MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – When it comes to the evolution of Minnesota music, few intersections are as instrumental as 26th and Lyndale in south Minneapolis.

A new spin on a local landmark

What we know:

At Lucky Cat Records, vinyl heads can get their fix from the store’s new and vintage stacks of wax, but it is also a mini-museum for the local music scene.

“With all the history here, it’s really big shoes to fill,” said owner Michele Swanson.

Swanson opened the shop this past summer after learning the historic space was available, even though the retired Delta Airlines manager had never run a record store before.

“It’s something I never planned on. There’s a pie in the sky sort of idea that came to fruition and it’s just been fantastic,” said Swanson.

When it began

The backstory:

Back in the 70s and 80s, the space was home to Oak Folkjokeopus, which was a mecca for legendary local bands like The Suburbs, Soul Asylum and Husker Du, who hung out to listen to punk and post punk records, while also frequenting the CC Club across the street for a drink.

In fact, The Replacements were discovered here when their frontman Paul Westerberg handed the band’s demo to their future manager Peter Jesperson, who was working at Oar Folk.

After Oar Folkjokeopus closed in 2001, employee Mark Trehus ran Treehouse Records in the building until 2017.

The shop sat empty for 7 years until Swanson decided to bring another record store to the neighborhood.

“This space is so special and I really wanted to make sure to honor the past, not only Oar Folk and Treehouse and what came before, but all the artists and all the music community,” said Swanson.

Dropping the needle on a new era

What they’re saying:

There are nods to the past beyond just the posters on the wall.

The sign out front is in the same font as the one for Oar Folkjokeopus.

For opening weekend last July, Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson performed in the store with a surprise encore with the son of Minnesota legend Bob Dylan, Jacob Dylan and The Wallflowers, who happened to have a show in town.

Swanson named her shop after the items she saw in every storefront while traveling in Japan with Delta, but she hopes her focus on local music will hit a groove with a new generation of fans without skipping a beat.

“It’s been just amazing being able to open a record store in this kind of hallowed spot and this place. We just hope to continue to be part of the community and to be something that’s valuable and also a place where we can continue to educate people about the past,” said Swanson.