St James Hotel Revenue and Competitors

The St. James Hotel has been a prominent institution in Red Wing since the town was the world's largest wheat shipping port and Minnesota's most important site for commerce and travel. The St. James opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1875 with one of the most elegant parties the region had ever seen. The hotel was run for 70 years by the Lillyblad family, the majority of that time by Clara Lillyblad, a legendary figure in the history of the St. James. Charles Lillyblad became the manager of the St. James in 1906 and purchased the hotel three years later. By 1914, he was still running the operation as a single man, when a young woman named Clara Nelson arrived in Red Wing by buggy from Fergus Falls, and inquired about employment as a waitress at the St. James. She landed the job and soon after, landed a husband in Charles Lillyblad. The couple ran the hotel jointly, later helped by their children, Art born in 1916 and Frances, born in 1917. Upon Charles' death in 1932, Clara became the sole proprietress of the hotel. Every aspect of the hotel was touched by Clara's high standards. Her reputation for attention to detail, sumptuous food and service perfection was legendary. She managed the business extremely well, expecting her employees to work hard, but not as hard as she herself toiled. She was intimately involved in every role within the hotel, whether dressing in fancy clothes as a dinner hostess, or up to her elbows in dishwater. Her favorite place to be, however, was the kitchen. Clara was an excellent cook and very creative, using no cookbooks or recipes. Special dishes would just pop right out of her head, according to her staff. In fact, the home cooked meals were so popular that the St. James became known as "Clara's Place" and travelers came from miles around just to sample the food. The railroad even adjusted its schedules so that disembarking passengers would arrive in time to take a meal at "Clara's Place." Clara was also very involved in the community and soon the St. James began to play an active and important role in business by providing a space for local companies, civic groups and organizations to hold various meetings, banquets and professional gatherings. Clara ran the hotel until her death in 1972, at which point, her son Art took over. The St. James was sold to the Red Wing Shoe Company in 1977. Following an extensive renovation, the hotel was restored to its original grand state and was reopened in 1979. Today the St. James continues to bear the mark of Clara Lillyblad, offering excellent personalized service, and serving as a pillar in the Red Wing community, providing quality guest rooms and meeting space to not only local business groups, but to regional corporations and associations as well. The home-style cooking continues to be a draw and folks still come from miles around to sample the cuisine. Spectacular holiday brunches are served in the Summit Room, overlooking the Mississippi River Valley. Guests can also enjoy great views of the river while eating breakfast or lunch in the Veranda, or sample the exquisite cuisine of the Port of Red Wing for dinner. In 2001, the Port of Red Wing carried on Clara's reputation for fine meal preparation by earning the prestigious Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine for outstanding menu development and wine selections. Guests also come to the St. James for the historic ambiance and fine attention to detail. Each of the 61 guest rooms is individually and distinctively decorated with antiques and antique reproductions, in a modified Victorian style. Handmade quilts adorn each bed and turndown service, complete with chocolates, is customary. St. James Hotel guests also enjoy the luxurious historic lobby, graced with a spiral staircase and ceiling-high pipe organ. Complimentary coffee, tea or hot chocolate is served in the lobby daily, and the morning paper is delivered free to each guest room on weekdays. The St. James Hotel has provided thousands of special memories for Minnesota residents over the years, whether they were married in the historic lobby, spent a romantic honeymoon in a double whirlpool suite, celebrated special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries in the Port of Red Wing, or shared the beautiful view in the Summit Room with family members during a Holiday Brunch. But the memories of "Clara's Place" continue to live on in the hearts of those that knew her personally as well as in the walls.