GUS URBAN’S MEAT MARKET-
Gus Urban came with other members of his family to Minneapolis in the 1880’s. He took a job working for Mr. C. Coulter of Robbinsdale in 1895 as driver, salesman on a meat wagon that went around selling direct to the customer. The first meat market was built by Mr. Coulter in 1889, opening for business on November 23rd. It stood next to Swift ts Drug Store on West Broadway. In 1896 on January 10th, Gus Urban became owner. In 1902 high prices were protested:
Round steak sold for .12 a pound
Home cured whole hams .12 a pound
Corned beef 6 to .8 a pound
Lamb chops .15 a pound
Eggs were a.15 dozen and .28 butter a pound.
The January 27, 1904 “Robbinsdale Park Progress” reports :
“Gus Urban has made a large improvement in the interior of his meat market, the refrigerator has been enlarged and entirely rebuilt, the woodwork of the salesroom has been repainted and the walls and ceiling very handsomely decorated. The market is now much more convenient and pleasant. It means much to our village to have such a wide awake, progressive business man as Mr. Urban.”
In 1911 he built a new building, he had every modern convenience with electric machinery for sausage making and large scales on which children as well as grown-ups liked to weigh themselves. Gus Urban took a part in the community, serving as Constable and Mayor several terms.He was known by everyone as a genial, big hearted man. He sold his business to Kurt Hoffman, one of long time employees in 1924. and entered the insurance business. He died in 1935. The name has changed a few times, but the old Meat Market is still there. Next time your downtown, stop into Hackenmueller’s Meats, 4159 West Broadway, and think of Gus.
-This material was gathered from the North Hennepin Post and the diaries of Ellen M. Bisbee, (sister of J. P. Shumway and Nathan F. Russ). It was compiled and edited by Evelyn and Esther Shumway for a Robbinsdale Historiocal Society slide show in 1980.