Comments on: Grumpy's/KFAN the Restaurant: Roseville, MN http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/ A tongue-in-cheek look at Minnesotas dead malls and other retail establishments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:12:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Todd http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-2309 Todd Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:51:48 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-2309 There was an Arnold's in Richfield also if I remember correctly. Was in a strip mall? They had great food! There was an Arnold’s in Richfield also if I remember correctly. Was in a strip mall? They had great food!

]]> By: Kyle http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-1253 Kyle Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:22:54 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-1253 I remember eating at Lido's and it was good Italian food. I agree with Jayson, that the building wasn't torn down, but added onto/remodeled when it became the KFAN restaurant. Since Lido's sold the restaurant, its changed hands ever few years. As for the former Grumpy's locale (now Willys), wasn't that once a Mr. Steak? It sure looks like the store design they had and my family and I ate at one back several years ago before they all closed up. I remember eating at Lido’s and it was good Italian food. I agree with Jayson, that the building wasn’t torn down, but added onto/remodeled when it became the KFAN restaurant. Since Lido’s sold the restaurant, its changed hands ever few years.
As for the former Grumpy’s locale (now Willys), wasn’t that once a Mr. Steak? It sure looks like the store design they had and my family and I ate at one back several years ago before they all closed up.

]]> By: Jason http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-1247 Jason Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:29:29 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-1247 This website is great, I love reminiscing about forgotten Twin Cities landmarks from my youth. I grew up near 63rd and Boone in the early '80s...back when Brookdale was pretty much the only mall in my area, and the Crystal "ball" at the Crystal Shopping Center was still standing. That area of Maple Grove that is all built up now was NOTHING when I was a kid. That Chinese Take-out place on hwy 81 was called K. Wong's. I never went there, but I remember the name because they had a VERY prominent sign that you couldn't miss when you drove down 81. I saw a K Wong's on Silver Lake Rd in St Anthony, they must have moved there after the Crystal store was closed. And speaking of the Iron Horse site, back when it was remodeled for the new Crystal Marine, I thought "bad idea!" because the people that buy $30,000 boats don't live in Crystal! Sure enough, they ended up moving out to Rogers or something where the money is. I think that old motel by Arnold's was called the Bungalow Motel or something like that. "Seedy" doesn't even begin to describe these "bungalows", which were like little cabins. I can only imagine the amount of drugs that must have changed hands over the years at this place. The guy who had the meth lab must have remodeled the place to get it as nice as your typical meth lab, that's how seedy this place was. Does anybody else remember a strip mall on Brooklyn Blvd in Brooklyn Park that had a really cool arcade and a pretty good record store. I can't remember the name of the mall, I just know it's torn down now and the area pretty run down with lots of criminal activity. this mall was jumpin back in the early to mid-80's and I used to go to this arcade once in while because they had pool tables. I stopped going around 1990 when a friend and I were asked to play a game of pool "for a dolla" by an obvious small-time hustler. I would return to this area occasionaly because there was a Rocky Rococco pizza still operating and I love their pizza! However, I would always beat a hasty retreat up brooklyn Blvd to 694 and home...not sure if they're still there, if they are I might have to stop by for a slice- in my bulletproof vest, of course. Note to who runs this website- you should start a sister site called "dumpy apartments.com". I bring this up because of the large apt complex near this area of Brooklyn Blvd that is pretty notorious. The name escapes me, does anybody know this apt complex? Here's a funny, true story- back in about 1987, my friend's older sister needed a babysitter and lived in this apt complex. My friend called me up and we went over there to babysit. Her headbanger boyfriend took out a really big bag of weed, put about an ounce-worth on the coffee table and said we could smoke up this pile as long as we didn't touch his big stash bag. Well, my friend and me, being only about 14 or so, got pretty wasted on this pile of bud! And needless to say we also helped ourselves to a little from the stash. Anyway, I remember going up to a Tom Thumb store to get a tombstone pizza and not being able to remember which damn apartment building I came out of! They all looked the same! Somehow I found my way back into the right apartment in my pot-induced haze with my nearly melted pizza. I used to live in Crystal Village Apts back in the 90's, place was built in 1970 and I think the carpet and wallpaper in the hallway was original, the halls always smelled of urine. When they would shampoo the carpets in the hallway, it would make it smell ten times worse! there are a lot of dumpy apartments out there, places that were crappy 25 years ago and STILL haven't been fixed up or remodeled. Anybody have any similar stories? This website is great, I love reminiscing about forgotten Twin Cities landmarks from my youth. I grew up near 63rd and Boone in the early ’80s…back when Brookdale was pretty much the only mall in my area, and the Crystal “ball” at the Crystal Shopping Center was still standing. That area of Maple Grove that is all built up now was NOTHING when I was a kid.

That Chinese Take-out place on hwy 81 was called K. Wong’s. I never went there, but I remember the name because they had a VERY prominent sign that you couldn’t miss when you drove down 81. I saw a K Wong’s on Silver Lake Rd in St Anthony, they must have moved there after the Crystal store was closed. And speaking of the Iron Horse site, back when it was remodeled for the new Crystal Marine, I thought “bad idea!” because the people that buy $30,000 boats don’t live in Crystal! Sure enough, they ended up moving out to Rogers or something where the money is.

I think that old motel by Arnold’s was called the Bungalow Motel or something like that. “Seedy” doesn’t even begin to describe these “bungalows”, which were like little cabins. I can only imagine the amount of drugs that must have changed hands over the years at this place. The guy who had the meth lab must have remodeled the place to get it as nice as your typical meth lab, that’s how seedy this place was.

Does anybody else remember a strip mall on Brooklyn Blvd in Brooklyn Park that had a really cool arcade and a pretty good record store. I can’t remember the name of the mall, I just know it’s torn down now and the area pretty run down with lots of criminal activity. this mall was jumpin back in the early to mid-80′s and I used to go to this arcade once in while because they had pool tables. I stopped going around 1990 when a friend and I were asked to play a game of pool “for a dolla” by an obvious small-time hustler. I would return to this area occasionaly because there was a Rocky Rococco pizza still operating and I love their pizza! However, I would always beat a hasty retreat up brooklyn Blvd to 694 and home…not sure if they’re still there, if they are I might have to stop by for a slice- in my bulletproof vest, of course.

Note to who runs this website- you should start a sister site called “dumpy apartments.com”. I bring this up because of the large apt complex near this area of Brooklyn Blvd that is pretty notorious. The name escapes me, does anybody know this apt complex? Here’s a funny, true story- back in about 1987, my friend’s older sister needed a babysitter and lived in this apt complex. My friend called me up and we went over there to babysit. Her headbanger boyfriend took out a really big bag of weed, put about an ounce-worth on the coffee table and said we could smoke up this pile as long as we didn’t touch his big stash bag. Well, my friend and me, being only about 14 or so, got pretty wasted on this pile of bud! And needless to say we also helped ourselves to a little from the stash. Anyway, I remember going up to a Tom Thumb store to get a tombstone pizza and not being able to remember which damn apartment building I came out of! They all looked the same! Somehow I found my way back into the right apartment in my pot-induced haze with my nearly melted pizza.

I used to live in Crystal Village Apts back in the 90′s, place was built in 1970 and I think the carpet and wallpaper in the hallway was original, the halls always smelled of urine. When they would shampoo the carpets in the hallway, it would make it smell ten times worse!
there are a lot of dumpy apartments out there, places that were crappy 25 years ago and STILL haven’t been fixed up or remodeled. Anybody have any similar stories?

]]> By: gusty http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-1165 gusty Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:51:45 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-1165 Lido was never torn down, the building just went under the knife and it no longer looks like a charming Italian restaurant with the new atrium they hoisted up. Lido was never torn down, the building just went under the knife and it no longer looks like a charming Italian restaurant with the new atrium they hoisted up.

]]> By: The Talking Horse http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-964 The Talking Horse Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:46:36 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-964 I never went to KFAN. For some reason, the parking lot was popular with creeps who liked to break into cars...and you'd read about the latest theft every week in the community newspapers. I did go there when it was Lidos -- probably about 1996. They had a store in the front -- kind of at a diagonal -- with plenty of food items. The restaurant had a nice, comfortable decor with shiny wood floors and fancy ornate trim on the walls. The food was good (as usual), but the prices seemed a bit high. Olive Garden was just across Snelling and I hate to say this, but they almost seemed to have the Italian restaurant formula perfected a little better. Perhaps Olive Garden was just less expensive. I am sure had Lido's dropped their prices they would have put the hurt on Olive Garden. Back in the 1960's-70's Lido's used to be located on Larpenteur Avenue near Snelling. It was a shiny cream colored brick building. The floors were ceramic tile and as you walked in the door, it always smelled heavily of cheese. Lidos was famous for it's great Italian food. Around Roseville, anyway, THAT'S where you went for Italian back in those days. Later, Lidos made their big move up Snelling to the new, bigger place, and Ciatti's moved in to a much remodeled former Lidos space. I never went to KFAN. For some reason, the parking lot was popular with creeps who liked to break into cars…and you’d read about the latest theft every week in the community newspapers.
I did go there when it was Lidos — probably about 1996.
They had a store in the front — kind of at a diagonal — with plenty of food items. The restaurant had a nice, comfortable decor with shiny wood floors and fancy ornate trim on the walls. The food was good (as usual), but the prices seemed a bit high. Olive Garden was just across Snelling and I hate to say this, but they almost seemed to have the Italian restaurant formula perfected a little better. Perhaps Olive Garden was just less expensive. I am sure had Lido’s dropped their prices they would have put the hurt on Olive Garden. Back in the 1960′s-70′s Lido’s used to be located on Larpenteur Avenue near Snelling. It was a shiny cream colored brick building. The floors were ceramic tile and as you walked in the door, it always smelled heavily of cheese. Lidos was famous for it’s great Italian food. Around Roseville, anyway, THAT’S where you went for Italian back in those days. Later, Lidos made their big move up Snelling to the new, bigger place, and Ciatti’s moved in to a much remodeled former Lidos space.

]]> By: Tim G http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-444 Tim G Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:15:52 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-444 Iron Horse is a car dealer now. Crystal Marine moved out a year or 2 ago. I never saw male strippers there myself, but I knew a couple of guys who would go down there on ladies night and try to pick up horned-up women after the show.... !!:-) Iron Horse is a car dealer now. Crystal Marine moved out a year or 2 ago. I never saw male strippers there myself, but I knew a couple of guys who would go down there on ladies night and try to pick up horned-up women after the show…. !!:-)

]]> By: Disco Studd http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-425 Disco Studd Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:04:33 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-425 Yeah, what Tim G said. I remember there also used to be a Chinese Take-Out place right where Holiday stands now (anybody remember the name?) I remember that crappy old motel. Didn't they tear it down after somebody blew up their meth lab they were running out of one of the rooms? Or was that at the Crystal Motel? If you watch "Feeling Minnesota," you'll see how the area looked in the mid-90's. I went to the Iron Whore a few times after they got rid of the male strippers and turned it into a nightclub that played live music (took my wife there on her 21st birthday, and one of my favorite local cover bands "5 Guys" was playing.) It was actually kinda cool how they had the dance floor and stage down a half-level from the bar area. I heard the feds seized the place, as the owners were keeping the place alive with drug money. Last time I drove by that area, the Iron Horse was converted into a boat dealership (Crystal Marine, IIRC.) Yeah, what Tim G said. I remember there also used to be a Chinese Take-Out place right where Holiday stands now (anybody remember the name?) I remember that crappy old motel. Didn’t they tear it down after somebody blew up their meth lab they were running out of one of the rooms? Or was that at the Crystal Motel? If you watch “Feeling Minnesota,” you’ll see how the area looked in the mid-90′s.

I went to the Iron Whore a few times after they got rid of the male strippers and turned it into a nightclub that played live music (took my wife there on her 21st birthday, and one of my favorite local cover bands “5 Guys” was playing.) It was actually kinda cool how they had the dance floor and stage down a half-level from the bar area. I heard the feds seized the place, as the owners were keeping the place alive with drug money. Last time I drove by that area, the Iron Horse was converted into a boat dealership (Crystal Marine, IIRC.)

]]> By: Tim G http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-424 Tim G Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:28:41 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-424 Jayson, The Iron Horse strip club was in Crystal. Admin, Yes, Skippers was another good place for lunch. Really good fish for a deep fried place. It was just west of 81 north side of Bass Lake Road, fronted on BLR. Parking lot now. Arnold's was on the east side of 81 just south of Bass Lake Road. Fronted on 81. There's a strip of semi-commercial/warehouse spaces there now and a Holiday just to the south of that. There used to be an old motel there too that had cottages. Kind of like an old resort setting. Tim G Jayson,
The Iron Horse strip club was in Crystal.

Admin,
Yes, Skippers was another good place for lunch. Really good fish for a deep fried place. It was just west of 81 north side of Bass Lake Road, fronted on BLR. Parking lot now.

Arnold’s was on the east side of 81 just south of Bass Lake Road. Fronted on 81. There’s a strip of semi-commercial/warehouse spaces there now and a Holiday just to the south of that. There used to be an old motel there too that had cottages. Kind of like an old resort setting.

Tim G

]]> By: jayson http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-422 jayson Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:24:47 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-422 hey tim! coon rapids had a strip club? man i lived in tampa for a year and there are strip clubs every where along with adult stores you come back here and they are no where. not that i go to strip clubs ;~) just strange how minnesota doesnt have that kinda stuff execpt sex world hey tim! coon rapids had a strip club? man i lived in tampa for a year and there are strip clubs every where along with adult stores you come back here and they are no where. not that i go to strip clubs ;~) just strange how minnesota doesnt have that kinda stuff execpt sex world

]]> By: admin http://dumpystripmalls.com/2009/07/22/grumpyskfan-the-restaurant-roseville-mn/comment-page-1/#comment-420 admin Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:21:49 +0000 http://dumpystripmalls.wordpress.com/?p=1273#comment-420 Disco-What is the Arnold's in Crystal now? Or has it been torn down? I can't say I remember this place, but I have a Crystal Gallery Mall & Crystal Shopping Center post coming up soon, and this would be helpful. I might have to rent Feeling Minnesota, lol! I remember a seafood restaurant called Skippers in Crystal that my parents would take us back in the '80s. I LOVED that place...It was on the corner of 81 and Bass Lake Road. Disco-What is the Arnold’s in Crystal now? Or has it been torn down? I can’t say I remember this place, but I have a Crystal Gallery Mall & Crystal Shopping Center post coming up soon, and this would be helpful. I might have to rent Feeling Minnesota, lol!

I remember a seafood restaurant called Skippers in Crystal that my parents would take us back in the ’80s. I LOVED that place…It was on the corner of 81 and Bass Lake Road.

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