Last of the 3.2 Era Bars

Original Post November 2019

During my years of driving around the Twin Cities, these dive bars in rougher parts of town inspired me to start this blog.

I heard stories of these places and that furthered the interest to start taking pictures of these places. Unfortunately my photos from back then lacked the actual building and more of the sign that was hanging out front … doh. Well I learned my lessons on how to take a picture now so no more bad shots.

John Weber owned two bars with fun names and both locations only served 3.2% beer.

One was the Family Inn, located at 561 Edmund Avenue W in the Frogtown neighborhood of St Paul which closed many years ago but the Bee Hive in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood lasted until just two years ago.

The building was originally built in 1889 as a half barber shop and half bar concept. But in 1920 it became a Schmidt Brewing Company tied house of all things, considering it was actually in the Hamm’s Brewery neighborhood.

After prohibition, it ended up only serving 3.2% beer and remained that until its end.

I drove by many times wanting to go in but I wimped out every time because I always heard all the beer was old and outdated (expiration date) and nobody was in there so it would’ve made for awkward conversations with the only guy working.

Now that it’s gone and forgotten, I wish I would’ve stopped in and talked to John about all the years of activity but sadly, the Bee Hive is no more. This of course should be a lesson to myself because most of these bars will eventually be all gone someday.

Photos- Myself, Google & Scott Takushi Pioneer Press