Minneapolis Showroom History

If you have visited Traditions’ Minneapolis showroom at 4245 Excelsior Boulevard, you are familiar with the vintage building’s unique layout and style, including the beautiful courtyard surrounded by what appears to be a U-shaped building. In actuality, the building consists of two separate structures, now known as Traditions and The Studio, that flank the courtyard in a U-shape.

The yellow brick building was constructed in 1940 as Miracle Mile was just beginning, and has since been home to many small businesses.

The Joppa Pharmacy was the first drug store to sell TVs when it occupied the left wing of the building from 1948 to 1953. It then became the Warren Pharmacy, which remained until 1970. Meanwhile, the Irish Washerwoman operated in the basement of the same building from 1948 to 1967. The laundry business offered self-service or full-service options with twenty Bendix washers. These businesses also advertised their Soda Grill and TV Lounge, which was located in the basement.

The middle section of the building housed many doctors and dentists over the years, most notably, The Kindy Optical Company. Dr. Richard Kindy, who opened this location in 1954, was renowned for having a mini-golf course in part of what is now the courtyard, offering it as entertainment for patients and fellow Miracle Mile businesspeople (Above Right Image; Tubert, 1982). In the lower-level of this section, the Joppa Beauty Salon and Barber Shop operated from 1942 to 1947 and Deloris Larson’s salon from 1951 to 1961.

On the right, where The Studio is today, housed several businesses over the years, including Arcade Television and Appliances from 1950 to 1972, later renamed Arcade TV and Organ. Northwest Guitar and Accordion also occupied the space, offering instrument sales, rentals, and lessons. Additionally, the Minikahda Barber Shop was located there briefly from 1960 to 1962 before Wayne and Esther’s “Cameo Coiffure” salon moved in for a period of time.

Since then these buildings have been home to a multitude of local ventures including the renowned Jon English Salon from 1999 to 2006. In 2008 Traditions moved in and since then we have greatly appreciated the charm of our beautiful showroom and learning about its history has helped us feel an even deeper connection to it!

Sources

Excelsior and Joppa. St Louis Park Historical Society. (n.d.). https://slphistory.org/joppa/ 

Tubert, J. (1982, May 6). Zany golfers think small when they putt it there. Star Tribune.

Holiday Gift Guide!

With the holidays fast approaching, here are our

favorite gifts for everyone on your nice list.

Minnesota Gift Guide

  • 1. “Dogs by Tim Flach” – The perfect coffee table book for the dog lover on your list!
  • 2. “Protea Faux Flower” – This realistic arrangement will brighten up any room during the dark winter months. Bonus: You don’t have to have a green thumb to keep it around!
  • 3. Llama Artwork – A statement piece to show off your whimsical side, sure to make anyone smile!
  • 4. Alicia Adams Alpaca Throw – the softest and most luxurious throw. It will be the coveted gift and talk of your holiday party.
  • 5. White Stag Head – A little whimsy goes a long way, but we won’t stop you if you want to get 9 and paint one nose red!
  • 6. Skeem Designs Apothecary Bottle Matches – For the host/hostess, pair with a beautiful scented candle and you will surely be invited back!

Florida Gift Guide

  • 1. Mini Boxwood Tree – Especially great for Snowbirds, this forever green (and forever loved) faux foliage brings a bit of the beautiful outdoors in!
  • 2. Alicia Adams Alpaca Throw – Nothing says paradise like the tropical and vibrant hues of this throw! Perfect for those chilly January nights in Florida!
  • 3. Vintage Swimsuit Artwork – A cheeky nod to our beautiful locale, this black and white print is sure to inspire a little nostalgia!
  • 4. Felt Christmas Trees – Beachy holiday decor makes a great host/hostess gift, or pair with live green garland for the starting of a beautiful tablescape!
  • 5. Skeem Designs Apothecary Bottle Matches – Nothing says holidays like a dim, romantic setting. Pair with a scented candle for your personal oasis, or gift as a lovely “thank you” to your kind host/hostess!
  • 6. The Essential Oyster – Stack it, read it, gift it…unique coffee table books are great for so many things!

We hope you have a happy, family filled holiday season!

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High Point Market – Spring ’19

vanguard furniture

It’s almost Christmas morning here in the furniture world. What? Just kidding, but Spring Furniture Market is this weekend!!

Read more

Thanksgiving Traditions’ Style

Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on what is important in our daily lives. One of Traditions’ favorite ways to celebrate is with our friends and family; some our fondest memories are shared around the dinner table, and what better way to share our family traditions than to give a peek into what will be on our Thanksgiving dinner plates!

Grand Raspberry Trifle 

Recipe Courtesy of: Martha Stewart 

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 cup seedless raspberry jam

4 cups raspberries

2 cups heavy cream

1 1/2 pounds favorite pound cake

Directions: 

1. In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water, and lemon juice to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool

2. In a small bowl, combine jam with 3 cups raspberries, mashing slightly. In a large bowl, while cream and 2 tablespoons sugar to stiff peaks.

3. Slice pound cake 3/4 inch thick; brush both sides of slices with lemon syrup.

4. Fit 1/3 of slices snugly in the bottom of a 4-quart trifle dish or other glass bowl, trimming edges if necessary. Gently spread top of layer with 1/3 of raspberry mixture, and then 1/3 of whipped cream. Repeat to make two more layers; garnish with remaining cup raspberries. Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 24 hours.

 

“There is no Sincere Love than the Love of Food” – George Bernard Shaw

Festive Cheese Log 

Ingredients: 

1 Goat Cheese Log

1/2 Cup Raspberries

1 Tablespoon Sunflower Seeds

Honey

 Cracked Black Pepper

Directions: Let goat cheese sit out to room temperature. Top with fresh, or thawed frozen raspberries, sunflower seeds, and torn up mint leave. Drizzle honey overtop and cracked black pepper to taste. Serve with crackers.

Candied Pecans

Ingredients: 

2 cups Finely Chopped Pecans

1/2 cup Melted Butter

2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

3/4 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1/4 tsp Dry Mustard

2 Egg Whites (beaten until fluffy)

Directions: Melt butter and set aside. Beat egg whites and add other ingredients, with butter added last. Coat pecans and put on cookie sheet and bake @ 325 for 28 mins stirring every 7 mins. Store in sealed container.

 

 

“Cut my Pie Into Four Pieces, I Don’t Think I Could Eat Eight” – Yogi Berra

 

Chiffon Pumpkin Pie

 

Bourbon Corn Pudding

Whether your day will consist of a Turkey Trot or just a turkey, we sincerely hope that your holiday is full of family, friends and fond memories!

 

Week in Review – June 4th

Summer is here!

First weekend of June is here and the Traditions crew made the most of a summer weekend.

Good food, great friends, and a little wine are the perfect recipe for a summer evening. In Naples, dinner al fresco is the way to go.

 

Rhubarb Festival! 

Who knew Wisconsin had a festival exclusively devoted to rhubarb? Mark your calendars for next June. Nothing says summer like a great rhubarb crisp. See one of our favorite recipes below.

 

 

Edina Art Fair! 

For those who stayed in the Twin Cities, the Edina Art Fair was packed with great local artists, food and shopping.

Home & Design – Pine Ridge Estate Feature

Where Function meets Fabulous Design

Recently, our Naples-based designer Kriss LeCocq wrapped up her Ridge Drive project with the most exciting ending we could have hoped for—the model home sold…fully furnished! It came as no surprise to us, as this new-build home, developed by Pohlmann Properties, in the Pine Ridge Estates neighborhood embodied both style and functionality.

The 6bd/8ba house is great for entertaining and overnight guests. Secluded on an equestrian approved 2.29 acre estate site, the beautifully appointed residence incorporates fine finishes and the distinguishing characteristics of a home built for a modern family. With a spacious outdoor living space and vanishing edge pool, you may find yourself wanting to spend more time outside than in! Kriss envisioned a family moving right in and making themselves at home, and her wish came true!

We are excited that local magazine Home & Design fell in love with the project as much as we did, and are thrilled to share their article >>>.

http://www.homeanddesign.net/sweeping-sophisticate-2018/

 

 

As Seen In…

 

It’s always fun to spot a celeb wearing the same shirt or sporting the same bag you own. We had the same feeling when watching a good show after work and noticing all of the different products we carry. From prime time television to Reality TV, we have recognized a few of our items as they make an appearance!

 

During Million Dollar Listing LA

The trendy bowl in the center of the dining table speaks to the lifestyle in Los Angeles. The unique shape and design are really what make this bowl stand out in the crowd!

The Bachelor

The traditional floral print is made young again with the youthful color and twenty-something’s who were vying for Arie’s heart. While the original pattern pre-dates Bekah M. by many decades, floral is hot once again!

 

Grey’s Anatomy

The bold, clean lines of the gold table lamps add to the overall handsome aesthetic of the show. McDreamy, McSteamy or stunning lamps – which would you choose?

 

 

Check back to see what else we find!

February Loves

In honor of Valentine’s Day (and our February Bedroom Sale), we couldn’t resist sharing all the things we are loving this month!

Nothing beats celebrating the day of love with exquisite bedding from Eastern Accents. As part of our Lee Loves Local event (an initiative from Lee Industries), we welcomed Jennifer Nemeth and Ana Young of Eastern Accents to discuss all things bed linens! As another Midwest-based, family-run company, we feel an extra pull at our heartstrings in partnering with EA! Aside from solid company values, they also have amazing product to back it up.

 

Shout out to Jennifer and Ana for spending the day with us, and bringing a pair of pillows for one lucky shopper! You can’t show off your bedding without a great bed frame. Celebrating local and supporting small brick and mortar businesses, Lee Industries ranks first among our favorite source for bed frames!  You can see their entire suite of frames on their site, but we love them so much you can also see a large spread of them in our collaborations with The New Old House Co over in our Portfolio (Kenwood, Kellogg and Summit Homes).  Stay tuned…our latest project photos are coming soon!

While some people prefer chocolates and flowers for Valentine’s, our vice sounds a bit like Vueve! We don’t just mean the bubbly, although we will happily accept that now and any other time of the year…we are crushing on our Veuve coffee table book currently! Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin has been pushing boundaries since creating rosé Champagne in 1775, and now, hundreds of years later, the brand represents a complete lifestyle. This book covers the gamut and makes for a great hostess or Valentine’s gift, too!

 

 

 

We hope your February is as full of lovely things and beautiful furnishings as ours! If you find yourself in a pinch for a cute gift for Valentine’s, swing by any of our showrooms in St. Paul, St. Louis Park, or Naples, Florida….our designers will happily help you to pick out the perfect little something 🙂

XO,
Traditions

 

Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday Entertaining & Hostess Gifts

Stop in and take advantage of our Accessory Sale. Find all of your hostess gifts in one place!

Nest candles

Let the scent of sugar cookies, fresh pine or cinnamon and spice fill your house as you light each Nest candle. Their holiday scents are sure to help set the festive mood.

Zodax

Gather your serving dishes from us! Decanters, champagne flutes, trays and more!

Cocktail Table Books

Decorate your tables so every part of your home is party ready. We highly recommend either the Vueve or Nate Berkus books!

Fun Drink Recipe

If you’d prefer a ‘homemade’ gift for your host, we recommend filling their glass with this delicious homemade drink. The Cranberry Mimosa from Delish will be sure to impress!

We hope you have an inspired holiday season full of love and laughter!

Happy Holidays from our family, to yours!

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We are Thankful

This Thanksgiving, we share our warm wishes and hope that your blessings are too plentiful to count. Thank you for being part of who we are as we are very thankful for you.

Our hearts are full of love and these are the things we are especially thankful for this time of year.

Carolynn is most thankful for her family and friends.

Mary DJ  appreciates the hours between 10AM and 6PM for her coworker and all the special times, love and laughter.

Mary is thankful for good hair days!

Kathy is thankful for those clients that have become good friends and for the opportunity to play some small part in making their lives more enjoyable.

Suzanne is very thankful for all of us at Traditions! “You have made me (Suzanne) a much better person with your friendship, creativity and never ending support.”

Rhonda is loving her grandchildren and facetime more than ever this time of year. Thank goodness for technology helping us stay connected to our loved ones.

Kriss is thankful for coffee in the morning, good foundation that covers age spots and wine at night! But mostly, she is thankful for her health.

David is thankful for never having a bad hair day, and is most thankful for good health and good friends!

Sharon is thankful for the time to spend with her family and friends this time of year.

Nancy is thankful for her family and friends.

Sarah is thankful for her warm winter coat as we go into the coldest months of the year, her anti-frizz products, but most importantly, her family.

Emma is thankful for her family and friends, especially this time of year.

Kersten is thankful for the quiet minutes of early morning—where she can listen to nature and enjoy the moments before the day really begins.

Lauren is thankful for family and all the support they offer throughout the year.

Happy Thanksgiving!