The Longfellow neighborhood is a charming Minneapolis area hugging the Mississippi River on the east and bordering the light rail line that runs from downtown Minneapolis to the airport on the west. The area is dotted with neighborhood restaurants and businesses, and today’s site is the thriving community corner at 38th Street and 42nd Avenue South.
The mural above graces the rear of the historic Riverview Theater on that corner, a classic 1950’s-style community movie theater with bargain show prices of only $2-$3. It combines the best of the old and the new, with classic 1950’s decor and a large theatre auditorium but new high-back rocker seats with cup-holder arm rests. It’s a great place to catch a bargain movie!
Grab a bite to eat before the show at the Riverview Cafe and Wine Bar across the street. It’s a popular local gathering spot located in a 1908 building that was the former home of a neighborhood drug store and it still maintains its storefront character. It is also a perfect stop after a run along the nearby beautiful River Road or a leisurely neighborhood walk.
While you’re there stop at Mother Earth Gardens, which is 
also situated on this vibrant neighborhood corner. Winner of City Pages Best Garden Center 2008, it specializes in organic gardening, sustainably grown plants and eco-friendly products. Unlike some garden centers in this northern climate, Mother Earth Gardens is open year round, with pumpkins and funky Halloween decorations in the fall, and natural trees, swags and wreaths for the winter holidays. Of course, at this time of the year they feature their sustainably grown and ‘knock-your-socks-off’ (in their own words) annuals and perennials…they even have ‘beneficial insects’!
Housing in this area is dominated by charming bungalows and is popular with first-time homebuyers. Its easy access to St. Paul over the Highland bridge also has an attraction for many who live in the area. We’ll visit Minnehaha Falls and the River Road trails that are natural highlights of this area another week.
Housing prices in this area currently range from under $100,000 for distressed foreclosure properties to nearly $1,000,000 for homes along the river. The average price of houses excluding bank and river properties is about $225,00.
Click here to see homes currently for sale in this Longfellow area of Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Please be patient while the link searches for the most current listings…pass your cursor over the dots on the map for property information.)
