Forum Cafeteria

Forum Cafeteria was a historic Minneapolis dining establishment whose identity was closely tied to the elaborate Art Deco interior of the building at 36 South 7th Street. The structure began life as the Saxe Theater in 1914 and was later known as the Strand Theater. In 1930, it was reconstructed as a cafeteria, creating the Forum Cafeteria brand and a distinctive downtown venue aimed at the period's growing market for relatively quick, affordable meals in a highly decorative setting. The cafeteria's most notable feature was its interior. Black onyx, pale green tiles, decorative sconces, chandeliers, and mirrors were combined with motifs associated with Minnesota, including pine cones, waterfalls, and Viking ships. The design made the restaurant more than a utilitarian food-service operation: it functioned as a prominent downtown interior and became part of Minneapolis's architectural and commercial heritage. Forum Cafeteria eventually struggled against changes in urban dining and the rise of fast food. It closed in August 1975, ending the cafeteria's direct operation. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1976, reflecting the significance of its Art Deco interior and its place in Minneapolis history. That protection did not permanently preserve the original location. Three months after the closure, the former Forum space reopened as Scottie's on Seventh, a disco nightclub that retained the decorative interior. The property later faced demolition threats connected with the Minneapolis City Center project. Preservationists brought legal action, and the developers were required to dismantle approximately 3,500 pieces of the glass and decorative interior and reassemble them in a new location. The relocated venue, at 18 South 7th Street, reopened as Scottie's on Seventh in 1983 but closed in 1985. The property was removed from the National Register in 1987. The former Forum space subsequently hosted a succession of restaurants and hospitality concepts, including Paramount Cafe, Mick's, Goodfellow's from 1996 to 2005, The Forum, and Il Foro, which opened in June 2015 and closed in May 2016. Fhima's opened in the space in 2018 with a French-Moroccan-influenced menu. These later occupants were separate businesses rather than continuing operations of Forum Cafeteria, but their presence illustrates the continuing commercial and cultural afterlife of the historic site. Forum Cafeteria itself remains a defunct, Minneapolis-specific restaurant brand remembered principally for its architecture, preservation history, and role in downtown dining.

The building associated with Forum Cafeteria originated as the Saxe Theater, constructed in 1914 at 36 South 7th Street in downtown Minneapolis. It was later operated as the Strand Theater before a major 1930 reconstruction converted it into a cafeteria. The conversion created a new commercial identity while preserving the site's importance as a public interior in the center of the city. The reconstructed cafeteria was distinguished by a highly elaborate Art Deco design. Black onyx and pale green tile formed much of the visual palette, while sconces, chandeliers, and mirrors added a theatrical quality. Decorative imagery drew on Minnesota themes, including pine cones, waterfalls, and Viking ships. The result was a restaurant that offered a memorable architectural setting alongside cafeteria-style food service. Its design reflected an era when large urban cafeterias could serve as important social and commercial spaces rather than merely inexpensive places to eat. Forum Cafeteria did not survive the transformation of American fast dining. The restaurant closed in August 1975, when fast-food businesses and changing consumer expectations increasingly challenged the traditional cafeteria format. The former restaurant was not immediately demolished or abandoned. In the same year, the site reopened as Scottie's on Seventh, a disco nightclub that retained the Forum's Art Deco interior. The building was then listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1976. The site's preservation became contentious when redevelopment plans for the Minneapolis City Center threatened the building. Preservationists sued, and the resulting process required the developers to take apart the interior's approximately 3,500 glass and decorative elements and reconstruct them within a new space. This approach preserved much of the Forum's architectural character even though the original setting was lost. The relocated venue at 18 South 7th Street reopened as Scottie's on Seventh in 1983, but that operation closed in 1985. The property was removed from the National Register in 1987. After the nightclub period, the space continued to be used for hospitality businesses. Later occupants included Paramount Cafe, Mick's, Goodfellow's, The Forum, and Il Foro. Goodfellow's operated there from 1996 through 2005. Il Foro opened in June 2015 and closed in May 2016. In 2018, Fhima's opened in the space with a French-Moroccan-influenced menu. These successor businesses did not represent uninterrupted operation of Forum Cafeteria; rather, they demonstrate how the former cafeteria's interior and address continued to attract restaurants and entertainment venues. Forum Cafeteria is therefore best understood as a defunct Minneapolis restaurant brand with an unusually important architectural legacy. Its historical significance rests less on a surviving corporate organization or product portfolio than on the relationship between downtown food service, Art Deco design, preservation law, and urban redevelopment.

• 1987

  Site is removed from the National Register

  [1]Forum Cafeteria (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  The relocated and redeveloped property is delisted from the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1983

  Interior is reconstructed at a new address

  [1]Forum Cafeteria (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  Following preservation litigation tied to Minneapolis City Center redevelopment, the Art Deco interior is reassembled at 18 South 7th Street and Scottie's on Seventh reopens.

• 1976

  Former Forum building is listed on the National Register

  [1]Forum Cafeteria (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  The former cafeteria building receives National Register of Historic Places designation on March 16.

• 1975

  Cafeteria closes

  [1]Forum Cafeteria (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  Forum Cafeteria closes in August as the traditional cafeteria format loses ground to fast food and changing dining habits.

• 1930

  Building is reconstructed as Forum Cafeteria

  [1]Forum Cafeteria (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  A major reconstruction converts the former theater into Forum Cafeteria and introduces its distinctive Art Deco interior.

• 1914

  Saxe Theater is constructed

  [1]Forum Cafeteria (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org

  The building at 36 South 7th Street is originally constructed as the Saxe Theater.

A downtown Minneapolis cafeteria combining relatively fast, accessible dining with an elaborate Art Deco environment and strong regional decorative motifs.

• Cafeteria meals · 1930

  Forum Cafeteria dining service

  Forum Cafeteria provided cafeteria-style food service in a large downtown Minneapolis setting. The available reference material identifies the business as a cafeteria but does not document a specific menu, signature dish, packaged product, or proprietary food line. Its principal offering was the combination of prepared meals and relatively quick service within an elaborate Art Deco dining environment.

• Hospitality experience · 1930

  Art Deco dining interior

  The most distinctive element associated with Forum Cafeteria was its interior rather than a named menu item. Black onyx, pale green tiles, sconces, chandeliers, mirrors, and Minnesota-themed motifs created a highly recognizable setting. The interior was later dismantled and reconstructed at another location, where successor venues continued to use it.

• 1983

  Relocation and reconstruction of the interiorStrategy

  Background

  The Minneapolis City Center project threatened the original building, prompting preservationists to challenge the redevelopment.

  Action taken

  Developers were required to dismantle approximately 3,500 pieces of glass and decorative material and reassemble the Art Deco interior at 18 South 7th Street.

  Aftermath

  Scottie's on Seventh reopened in the reconstructed space, preserving the interior's commercial use for a time even though the original Forum Cafeteria had ceased to exist.

  Source

• 1976

  Historic designation of the former cafeteria buildingOther

  Background

  After the restaurant closed and the former venue was repurposed, the architectural value of its Art Deco interior came under formal consideration.

  Action taken

  The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1976.

  Aftermath

  Later redevelopment threats led to preservation litigation and relocation of the interior rather than simple demolition.

  Source

• 1975

  Closure of the cafeteria operationStrategy

  Background

  The traditional cafeteria model faced pressure from the expanding fast-food sector and changing consumer dining habits.

  Action taken

  Forum Cafeteria ended operations in August 1975.

  Aftermath

  The building was subsequently used by other entertainment and restaurant businesses, while its Art Deco interior became the focus of preservation efforts.

  Source

1. 1Forum Cafeteria (Minneapolis)en.wikipedia.org