Persian Palms Nightclub

The Persian Palms Nightclub (109 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis), shown here in 1961, was one of the most popular venues in the Gateway District. Skid Row was famous for its bars in the Post-World War II era, but most of its permanent residents could not actually afford to frequent them. Instead, they catered to Minneapolitans, and out-state workers in town with money to burn. The Palms was known for burlesque shows, a backroom which was popular with the Twin Cities’ LGBTQ community, and waitresses who worked with the bouncers to extort the gullible and well-heeled.