Phillips in Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
2107 East Lake: Porky's Drive-In
The Museum in the Streets: Minneapolis, Minnesota
— 27th and Lake: Industry and Transportation Infrastructure —
Ray Truelson, together with his father, Roy, opened drive-in restaurants throughout the Twin Cities, including a Porky's Drive-In at 2107 East Lake Street. The drive-in restaurant concept gained popularity after World War II as Americans embraced car culture and dining out, reaching its peak by the early 1950s. "We were among the first to come along when the eating-out thing began after the war," recalled Ray Truelson. "We thought we had found the end of the rainbow and hit the pot of gold." By the mid-1970s, the innovation of drive-thru counters at fast-food restaurants signaled the end of the carhop-style drive-in. In 1975, the Truelsons converted Porky's to Nora's, a sit-down restaurant. The last Porky's restaurant survived on University Avenue in St. Paul until 2011.
Erected 2012 by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 19.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Minneapolis, Minnesota series list.
Location. 44° 56.908′ N, 93° 14.53′ W. Marker is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is in Phillips. Marker is at the intersection of E. Lake Street and 21st Avenue S., on the right when traveling west on E. Lake Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2100 E Lake St, Minneapolis MN 55407, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 2019 East Lake: Burma Shave (within shouting distance of this marker); 2108-30 East Lake: Twin City Rapid Transit Lake Street Station and Car Yard (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 2217 East Lake: Axel's Lunch Room (about 700 feet away); Hiawatha-Minnehaha Corridor (approx. 0.2 miles away); Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Snelling Avenue: African American Community (approx. 0.3 miles away); Martin Olav Sabo Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Minneapolis-Moline (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minneapolis.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2019, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 1,882 times since then and 299 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 29, 2019, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.