highway 2 East and specialized in ceramic and plastic wall tile, Armstrong Linoleum, and Formica Counter tops.. They did both commercial and residential installations. Below is a picture of Main Street looking south in the 1950's

Gust's Mobil

Gust’s Service Station – Gusts Super Service was located on the corner of Main Street and 4^th Avenue (now Burdick Expressway), next to the Empire Theater. Gust’s was a Mobil Station selling Mobilgas, mobilubrication, and Mobil Permazone Antifreeze.  They were old fashioned about courtesy and the “old Fashioned” service that earned service stations their name. Note in the picture below from the 1940's, the Empire Theater was not yet built as that happened in 1952. There was a miniature golf course in the Empire Theater lot but I have not been able to find out the name of it or any information about it, although I do have a picture of it

Strauss Brothers Jewelers

 Strauss Brothers Jewelers had its beginning in 1929. The first location was an upstairs room in the First Avenue Building. From there they moved to a downstairs location on East Central Avenue. In 1937 Strauss Bros. moved to the Leland Hotel Building until they finally they moved to 19 South Main Street. Straus Bros. featured Keepsake Diamonds and Longine Watches. Also in the store were Bulova watches, Wedgewood China, Heirloom and International Sterling Silver and more.

Past Businesses - 1960's #3

 Olson’s Men’s Store (The Better Clothiers) -  at one time known as Borene’s Men’s Store was Minot’s oldest men’s clothing store beginning business in 1916. Olson’s featured Hart Schaffner & Marx, Stetson Hats, Arrow Shirts and Florsheim Shoes…… Ann’s Fashions – “Women’s fashions for the young at heart”. Started in 1957 Ann’s was located at 117 South main Street. ….. Big Red Furniture Warehouse – Located 2 blocks east of the Clarence Parker Hotel on Third Street SE by the railroad tracks. Big Red Furniture featured warehouse style selling which they claimed eliminated the middle man and saved the consumer money.

Gambles

Gambles – There was a Gambles Store in Minot…. Not sure at this time where….. The first Gambles Store opened in St Cloud, Minnesota in 1925. Gamble Skogmo incorporated in 1928… The Minot Gambles Store opened in 1927.  At the time of Minot 75^th Anniversary in 1961 there were 2,367 Gambles-Skogmo associated retail outlets. The early stores catered to the Ford Model “T” owners, selling them parts to keep their automobiles running. Eventually they expanded into hardware, paint, tool and other items associated with a full-line hardware store. The Gambles store was the predessor to Minot’s Tempo Store in Arrowhead shopping Center

Past Businesses - 1960's #2

 The Bon Ton Shop – There motto was “Smart Clothes for Better Dressed Women”. The Bon Ton Shop opened in 1942 on Minot’s Main Street. They also prided themselves as being “Minot’s Smart Shop for Correct and Becoming Fashions” ….. Brannan Drapery Studio – Owned and operated by Leo Brannan they provided home fashion service to the area since 1957. Brannan’s was located at 6 North Main… phone number Temple 6-5233……Toivo’s Jewelry – in 1961 they were located one block north of  the Post Office at that time (now the Federal Building in Downtown Minot. They specialized in jewelry and watch repair. 1 week service guaranteed…. Short jobs the same day. Toivo’s also sold Black Hills Gold Jewelry.

Past Businesses - 1960's

Past Businesses – 1961 – A few business ads that I came across from the 1961 newspaper. --- Mellberg’s Jewelry and Pawn Shop  Located at 114 ½ West Central Avenue. …  Do – It – Yourself Auto Repair…. Located on Highway 83 south in 1961…. Allowed people to rent a space and equipment if needed to do their own car repair. The mechanics were there to offer advice if needed. They were open evenings also…… King Koin Launderette – located at 514 3^rd Street NE . They were open 24 hours and catered to both men and women. …. Pierce Trailer Sales – Highway 83 South. Minot oldest dealer at the time for mobile homes, founded in 1939. Wally Iverson was the manager in1961 and Pierce featured Gold Seal mobile Homes …..