Summit - University in Saint Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site
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Rondo Today

Photographed by McGhiever, July 13, 2021

1. Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site / Rondo Today Marker

Inscription.

Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site, also, Rondo Today. . Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site. You are standing on the site of one of the last two remaining members of the original Rondo neighborhood family of buildings in St. Paul, the "V." It succumbed suddenly to the wrecking ball on Saturday, September 18, 2013. The building at 820–822 Rondo Avenue was 97 years old. It was preceded in destruction by more than 80 siblings, who developed terminal cases of eminent domain beginning in the late 1950s., The building was born on the corner of Rondo and Fisk in 1916 and served as the home of Emmett McGill's Grocery Story until 1957. It developed many interests as a youngster, and over the years divided itself into to [sic] three sections to serve various occupations and functions., At the street level, a section dubbed 822 Rondo hosted Nicholas Kallar's Barbershop (1930-1940), Abraham Cooperman's Tailor Shop (1940-1950), Victoria's Cleaners a& Jake Love Tailor Shop (1950-1959), and the Richard and Raymond Young Brothers Barbershop (1959-1975)., In 1958, the upstairs, using 327 Fisk Street, became the office of the Dining Car Employees Local #516. That same year McGill's Grocery gave way to Royal Gooden's Ice Cream Shop and, for several years, the Pivot Restaurant., In 1961, the building took a patriotic turn and enlisted in military service as the VFW Twin Star Post 8854. Hence, the "V." The fervor of its patrons to toast their country was so strong that the building united in 1975, with the upstairs becoming the headquarters of the organization and, 1983, the headquarters of Rondo Avenue Inc. The downstairs lounge served as a meeting room and as an esteemed venue for the social gathering of thousands of patrons over the years. The building retired from active service in 2005, and, like many retirees, lay dormant in its final years., In 2018, this site has been reincarnated as the Rondo Commemorative Plaza, a place to meditate on the Spirit of Rondo, to remember its glorious past, and to rejoice in its auspicious future., Top: McGill's Grocery Store, 1950s Middle: VFW Twin Star Post 8854, 2005 Bottom: VFW Twin Star Post 8854 food drive, 1960s , Rondo Today. Rondo has changed significantly over the past 35 years, but its spirit remains unbreakable. Various institutions speak to the legacy of the neighborhood, such as the Rondo Community Library, the Rondo Educational Center, the Rondo Land Trust, the Jimmy Lee Recreational Center, Stacy Robinson Field, and James Griffin Stadium., Rondo has also received symbolic representation in recent years. In 2013, Concordia Avenue, the former Rondo Avenue, attained the honorary name of "Old Rondo Avenue" in recognition of its original identity. Other streets within Rondo also now bear honorary names of community leaders including Marvin Roger Anderson, Rev. Dr. James W. Battle, Sr., Rev. Walter L. Battle, Katie McWatt, Debbie Montgomery, Floyd G. Smaller, Jr., and Rev. Dr. A.P. Williams., Rondo is also home to transformative social development organizations. Hallie Q. Brown Community Center remains a beacon for human services, while Model Cities serves as a leading developer of residential and commercial properties. The Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation has grown well beyond its genesis, as a crime prevention organization, and is now involved in the creation and rehabilitation of affordable housing., Present-day Rondo is infused with ethnic and socio-economic complexity. On the one hand, the availability of affordable housing has attracted an influx of immigration among the Hmong, Oromo, Somali, and Karen peoples. Each such group has made valuable contributions to the economy and cultural fabric of Rondo., On the other hand, the community has also undergone a great deal of gentrification, a process in which higher-income households alter neighborhood social dynamics by raising housing values and property taxes. Indeed, the average Rondo home is now valued at $200,000., The future, therefore, is not easy to predict. What is certain, however, is that the voices and aspirations of Rondo residents remain paramount in determining the shape of the community.

Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site
You are standing on the site of one of the last two remaining members of the original Rondo neighborhood family of buildings in St. Paul, the "V." It succumbed suddenly to the wrecking ball on Saturday, September 18, 2013. The building at 820–822 Rondo Avenue was 97 years old. It was preceded in destruction by more than 80 siblings, who developed terminal cases of eminent domain beginning in the late 1950s.

The building was born on the corner of Rondo and Fisk in 1916 and served as the home of Emmett McGill's Grocery Story until 1957. It developed many interests as a youngster, and over the years divided itself into to [sic] three sections to serve various occupations and functions.

At the street level, a section dubbed 822 Rondo hosted Nicholas Kallar's Barbershop (1930-1940), Abraham Cooperman's Tailor Shop (1940-1950), Victoria's Cleaners a& Jake Love Tailor Shop (1950-1959), and the Richard and Raymond Young Brothers Barbershop (1959-1975).

In 1958, the upstairs, using 327 Fisk Street, became the office of the Dining Car Employees Local #516. That same year McGill's Grocery

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gave way to Royal Gooden's Ice Cream Shop and, for several years, the Pivot Restaurant.

In 1961, the building took a patriotic turn and enlisted in military service as the VFW Twin Star Post 8854. Hence, the "V." The fervor of its patrons to toast their country was so strong that the building united in 1975, with the upstairs becoming the headquarters of the organization and, 1983, the headquarters of Rondo Avenue Inc. The downstairs lounge served as a meeting room and as an esteemed venue for the social gathering of thousands of patrons over the years. The building retired from active service in 2005, and, like many retirees, lay dormant in its final years.

In 2018, this site has been reincarnated as the Rondo Commemorative Plaza, a place to meditate on the Spirit of Rondo, to remember its glorious past, and to rejoice in its auspicious future.

Top: McGill's Grocery Store, 1950s
Middle: VFW Twin Star Post 8854, 2005
Bottom: VFW Twin Star Post 8854 food drive, 1960s

Rondo Today
Rondo has changed significantly over the past 35 years, but its spirit remains unbreakable. Various institutions speak to the legacy of the

Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site / Rondo Today Marker (center) at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, July 13, 2021

2. Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site / Rondo Today Marker (center) at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza

neighborhood, such as the Rondo Community Library, the Rondo Educational Center, the Rondo Land Trust, the Jimmy Lee Recreational Center, Stacy Robinson Field, and James Griffin Stadium.

Rondo has also received symbolic representation in recent years. In 2013, Concordia Avenue, the former Rondo Avenue, attained the honorary name of "Old Rondo Avenue" in recognition of its original identity. Other streets within Rondo also now bear honorary names of community leaders including Marvin Roger Anderson, Rev. Dr. James W. Battle, Sr., Rev. Walter L. Battle, Katie McWatt, Debbie Montgomery, Floyd G. Smaller, Jr., and Rev. Dr. A.P. Williams.

Rondo is also home to transformative social development organizations. Hallie Q. Brown Community Center remains a beacon for human services, while Model Cities serves as a leading developer of residential and commercial properties. The Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation has grown well beyond its genesis, as a crime prevention organization, and is now involved in the creation and rehabilitation of affordable housing.

Present-day Rondo is infused with ethnic and socio-economic

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complexity. On the one hand, the availability of affordable housing has attracted an influx of immigration among the Hmong, Oromo, Somali, and Karen peoples. Each such group has made valuable contributions to the economy and cultural fabric of Rondo.

On the other hand, the community has also undergone a great deal of gentrification, a process in which higher-income households alter neighborhood social dynamics by raising housing values and property taxes. Indeed, the average Rondo home is now valued at $200,000.

The future, therefore, is not easy to predict. What is certain, however, is that the voices and aspirations of Rondo residents remain paramount in determining the shape of the community.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Immigration • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.

Location. 44° 57.063′ N, 93° 8.107′ W. Marker is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in Ramsey County. It is in Summit - University. It is at the intersection of N. Fisk Street and Rondo Avenue, on the right when traveling south on N. Fisk Street. The marker is at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 820 Rondo Avenue, Saint Paul MN 55104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rondo 1970–1982 / Words from the Founders (here, next to this marker); Hmong in the Rondo Neighborhood / The Oromo of Rondo (here, next to this marker); Karen People in Rondo / Somalis in Rondo (here, next to this marker); Serial Racial Displacement / Rondo Properties Lost to I-94 (here, next to this marker); Rondo Landmarks / The Story of 755 Rondo (a few steps from this marker); History of Rondo / Redlining Rondo (a few steps from this marker); Pilgrim Baptist Church (approx. ¼ mile away); From Service to Solidarity (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saint Paul.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 412 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site⎯⎯⎯Rondo Today

Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site
⎯⎯⎯
Rondo Today