Fin-Fare Foods was founded by Marvin Ritland in 1964, after about a year and a half, he sold the business to Bill and Joni Jongquist. Back then folks could buy a pound of beer-battered baby Canadian walleye fried to order. The little restaurant had all sorts of local fish and frog legs from Japan. “For vigor and vim eat things that swim!” was company’s motto. Fin-Fare was a Robin Center fave.
The food was fried up fast and priced for the frugal. Sandwiched between Arnold’s Bakery and Fannie Farmer, the fellows behind the counter never forgot a face. To this day, many friends, fondly remember Fin-Fare’s french fried frog legs dipped in tangy tartar sauce. Folks lined up on Friday’s during lent and February made them shiver with every fantastic fish sandwich they’d deliver up the hill to Sacred Heart. Fin-Fare’s potato salad was sold at Brookdale Super Valu and a few other local supermarkets. Their famous side soon became a suburban favorite.
The Jongquist’s had planned on opening a second Fin-Fare, but when a bid on a Bloomington location went sour, they decided to cut bait and go into the potato salad business. Their second company, Fairest Foods operated for many years out of Eden Prairie. In 1970 or so another owner took over Fin-Fare for a minute, but the place folded up pretty quick and Robbinsdale was been without fast food frog legs ever since.
Photos Courtesy of John Forse
