Before the early 1960s, when much of Minneapolis was razed to make way for ugly parking ramps and office buildings, another world existed. Decrepit 19th century buildings in an area of downtown called Skid Row housed lowbrow bars and flophouses, and a man named John “Johnny Rex” Bacich, owner of the Sourdough Bar, reigned supreme over a gaggle of brawlers, migrant workers, prostitutes and drunks.
My guest is Star Tribune editor James Eli Shiffer and his book is called “The King of Skid Row: John Bachich and the Twilight Years of Old Minneapolis”. With the help of John Bacich’s memories and photographs, he documents and shares the fascinating history of this bygone era of Minneapolis.
More about the author here: https://jamesshiffer.com/
