Market Bar-B-Que Confidential

the long version

"The Market Barbecue first opened its doors in 1946 at a location where the Target Center now stands. It has since moved several times, but has always retained its classic ambiance, and today it remains a late-night home to anyone looking for a great meal. This is the story of the brothers Willard and Sam Polski, who rose from humble immigrant beginnings and a hardscrabble education in the worlds of gambling and bootlegging to establish the Market. It also offers a fascinating look into the restaurant's more recent history under the ownership of Willard's son Steve. Today anyone entering the Market is welcomed by walls of photographs featuring the many celebrities who have dined at the Market since it first opened--movie stars, Broadway celebrities, crooners and comedians, scholars, sports heroes, and musicians. You'll find their stories here, from Jay Leno and B. B. King to Mickey Rooney and Mikhail Barysnikov. The tale is also rich in stories of the customers and employees who keep the wheels turning from one day to the next. It's a grand family saga of persistence and dedication to doing things right that will fascinate anyone interested in the history of downtown Minneapolis--and anyone who enjoys a good plate of wood-smoked ribs."--Page 4 of cover.