The Aster Cafe in Minneapolis, Minnesota is a delightful eatery that should not be missed. Located along Main Street on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, it offers a wonderful combination of delicious food and lovely scenery that make for a memorable dining experience. And if that’s not enough to convince you to visit, perhaps knowing the building has incredible historical significance could be the cherry on top that gets you to try the Aster Cafe.
The city of Minneapolis is a treasure trove for anyone wanting to dive into America’s industrial history.
Having the distinction of leading the nation in both lumber and flour production from the 1800s into the early 1900s, the city is full of the beginnings of some of America’s greatest industrial giants. From General Mills to the Pillsbury Company, many recognizable household names have their beginnings in this city.
Being one of the nation’s leaders in lumber production, it comes as no surprise that most of the early buildings in the area were wooden structures.
But then along came two brothers, Rufus P. and Moses P. Upton, and they decided to break from the norm. They hired a local architect, Benjamin O. Cutter, to help them design and build the Upton Building.
Advertisement
Sitting along the Ox Cart Trail, it seemed to be an excellent place for their hardware store, with the shop on the bottom and their offices above.
Eventually, the brothers moved their business across the river, though the structure retained the name Upton Block. It became the headquarters for the Minnesota Republican newspaper until it was bought in 1879 by the Union Iron Works. They turned it into a warehouse where they created machinery for the nearby flour mills being built in preparation for Minneapolis’ transformation into the national leader of flour production.
Advertisement
Time moves on, and sometime in the 1930s the building began a long stint as just another abandoned warehouse until the area was revitalized in 1985.
The Aster Cafe is now the oldest masonry building in Minneapolis, as the others built at that time have been demolished to make way for modern progress or fell apart.
Masonry deteriorate over time, especially the mortar that holds the structure together. It takes a lot of time and effort to restore these old structures, but the owners of the Aster Cafe knew it would be worth it.
Today, the Aster Cafe is not only the oldest example of what mid-19th century industrial buildings looked like, but the classic look helps transport customers to an idealized past.
That ideology is extended to the interior, where modern amenities are cleverly disguised behind retro wood and iron styling.
The candles used to light dinner tables add a mystical, romantic flare, and diners can enjoy the Minneapolis skyline across the Mississippi river while they sit and eat on the European patio.
Aster Cafe's weekend brunch is as scrumptious as they come, and salads, flatbreads, and more all shine on the lunch menu. No matter what you order, your taste buds will be satisfied.
Aster Cafe features a bar that serves everything from craft beers and cocktails to a variety of wines, and live music can be enjoyed on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. And if you think the building would be a fantastic backdrop for your wedding or other event, they also have gorgeous spaces for that.
The Aster Cafe is open every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Have you visited the Saint Anthony Main area and enjoyed the Aster Cafe’s mix of classic style and fresh food? We would love to hear about your experience in the comments.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
