The Forum - a Sneak Peek!

Gather App
Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support AutomaticWasher.org:

swestoyz

swestoyz

Well-known member
Platinum Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2004
Messages
6,634
Location
Cedar Falls, IA
Our very own Jetaction featured in a interview with the MPLS/StPaul Magazine.

I'm so proud of you Don! Your new role with The Forum truly is a dream come true for you, and I couldn't be more excited to see you grow with such a wonderful location in Downtown Minneapolis!

Ben

(make sure to become a fan of The Forum on FB!)

<embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AYHV8TgC" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>

http://www.mspmag.com/multimedia/video/170490.asp
 
Lovely to Look at

and lovely to hold. What a great person and so many talents. I enjoyed the time together and hope this venture brings you further fame, satisfaction and fulfillment. All the best.
Kelly
 
And now, for the rest of the story......

Wow, what a surprise. I have been so busy with the opening of this I have not been on here too much, what a nice surprise Ben, thanks! Some of you know I left a great job at The Minneapolis Capital Grille when asked to consider this venture. What is so incredible is that for the first time I combine my passion about restoration and "vintage" anything with my profession. This restaurant is on the Historic Preservation protected list. It was a vaudeville theatre in the early 1920's, Forum Cafeteria Inc bought it in 29 and installed one of finest examples of Art Deco Style that exists in Mpls, St. Paul. It was Forum Cafeteria until 1973, bought and rebranded and was one gavel away from being torn down in 79 when it went to the MN Supreme Court. The complete interior was saved, and every inch of it numbered and dismantled. Was put into storage and reassembled 40 feet down form the orignal location a few years later, in its exact configuration. It became about 4 different things, the last restaurant went out of business 5 years ago. We have restored all the decor to its original look as the interior had been covered up. They had to leave it there as it was protected. So it now looks like it did from 1920-1979 once again. We are even featuring some of the original favorites such as Salisbury Steak and Chicken pot pie. For more history do a search for Minneapolis Forum and like Ben said, get on facebook and follow the news. Slated for a grand opening April 23rd. How lucky am I?????? Give me a few months and there will be a vintage Maytag somewhere in this gem!
 
congratulations!

looks like an extraordinary place! and sounds like its gonna have some yummies to serve up!

*applause
 
What a great place, I wish you the best of luck. How very nice to be associated with a historic site. alr2903
 
Don is a fantastic person,

and I wish you nothing but the best of everything in this new venture! And I know that you have a great deal of support from Scott as well.
 
Hey Don!

Your ability to restore this beautiful art deco building is so wonderful because most people that have never seen but may have heard of art deco are now able to see it in its true form! I have a nice Kirby upright that works great and would be nice to have (and use) at your place. I am so glad to see that there are still people out and about who still have the visions and dreams they are able to fulfill.A lot of people try but aren't sucessful either because of the lack of financis, non-financial support, or lose focus due to the overwelming stress that happens sometimes while in the midst of completion.There is a tavern here in Honoka'a that has been under construction and renovation since 1998 but has never opened.There are no other places here that let you buy a beer and sit down to relax. They have all the tvs, commercial cooking and cleaning supplies and a pool table but the open light has yet to be turned on.I hope that your opening day far exceeds your expectations and that your restoration and sucessful business goes way off the charts!! Maybe you could get some of the old recipe books from Frigidaire,Westinghouse,General Electric,tappan,O'keefe and Merrit, etc.. and mark their logo on the menus along with a picture of their ranges and refrigerators!! Just a thought.
 
I've personally met Don, and I know that with his outgoing personality, this venture will be a great success. Hopefully Bev & I will get the chance to dine in this wonderful venue.
 
Simply Fabulous!

My mom came to visit this weekend.. and we decided to give The Forum a visit. Unfortunately, Don wasn't there, but the owner of the place dropped in on the table and gave us a nice rundown of the history, and made us feel incredibly welcome. The ambiance is incredible -- photos don't at all do it justice... The drinks and food were amazing, as well! It was the second night that they were officially open for business, and wasn't too busy. Reviews by the paper and local news stations haven't yet been printed/aired - I think before long it's going to be one of the hottest new fine-dining restaurants in the city.

Congratulations, Don! All of the hard work that you put into this establishment really shows.

I grabbed a few pictures!

First picture: us after gorging on delicious food... I had a 12oz Prime Rib, and both Robert and my mother had a delicious home-made pasta in a rich bolognese sauce. Desert was a berry cobbler and creme bruleé.

hooverwheelaway++4-25-2010-00-03-18.jpg
 
A huge blown-up picture of the Forum back in the day was on a wall in a rear exterior hallway.

The original façade of the building is the only part that "mysteriously disappeared" after the building was saved from demolition -- after the entire place had been disassembled piece by piece and put into storage.

hooverwheelaway++4-25-2010-00-11-23.jpg
 
Way to go Don!

I don't know how I missed this post!

Don, this is an amazing accomplishment! What an amazing place with so much history! I would love to find out more about how much you and your team have done to refurbish the dining area. Also to think about the vintage appliances and such you might have found in the kitchen! Awesome! I wish I was there to take a peek.

Robert, Fred and Mom...you look like you are having a great time.

Fred the woman in the your pictures as "your mom" looks way to young to be your mom. You don't have to pay some young beautiful woman to take her place. We will all be okay with your "real" mom.

Kisses. Your mom is beautiful. Kiss her and tell her so.

You guys are so lucky to dine in such wonder and history. I would love to be able to dine there soon.

Thanks for the pictures. Glad you all had so much fun! You all look great and look to be having a blast!

Brent
 
My first day off in nearly 3 weeks.......

And I miss you guys at Forum! I am happy you had a great time. Don't you think club memebers visiting Mpls would like it here?
 

Similar threads

H
Hoovermatic Twin Tub (Australian TV Commercial)
Replies
12
Views
298
arbilab
arbilab

Latest posts

Sponsored
UnlistMe
Back
Top