Kay   down the street -- 2001-03-01

Ralph and Jerrys also has new occupants. I'm very sad they closed the place down... Santana's is nice enough, but I miss being able to get the MN Daily, City Pages, and a SoBe there after work!!

ryan   Mpls. -- 2004-01-27

Rumor has it that Bob Dylan lived in one of the sets of apartments across from this location. I drove by the other day and if I remember correctly, the church was torn down as well...

Suzanne   Portland, OR -- 2005-02-08

This place used to make the bomb subs.

Candi   Minnesota -- 2005-05-26

I used to work there. Bob apparently lived in the apartment right next to the milk sign and also in the middle brownstone across the street.
My tenure at R&J's was one of the best times in my life. Granted, I was poor, intoxicated and pissed at the establishment, but, hey, that's what living in a subversive college community was all about.
Thanks to Rick for giving us freaks a place to hang out, eat and make some friends, music and money...

John G   Plymouth, MN -- 2005-06-03

This building was Bassett's Drug Store in the '30s and '40s. Dr. Halvorson, a dentist, had his office upstairs. The church is St Andrews Presbyterian, and had a two-lane bowling alley in the basement. Pins were set by hand. I delivered papers in the area and would have a fountain lemon coke at Bassetts after my route. Birchwood Apartments were across the street. I attended Marcy school on 7th St. and 11th Avenue K-6, then went to Marshall.

afh3   Woodbury, MN -- 2005-08-10

If this picture had been taken from 10' further to the left, you could see the old apartment I lived in circa 1978 or so.
R&J's was an institution even back then. (Wiping tear from eye.)

Josh G   Austin, TX -- 2005-12-11

I worked the 11-7am shift at R and Js for 2 years. Despite getting robbed once at knifepoint, I had a total blast working there. Fun times indeed!

Craig   Cincinnati -- 2006-10-28

Ralph & Jerry's is an institution. I lived near here in 1967-68. We depended heavily on it for everything from cigarettes to rotiserrie chicken.

Mike   Oregon -- 2007-08-03

"Eat and Spend Money."
That's the motto printed on the T-shirt I bought there in 85/86.
The shirt eventually fell to pieces.
Thanks for the pictures of the neighborhood. They're priceless.

Lounger   Pittsburgh, PA -- 2007-08-08

In the '70s the matchbook read: "Culture Center...Groceries Too." Just to fool ya, it also had a black line printed at the bottom the matchbook opposite the real striking surface. I'm embarrassed to tell you how many times I tried to light a match on that dang stripe. Still it was a more reliable matchbook than the King Edward Cigarallo cheapies they gave out at the Valli.

JM   Golden Valley -- 2007-11-19

I remember I met an actor girl (Pam?) around 1969 and got up the nerve to ask her out. She lived above R&J's and when I went to pick her up she said come on in. Her roommates were walking around topless and acted like this was totally normal. I tried not to stare. The date went bad when she told me her "boyfriend " was coming with us. That is something I hadn't thought about in a VERY long time. I was incredibly naive by any contemporary standard.

Greybeard   Minneapolis -- 2008-01-21

More info on the church can be found in comments under photo #35 in this series.

Greybeard   Minneapolis -- 2008-01-21

The church was indeed torn down. If I remember news reports correctly, its north wall developed hazardous structural problems and it was too expensive to repair. The last time I drove by, there was some sort of commemorative plaque on the former church site. On that day, 12/28/2007, the Santana Foods that took over Ralph & Jerry's space had closed, too. The building was posted for lease. The other Santana Foods at 601 University Ave. S.E. was still open.

MARK   SCOTTSDALE -- 2008-05-16

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE GREAT CALENDARS THEY HAD IN 1969 AND 1970? I'D LOVE TO GET MY HANDS ON ONE

josh s   richfield -- 2008-05-20

my dad was ralph of ralph and jerry's
i wish i could've been around to see that place, i've heard so many stories