04/30/2026
A little history about the SOB!
BEFORE SOUTH OF THE BORDER CAFÉ
Most visitors to Grand Marais are familiar with the Bally Blacksmith Shop, which still stands today along Broadway. But what about the property across the street? For a time, the Ballys owned that entire block. In 1930, the Bally family sold the property across from the blacksmith shop to Axel Backlund and his wife, Clara. Before 1930 ended, the Backlunds sold the majority of four lots making up the block to Andrew Shold. However, some portion of the lots were sold to the State of Minnesota to accommodate the new Highway 61— hence the triangle shape of land that now exists in its place.
Andrew Shold initially moved his Home Trade Shoe Store to the site and operated out of the lower level. As the new highway was being routed through town, the Sholds added a second floor to the westerly building and moved their shoe repair business upstairs. Recognizing that access to the highway provided new opportunities, gas pumps were added, a bus was purchased, and Shold contracted with the school district to provide a bus service for students. His shoe repair business was sold to Oliver Anderson, who rented space in the lower level. It appears the Sholds added a large garage fronting Broadway in the 1940s, perhaps right after WWII ended.
In the mid-40s, Shold became an International Harvester truck dealer. He also sold parts for farm equipment, cream separators and other farm supplies. Around 1946, he added a Hudson car dealership. In 1947, Andrew’s wife, Freda Shold, opened up the Kaffe Stuga on the upper level, originally selling coffee and short orders. Later she added full meals while baking in the lower level of the building.
In 1948, Andrew added a wing to the building known as the “lube room” where vehicles could be repaired and lubricated. In 1953, Andrew and Freda Shold sold Shold’s Mobil Service to Kenneth and Fern Lovaas and Roger and Janet Shold. Fern and Roger were Andrew and Esther’s children. That same year, they discontinued selling the Hudson cars. Kenny and Roger leased out the coffee shop for a couple of years and discontinued it in 1955.
In 1973, the joint owners sold the property to the Grand Marais Hotel Co., Inc., a corporation owned by George and Norrine Peet, and purchased the Spur Station owned by the Peets which was located across Broadway from their former station. They converted the Spur Station to a Mobil Station. In 1980, they discontinued selling International vehicles.
On September 20, 1973, Robert V. Evenson and John V. Viren officially leased the property from the Grand Marais Hotel Company, Inc. They had remodeled the building earlier that summer and, in July, opened a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise on the first floor. John Viren used the lower level of the building for his veterinary practice.
By 1973 the two one-story garages fronting on Broadway had deteriorated. Consequently, Peet had them torn down sometime during the 1970s. Evenson and Viren terminated their lease with George Peet and discontinued their Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in Grand Marais on January 1, 1979.
Over the years, several businesses rented various parts of the complex. Dr. Soderberg rented the two-story building in the 1950s, and Dick O’Brien used the space as a law office in 1956. It also served as a propane and laundromat business, an accounting service, and a furniture store.
On October 18, 1982, George and Margie Peet sold the building to Troy and Helen Ford. They started the South of the Border Café. Today, this locally favorite eatery is the first to open its doors in the morning for a delicious breakfast! The Ford family owned the restaurant through 2025, when it was purchased by Mark Johnson and Eugene Eliasen.
Special thanks to Gene Glader for his thorough research. Gene continues illuminating the history of Grand Marais businesses and is planning a second book on the topic in the future.
This article was originally published in a previous issue of the CCHS newsletter, "The Overlook," and has been edited for clarity.
