City Of Fridley history

The Minnesota State legislature named the city after Abram in 1879, and Fridley became an established settlement.

However, this did not happen until 1951, when the community of Fridley started to operate as a Council-Manager form of government, ending two years of litigation.

The liquor stores were an important factor in helping to finance the Village operations, and more revenue was provided by the liquor stores than was collected from taxes in 1954.

In 1958, when Joseph “Ricky” Rickenbach heard of the exciting new chain of Embers growing like gangbusters in Minnesota, he quit his job at the cough drop factory in Reading, Pennsylvania, and landed a job as a janitor at the Highland Embers.

BoB’s Produce Ranch opened in the spring 1959 as an open-air roadside fruit and vegetable market.

What was the name of the Men’s store- (shirts, slacks, sweaters, sport coats) in Holly Center in the 1960’s? Do you have pictures of Holly Center in the 1960’s?

Bill Beery served Bremer Bank in Marshall and Watertown, Minnesota until moving to Fridley to co-found the Fridley State Bank with over one hundred Community shareholders in December of 1962.

DVDs of the 50th Anniversary of the 1965 Tornadoes Program will be available at the Fridley History Center as of Saturday, May 23rd…..$10……and, if need to be mailed $15.

The Holiday Village North opened in 1966, and was the second Holiday store opened by Art and Al Erickson.

Anoka County purchased the building in 1967 as an unoccupied building, and the Anoka County Historical Society used it as a house museum.

In 1970, Bob sold the garden center portion of BoB’s Produce Ranch to the Green Giant Co., which was later sold to Frank’s Nursery.

After the Northtown Cub Foods opened in 1983 the Fridley one closed.

In 1989, that was remodeled and renamed the Fridley Municipal Center.

In May 1993, BoB’s Produce Ranch had a Grand Opening of its newly remodeled store.

He was president of the Fridley bank until it was sold to Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo) in October 1995.

Applebaum then sold it to Cub Foods in 1998.

In 2013, staff identified a trend of increased costs for repair and replacement projects needed to keep the buildings housing Police, Fire, City Hall and Public Works viable.

Glad you found us David – share this hidden gem of a little museum with your friends and come and join us for some of our great 2015 community events.