This page is under continual construction. More will be added as research progresses. As with much of the Twin Cities Almanac, the first step is to identify all the possible entries, their addresses, and dates of operation. If you have information or stories to share, please contact one of our researchers on the “contact us” tab.
Sauna Name | Address | Approx. Dates of Operation |
Angies Sauna | 301 E. Lake St., Mpls | closed May 1990 |
A-Spa | 1617 E. Lake St., Mpls | |
Bamboo Hut Health Club | 5416 Nicollet Ave., Mpls | closed Aug 1992 |
Big Daddy's (bathhouse) | Mpls | |
Body Shoppe Sauna | 4414 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park | |
Carol's Massage Parlor & Sauna | 210 S. 10th St., Mpls | May 1969 - |
Comfort Massage Studio | Minnehaha & Milton Sts., St. Paul | circa 1981 |
Cosmopolitan Sauna | St. Paul | |
Dona Lee's Sauna | 715 E. Lake St., Mpls | 1970 - |
Inner Circle | 40 S. 6th St., Mpls | 1970 - |
Kim's Sauna | 1610 Randolph St., St. Paul | 1970 - |
Kimiko's Sauna | 4310 W. 36 1/2 St. (at Excelsior Blvd), St. Louis Park | May 1969 - |
Maggie's Midnight Sauna | 2734 Nicollet; 132 S. 10th St., Mpls | June 1970 - |
Nirvona Health Club | 906 Hennepin Ave., Mpls | ~1988 |
North Mpls Sauna | Mpls | circa 1988 |
Paradise Center | 3000 20th Ave. S., Mpls | closed Aug 1994 |
Paradise Sauna | 66th & Lyndale, Richfield | |
Relax-a-Lounge | 1824 East 38th | Circa 1990 |
Riverside Health Club | ||
Sakura | 627 1st Av. N., Mpls | ~Oct 1988 |
Sakura Health Club | East Lake St. & Cedar Ave., Mpls | |
Sauna 27 | ||
Susie's (same as Suzy's) | 16th St. & 3rd Ave S., Mpls | Text |
Suzy's Sauna | 16th St. & 3rd Ave S., Mpls | May 1969 - |
The Bamboo Hut (sauna) | 5416 Nicollet; and later 4516 Nicollet Ave S, Mpls | 1968 - |
The Bunny Hutch | 3130 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park | |
Vapor's (bathhouse) | Andover | 1971- |
Photos
This sauna was located at 117 North Washington Avenue not far from Sex World. Yoshiko’s Sauna operated in the early 1990s until it was declared a public nuisance by the City of Minneapolis and forced to close in early 1993. Some of its history is documented in a Minnesota appeal court record. It was not uncommon for the city to engage in “construction” near these sites as a sneaky way of limiting access by customers. (Photo by Twin Cities Almanac, circa 1990s).
Site of the former Relax-a-Lounge (sauna parlor) located at 3754 Cedar Ave. in south Minneapolis (corner building, looking northwest). This is the intersection of 38th & Cedar Ave. S. and the sauna was operated out of the second floor. It was run by Rebecca Rand, madam, from at least 1972-1990. It is now closed. [Screenshot from Google Earth).
Protests in 1992 outside one of the oldest “sauna parlors” in Minneapolis, also called “health clubs.” The Bamboo Hut Health Club was located near 54th and Nicollet Ave. S. and was eventually closed down. (Photo by Twin Cities Almanac).