Border Boost

Built by Duluth Brewing and Malting Company, this two-story brick building was sold by John Harrison to brothers James and Christ Sedaris, Greek immigrants, to house their Chicago Cafe in 1925. It has been occupied by Roger Mercier's Saloon, Ed Bancraft's Club Cafe, Bancraft Bowling Alley, Oliver Pool Hall run by Herman Koeneke, and Greengard Clothing. Jim Sedaris and his wife operated the popular cafe Home of the Unsurpassed Coffee for many years here. In 1939, Mr. Sedaris tried to retire and sold the cafe to Ralph Smith, but Sedaris took it back in 1940. In 1946, he sold to Lowell Johnson who operated it until 1965. After that, Mike Robertson ran the Cafe and had pool tables in the basement for a youth center. Later the building was occupied by the Bernina Sewing Center, Bev's Statuary Shop, Sakrison's Craft Supply, Western Union, Crafts Etcetera. The building was most recently Border Boost, but is now waiting for a new venture.