Hermantown Posts

PDD Geoguessr #21: Hermantown

Hermantown History Center (Photo by Myotus used under CC 4.0)

When you Google Hermantown, the results are preceded by some questions people often ask about the place: Is Hermantown the same as Duluth? What is Hermantown known for?

The Vintage Hideaway flips the script on antiquing

Nichol and Tony Hommerding, owners of The Vintage Hideaway. (Submitted photo)

A thrift and antique store in Hermantown has brought a fresh take on antiquing and thrifting in the Twin Ports. The Vintage Hideaway focuses on uniquely staging items, restoring pieces looking for a little bit of love and creating a welcoming environment by offering coffee and snacks in its pantry.

Hermantown Fleet Farm property sold to North Dakota investors

The Fleet Farm property in Hermantown has been sold to a North Dakota investment firm for $30 million. (Photo by Mark Nicklawske)

The Fleet Farm big-box retail store property in Hermantown has been sold to a real estate investment firm based in Fargo, North Dakota for $30 million.

Ripped on Arrowhead Road on 2002

[Editor’s note: For this week’s essay we’ve once again pulled out a relic from the archive of Slim Goodbuzz, who served as Duluth’s “booze connoisseur” from 1999 to 2009. Twenty years ago the Sultan of Sot took a rare trip to Hermantown and wrote the article below for the Nov. 11, 2002 issue of the Ripsaw newspaper. Since then each of the drinking establishments mentioned have changed. The Afterburner Bar & Lounge was replaced by Arrowhead Tap House. The Runway Bar closed in 2011 and the site became home to the Kolar auto dealership. The Local Bar & Grill is now Foster’s Sports Bar & Grill.]

Laugh all you want, but on Election Day I like to be near the Duluth International Airport. I mean, you never know: We’re on the brink of destruction, and, in the event of a sudden military coup, I want to be the first to take off to another land. But, security being what it is these days, I’ve unfortunately had a bit of trouble just hanging out and getting drunk at the official airport bar, the Afterburner. I’d rather not go into the details.

The Runway

So I find myself a mile or two away from the airport at the Runway Bar and Grill, hunkering down, waiting for the inevitable and having a few beers in the process. I’ve got three problems with this place: 1) They use the kind of pitchers that have the “ice reservoir,” thus cheating the customer out of valuable pitcher space. 2) They’re not showing election coverage on TV. 3) The man/woman ratio in this room is at least 20:1.

Denfeld takes Heritage title; Hermantown wins Hilltopper

Denfeld’s hockey team celebrates its victory in the Heritage Holiday Classic.
(Photo by Bruce Woodman)

The Denfeld Hunters emerged as the 2019 Heritage Hockey Classic champions on Dec. 28, while the Hermantown Hawks captured the trophy in the Hilltopper Holiday Classic. Prep hockey tournaments on the weekend after Christmas have become an annual tradition in Duluth during the past decade.

Denfeld defeated Owatonna 2-1 in overtime to claim its title, with Griffin Lehet scoring the game-winning goal.

Hermantown dominated the Hilltopper tourney, defeating Buffalo in the final game by a 7-1 margin.

Postcards from the Sunrise Motel

The undated postcard above, published by Elton H. Gujer Company of Duluth, depicts the Sunrise Motel in Hermantown.

Skyline Lanes will remodel, rebrand

Sammy’s Pizza now open in Hermantown

WDIO-TV Eyewitness News reports a new Sammy’s Pizza restaurant opened today in Hermantown at 4310 Menard Drive.

“It’s been a dream of ours for quite some time to open a full-service Sammy’s Pizza restaurant in this area, and we’re thrilled that the opportunity has finally arrived,” restaurant owner Terry Perrella told WDIO.

Sammy’s had a Hermantown location for 26 years inside a BP gas station, but it closed in 2017 when the building was sold and the restaurant lost its lease.

Hermantown coffee shop changes hands, rebrands

 
In a swift transition of ownership, the two-year-old Pelican Coffee closed Nov. 12 and the new Yellow Bike Coffee opened Nov. 13. There wasn’t a day without caffeination at 5094 Miller Trunk Highway in Hermantown.

The Story of Hairmantown: ESPN Clip


ESPN’s E:60 premiered its Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament feature tonight, they released this clip on their website specifically about the Hermantown Hawks’ pursuit of the class A championship … and excellence in flowing locks.
 

MinneFLOWta Trailer – ESPN E60 Feature

ESPN’s E:60 will premiere its Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament feature during its May 10 episode.

Producer Mike Farrell and hockey analyst Barry Melrose were in St. Paul for the tournament in March capturing footage for the feature, and the E:60 crew spent time in Hermantown leading up to the tournament, focusing on the Hawks’ pursuit of the class A championship.

Nathan Gustavsson of Hermantown

Since the shooting in the Twin Cities at the Black Lives Matter protest, it was revealed that one of the suspects is from Hermantown.

Nearly 1,000 people marched to City Hall on Tuesday, less than a day after five protesters were shot near a Black Lives Matter demonstration, an apparently racially motivated attack that pushed Minneapolis into the national spotlight.

Minneapolis police said Tuesday that they have arrested three men in connection with the shooting. Allen Lawrence “Lance” Scarsella III, 23, was arrested in Bloomington. Sources said Nathan Gustavsson, 21, of Hermantown, and Daniel Macey, 26, of Pine City, were taken into custody after they turned themselves in. All three suspects are white. Earlier Tuesday, police arrested a 32-year-old Hispanic man in south Minneapolis, but he was later released because, police said, he was not at the scene of the shooting.

Minneapolis Star Tribune: 3 men in custody, 1 released in Minneapolis 4th Precinct protest shooting

A friend of mine in the Cities wanted to know how that revelation played out up here.  To be honest, his question was the first I’d heard.

Thoughts?

Minnesota All Hockey Hair Team 2013

Yes, this weekend marked the crowning moment in Minnesota high school hockey — the opportunity to rank the best flow from the state tourney. Duluth and Hermantown were well represented on 2013 All Hockey Hair Team.

Taste of Hermantown

The 2010 Taste of Hermantown is set for Thursday, Oct. 21 from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Shrine Building (5152 Miller Trunk Highway). Admission is $15 or free for children 10 and under. All proceeds benefit the Hermantown Community Fund, an affiliate of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation. Tickets can be purchased at the door or the National Bank of Commerce – Hermantown location.

Hermantown Fall Fest

Hermantown Fall Fest this Saturday, Sept. 25, 10am-3pm
Over 50 vendors, farmers market and local history displays

Hermantown History Center
5255 Maple Grove Road