Tom Reid’s delivers hockey history lesson
By Mike Mitchelson

A museum-quality memorabilia collection sets Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub beyond the traditional ‘sport’s bar.’

There are sports bars and restaurants, and there are sports bars and restaurants that transcend that narrow definition to become institutions. For example, there is Murphy’s Bleachers in Chicago, across the street from Wrigley Field, where Cubs fans have been filling the bar since the 1930s. There’s usually at least one “institutional” sports bar per city, although usually leaning hard to baseball or football, or the local college teams.

Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub on West Seventh Street in St. Paul has, in its short existence, become an institution for hockey enthusiasts. It’s owned by, as one might guess, Tom Reid, former stalwart defenseman from 1969 to 1978 for the National Hockey League’s Minnesota North Stars (the team moved to Dallas in 1993).

Since opening in 2000, the day before the Minnesota Wild’s first exhibition game, the pub has evolved into an unofficial club not only for fans, but for current and former visiting NHL players, coaches and media. “Hockey really is such a small family, everybody knows everybody else,” Reid said.

Recently, the entire Edmonton Oilers’ team dined and drank at the pub, and also the Edmonton media covering the game. Wild coaches and players frequently dine and drink at the pub.

Proximity—the pub is about two blocks from the Xcel (“On a cold winter day you can make it down here in about a minute,” Reid joked)—helps, of course. But the pub has carved its niche quickly in large part because of its hockey memorabilia collection. “People who surround themselves with the game won’t find in any other city in the country a place like this,” Reid said. And he knows. He’s traveled to other cities looking for a place like his. “We have history here from the 1930s on up, and it gives the story of the game. Some people come in here just to walk through it—it’s a free museum.”

There’s everything a hockey fan could imagine, from autographed jerseys, pieces of equipment and photos of current NHL stars such as the Pittsburgh Penguin’s Sidney Crosby and the Wild’s Marion Gaborik, to former stars linking the decades, like Wayne Gretzky, Guy LaFleur, Bobby Orr and Maurice “The Rocket” Richard.
And if a few of those names don’t mean anything to you, Reid would be happy to fill you in. He takes very seriously that his name is on the pub, and has increased his already very active role. His other job, as broadcaster and communications guru for the Wild, doesn’t stop him from being in the pub nearly every day he isn’t traveling with the team to away games. “I’m down here after each home game, I walk through the restaurant two or three times and talk to people,” he said. “People like to talk about the game and reminisce, and that’s never bothered me. I really enjoy it.”


Museum piece

Reid has collected hockey memorabilia for “around 40 years,” he said. “I thought this would be a nice extension (of the hobby), and it’s a perfect fit.”

He searches for historic pieces, trolling antique stores and working his NHL contacts. He started his career with the Chicago Blackhawks—the connection served him well to get items from Blackhawks great Stan Makita and others. His connections have brought him paraphernalia from other greats, such as Montreal Canadiens heroes Yvan Cournoyer and Jean Beliveau. Beliveau played for 20 seasons with the Canadiens, retiring in 1971. “Beliveau was my favorite player as a kid,” Reid said. “First time I played against him, he deked me so bad.”

He’s also collected a seat from the old Chicago Stadium that was torn down in 1994, sticks from various decades and players, and, of course, thousands of player cards. Reid also framed the first contract he signed with the North Stars, for $13,000 per year. “Now they make more than that in a day,” he chuckled.

The Pub is his first venture into the restaurant business. “I was usually on the other side of the bar,” he said with a laugh. The Wild games have, obviously, been very good to the business. “It’s the youngest team in the league, with sellouts every night—it all benefits,” Reid said.

But what happens when the team isn’t playing, such as the cancellation of the 2004-’05 season because the league’s owners locked-out players because of a labor dispute? “During the lockout, it was difficult—it was difficult for every business down here—but we had a good mix of fans (for other events) coming in,” Reid said. “And the Wild were good to (all business owners) too, and helped sustain us with concerts and the like.”

Reid said the pub is rounding out its themes to be a draw for any sports fan, whether it’s the Twins or Vikings—and there’s memorabilia being accumulated from those teams. “And for the summer, we’re going to be a NASCAR bar,” he added.

While the memorabilia brings many through the door, its always food and drink that gets them to stay a while. “My name is on this place, and a good product has to be there,” he said. “We’re not a steak and lobster place, but we’re not just burgers, either.”

The menu is diverse with salads, wraps, sandwiches and wings. “We pay a little more to get the right product; the quality of food is very good here,” he added. “You might get someone in here once, but it’s about getting them in here the second and third time.”