Selby Avenue: A Street of Many Stories
The rich and complex history of Selby Avenue, from streetcar line to cultural corridor.
Selby Avenue has been one of Cathedral Hill's most important commercial and cultural corridors for more than a century. Its history reflects the broader story of American urban neighborhoods — a tale of prosperity, decline, and renewal that mirrors the experiences of communities across the nation.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Selby Avenue was a thriving commercial street served by one of Saint Paul's busiest streetcar lines. The Selby Avenue streetcar, which ran from downtown to the western suburbs, brought customers to the shops, banks, and businesses that lined the street and supported the surrounding residential neighborhoods.
The avenue was also a center of cultural life, with theaters, restaurants, and social clubs that served the diverse communities living in the Cathedral Hill area. The neighborhood's mix of wealthy families along Summit Avenue and working-class households on surrounding streets created a varied commercial district that catered to different tastes and budgets.
The mid-20th century brought significant challenges to Selby Avenue. The decline of the streetcar system, the construction of Interstate 94, racial tensions, and suburban flight all took their toll on the commercial district. By the late 1960s and 1970s, many storefronts were vacant and the corridor had lost much of its former vitality.
The Selby Avenue corridor also played a role in the civil rights movement in Saint Paul. The avenue was a center of African American community life, and organizations based along the corridor advocated for racial justice, equal opportunity, and community empowerment.
The revitalization of Selby Avenue began in the 1980s and has continued to the present day. New restaurants, shops, and cultural institutions have transformed the corridor into one of Saint Paul's most dynamic commercial streets. The mix of old and new businesses gives the avenue its distinctive character, while organizations like Penumbra Theatre ensure that the corridor's cultural heritage continues to thrive.
Today, Selby Avenue embodies the neighborhood's ongoing evolution — a street that honors its complex history while embracing the energy and creativity of the present.