Nelson Brothers Grocery Building, 1020 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Nelson Brothers Grocers Building
Nelson Bros. Grocery as it appeared when it first opened at 1020 Payne Ave. in 1908
50th Anniversary Celebration, 1953. Proprietor David Nelson holds a copy of the first photograph ever taken of Nelson Bros. Grocers.
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
Current Function:	Retail print shop
Material of Exterior Wall Covering:	Brick
First Owner:	Arthur, Albert and David Nelson

Payne-Phalen Saint Paul Ramsey County

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Nelson Brothers Grocery Building, 1020 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
(44.971927° N, 93.073261° W)

History

This building located is located on Payne Avenue, an historic St. Paul Scandinavian retail district. It housed the Nelson Brothers' family grocery store from 1908 - 1970. It was subsequently converted to a VFW post and printing 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 first store at 999 Payne Ave. in 1903, at age 19. The store was moved to its final location, a brand new building across the street at 1020 Payne Ave., in 1908.

Photo Gallery

• Gallery of Photos
• 

  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 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.

• 

  Interior scene, the first photograph ever taken of the original Nelson Brothers Grocers store at 999 Payne Ave, probably taken during the store opening in 1903. Arthur appears at right.

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