The Historic Walker Lake District, part of the larger Lenox neighborhood, is a newly revitalized area in St. Louis Park, centered around the intersection of Walker St. and Lake St. This area is considered an historic district because it is home to St. Louis Park’s oldest commercial building, the two-story brick Walker Building. Built by T.B. Walker in 1892, the building was part of St. Louis Park’s original commercial district. Today, it serves as a hub for the area and the home of Sota Clothing.
At this Artventure stop, you’ll find Lucette the Lumberjill, along with some incredible merchandise, at Sota Clothing. Lucette is Paul Bunyan’s sweetheart from Hackensack, MN. Legend has her cleaning the house like a tornado. She’s handy with an ax and put her near water and she’ll teach you a thing or two about log rolling!
The Walker Building
The west side of the historic Walker Building is popular for it’s Minnesota-themed murals. Paul and Babe are definitely worth a closer look. You’ll also want to take a picture at the “You Betcha We Love It Here” Instagram-worthy photo station, whose surrounding décor changes with the season.
At Sota Clothing, be sure to pick up some distinctly Minnesota swag, from t-shirts and sweatshirts to ball caps and more!
If you’re feeling hungry, across the street you’ll find the St. Louis Park American Legion Post 282. Everyone is welcome at this classic restaurant serving burgers, sandwiches, salads and wraps.
As you stroll through the neighborhood, be sure to look down. The sidewalks of Lake St. and Walker St. have been sandblasted with poetry created by local residents and students. The poems explore themes of local identity, cultural expression and the concept of place and time. Take a moment to pause, reflect and be inspired.
Tail Waggin' Fun
Four-legged travelers will want to stop by Petropawlis, a store filled with all the latest dog toys and treats. Then grab a bite to eat at The Block SLP, which offers a year-round “paw-tio” and special dog menu. They’re open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you stop by in the afternoon, you can relax with a brew and your dog can even have one too! Their “Come. Sit. Stay.” wall is the perfect backdrop for a buddy photo. Another popular photo op is their “Love from SLP” mural next to the patio entrance. (See special offer!)
Those looking to indulge in a little self-care can easily walk to an array of nearby personal services, including Pilates classes, massage and acupuncture, spray tanning, eye care, and hair salons.
"Spare" Time
Journey a few blocks northwest and stop in at the Park Tavern, a popular restaurant and entertainment center for over 60 years that offers 20 lanes of bowling, an arcade, a bar filled with big screen TVs and a spacious outdoor patio. They offer weekly trivia and bingo, plus live music on the patio every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening. (See special offer!)
Need a good read? The St. Louis Park Public Library is just a block away.
Parks!
Across the street, you’ll find Louisiana Oaks Park. This spacious park has numerous fields for soccer and lacrosse, baseball and softball. There are numerous paved trails, a picnic shelter, picnic tables and a large play structure.
At the north end of the park, you’ll find Oak Hill Park. Like Louisiana Oaks, Oak Hill is home to baseball/softball fields, a basketball court, paved trails, picnic shelters, picnic tables and a play structure. They also have outdoor grills, perfect for throwing together an impromptu barbecue.
A highlight of the park is the Oak Hill Park Splash Pad. This 2,350 square foot facility lets kids activate bubble hoses, water nozzles and sprinkler arches. It’s perfect for families with younger children.
Still hungry? Stop into Mexico City Café for authentic street tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas and tortas. They also serve delicious breakfast dishes Tuesday through Saturday. Art lovers will admire the beautiful cactus and butterfly mural on their wall, courtesy of Good Space Murals.
Walk a block north and pick up some decadent cheesecake slices from Muddy Paws Cheesecake – they have over 222 flavors, including gluten free, keto and vegan! (See special offer!)
We hope you’ve enjoyed your visit to the Historic Walker Lake District!
Be sure to check out the special offers from some of the area’s businesses.
And don’t forget to visit the other characters on the Adam Turman Artventure!