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In 1937, the Hillside Inn opened its doors. Owned by the same family since its inception, the bar and grill continues today as The Valley (Valley Lounge).
The Hillside Inn In the 1930s, Interstate 35E was still 50 years away. Highway 55 was extended to Hastings in 1936, and electric power came to Eagan 1939. Highways 55 and 13 were the primary thoroughfares, and the Hillside Inn came in to serve travelers and residents alike. Located at the intersection of Highway 13 and Yankee Doodle Road, the establishment is owned by Jim Tousignant, who purchased it from his parents, Lawrence and Laura, in 1967. He remodeled the inn and built an addition before reopening as the Valley Lounge in 1968. When first opened, the front sign had not yet arrived, and a large OPEN sign was displayed on the front of the building. Customers referred to the place as The OPEN, and some old-timers still refer to it by that name. |
In the early years, the family's house was connected to the bar and grill. The Hillside Inn served local customers and people from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Highway 13 was then the main highway through Eagan, and people from St. Paul would travel this route to get to their cabins in Prior Lake. Then came World War II. The Hillside Inn was closed for over two years during the war, because gas and tires were rationed, and beer was also unavailable. When Jim Tousignant purchased the business, there were two primary competitors located north on Highway 13. The Gay Paree (now the Mendota Saloon), and the Sibley Lounge. Scott & Jim Tousignant Today, the Valley Pub & Grill serves customers from Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley and other areas. |
