Nelson Brothers Grocery Building, 1020 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
From Placeography
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Nelson Brothers Grocers Building | |
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| Address: | 1020 Payne Avenue |
| Neighborhood/s: | Payne-Phalen, Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| City/locality- State/province | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| County- State/province: | Ramsey County, Minnesota |
| State/province: | Minnesota |
| Country: | United States |
| Year built: | c 1900 |
| Primary Style: | Commercial |
| Historic Function: | Other |
| Historic Function: | Retail Grocery |
| Other Historic Function: | Retail Grocery |
| Current Function: | VFW Postwarning.png"VFW Post" is not in the list of possible values (House/single dwelling or duplex, Airport terminal, Apartments/condominiums, Auditorium/music facility, Bank/financial institution, Barn/agricultural building, Business, Capitol , City hall/town hall/, Civic, Clinic/medical office, Clubhouse, College/university, Correctional facility, Courthouse, Dancehall/reception area, Department store, Drive-in restaurant or business, Energy facility, Fire/police station, Fortification, Gas/filling station, Government office, Grain elevator, Hospital, Hotel/motel, Institutional housing, Library, Manufacturing facility, Meeting hall, Military facility, Mortuary/funeral home, Multiple dwelling, Museum, Office, Organizational, Park building, Post office, Public works, Rail-related, including depots, Ranger station, Religious/Place of worship, Religious facility, other, Resort/spa, Restaurant, Sanitarium, School, Shopping center/mall/strip mall, Secondary building/sheds, privies, Sports facility/stadium, Theater/concert hall, Warehouse/storage, Other) for this property. |
| Current Function: | Retail print shop |
| Other Current Function: | Retail print shop |
| Material of Exterior Wall Covering: | Brick |
| First Owner: | Arthur, Albert and David Nelson |
(44.971927,-93.073261warning.png"44.971927.-93.073261" is not a number. )
Contents |
History
This building, located on Payne Avenue, an historic St. Paul Scandinavian retail district, housed the Nelson Brothers family grocery store from 1903 - 1970. It was subsequently converted to a VFW post and print shop.
Nelson Brothers Grocers was a fixture in the Payne Avenue Scandinavian community. It was owned and operated continuously by the Nelson family for 67 years, and employed several family members throughout its history. Siblings Arthur Nelson, Albert Nelson, David Nelson, Minnie Nelson and Alma Nelson were first generation Americans, born of Swedish immigrants, and were heavily involved in St. Paul's Payne-Phalen Swedish community throughout their lifetime. Arthur opened the store in 1903 at age 19.
Memories and stories
Photo Gallery
 The exterior of Nelson Brothers Grocers as it appeared around the time the store was opened. Arthur appears at center, standing near the front door. |
 Interior scene, the first photograph ever taken of Nelson Brothers Grocers at the store opening in 1903. Arthur appears at right. |
 Interior of Nelson Brothers Grocers in 1910. Arthur Nelson appears at left, Alma appears at center in a white dress. |
 Exterior of Nelson Brothers Grocers in 1920. Nice watermelons! |
Date: April 29, 1953. Nelson Brothers Grocers' 50th Anniversary Celebration. David Nelson, longtime proprietor of Nelson Brothers Grocers at 1020 Payne Ave., holds the first photo ever taken (see above) of his family's grocery store. |
 Exterior of Nelson Bros. Grocers, 1020 Payne Ave., St. Paul, in 1965. The last Swedish family-owned grocery store on Payne Ave. would finally close 5 years later. |
 Minnie, Alma and David Nelson in 1970, at the closing of their family grocery store. David is handing over the key to the building to a gentleman from the VFW post next door. The VFW organization bought 1020 Payne Ave. from the Nelsons and still owns the building as of this writing (July 2008). |
 1020 Payne Avenue, St. Paul, MN as it appears in 2008. |
Related Links
Foresters Hall, 876 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
960 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Payne Avenue State Bank, 961-963 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
983 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
G. A. Johnson Building, 987-989 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
991-993 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
