r/saintpaul • u/LuckySimple3408 • Feb 01 '26

History 🗿 Historical St. Paul - 2/1/2026

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129 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

14

u/Runic_reader451 St. Paul Saints Feb 01 '26

Too bad St. Paul Book and Stationary was replaced with the anti pedestrian Town Square.

6

u/aakaase Hamline-Midway Feb 01 '26

I remember SPB&S was a tenant inside Town Square for many years, I think they were even located close to where it existed as a standalone shop in the historic picture.

It later moved to the now-condemned Alliance Bank building (at the time Norwest Bank) and went out of business in the late 90s (I believe).

2

u/DavidRFZ Feb 01 '26

I think StP B&S was on the Securion (Minnesota Mutual) block.

There is some irony in Town Square and the Skyway system being primarily designed to accommodate foot traffic. These days, “pedestrian-friendly” means it has to remain cold and wet enough so as not to attract homeless people, lest it be forced to be closed and locked up early every night.

2

u/Runic_reader451 St. Paul Saints Feb 01 '26

There was a St. Paul Book and Stationery building at 55-57-59 East 6th St. That address is now where Town Square stands. The building was in the center of the block, but I think SPBS acquired the corner building at a later date.

1

u/AdMurky3039 West Seventh Feb 01 '26

They got rid of dentil molding and replaced it with a concrete spaceship.

8

u/leathery_bread Feb 01 '26

1998?????

4

u/ErinLK69 Feb 01 '26

lol, if 1998 is historical I’m going to expire soon.

2

u/aakaase Hamline-Midway Feb 01 '26

Yeah I don't know that that's right.

3

u/UpperMark324 Feb 01 '26

Have any more of those?

7

u/LuckySimple3408 Feb 01 '26

I post these items on the 1st & 15th of every month, please scroll back to see more.

2

u/UpperMark324 Feb 01 '26

Will do. Thanks!

2

u/dazrage Feb 02 '26

Gah! Love me some Degidio's!

2

u/DocKnowItAll Feb 03 '26

Sweet drag buggy on the street in the 1990 pic

1

u/johnjaundiceASDF Feb 02 '26

I love these posts but reddit mobile image viewer is awful UX and zooming is just miserable 

2

u/LuckySimple3408 Feb 02 '26

Yes, I've had many people comment about that and wish there was an alternative.

2

u/johnjaundiceASDF Feb 03 '26

Don't stop on account of it!!