Midway Chamber History

Much of the destiny of the Midway area of St. Paul has been shaped by a dedicated group of businesspeople and residents who came together in 1919 to form the Midway Club, predecessor of the Midway Chamber of Commerce. By that time the Midway community had become an important regional hub for transportation, industry, commerce and education.

Commercial development, short line railroad transportation and the growth of the streetcar system played key roles in the Midway area's development.

In the 1880s the Midway area became home to the Minnesota Transfer Railway Company, the brainchild of St. Paul railroad magnate James J. Hill. The presence of the streetcar and rail activity spurred significant commercial and industrial growth in the Midway.

When the Midway Club was founded in 1919 it drew members from throughout the area. Among the early businesses that made a mark on the Midway were Griggs Cooper and Company, which manufactured candy and crackers, Brown and Bigelow, Waldorf Paper Products, H.B. Fuller Company, several banks, and many other ventures.

By January 1921, the Midway Club had 702 members and was instrumental in attracting new business to the Midway, in improving transportation systems, in obtaining street lights for University Avenue, and in working with the area neighborhoods, a tradition that continues today.

Through it all, the Midway kept on growing, In 1923 alone, more than $8 million in new buildings went up.

The Midway Club continued to grow as well and began its longtime tradition of luncheon meetings with an informative guest speaker in 1923 (a tradition that continues to this day). In 1924, the Midway Club opened its membership to women. Throughout this time and the 30s and 40s, the Midway Club continued to be an important voice, battling with the city over traffic islands and traffic signals on University Avenue, promoting the area as a growing center for auto and trucking firms, and attracting more new development to the area such as Pepsi Cola, Northwest Airlines, Rihm Motor Co., and KSTP. In 1952 the Midway Club voted to change its name to Midway Civic Club because it more accurately reflected the club's activities. The club's primary activities continued to center on economic development, the promotion of the Midway as a good place to shop and live, and snaring the area's share of city property tax dollars. The Club was successful by all accounts, attracting more than $15 million in new construction or renovations between 1951 and 1955.

During the 50s and 60s the growth in popularity of the automobile had a dramatic impact on the Midway, which became known as "auto row." At one point, University Avenue was home to more than a dozen auto dealers and more than 60 trucking firms were located in the Midway. As automobile travel became popular, shopping centers replaced many of the small businesses as customers demanded convenience. A $6 million Midway Shopping Center brought many new stores to the area.

The opening in 1996 of Midway Marketplace, was a major addition to the Midway and attracts shoppers from a wide radius. Retail trade remains an important part of the Midway economy. Industrial firms, which helped shape much of the Midway's early years, continue to find a home in the Midway as well through such successful projects as Energy Park and Westgate Industrial Park. And, office users are increasingly attracted to the Midway because of the reasonable lease rates and ideal location between the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The future of the Midway is bright thanks to the strong leadership provided for nearly 90 years by the organization now known as the Midway Chamber of Commerce.

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