Jay's Longhorn Bar

Jay's Longhorn Bar was a music venue with a low ceiling and extended bar counter that created an intimate setting for performances. The compact layout brought performers and audiences close together during live shows.

The venue opened in 1977 and quickly became Minnesota's main stage for punk, new wave, and alternative rock bands until it closed in 1980. After its time as a music space, the building shifted to different uses.

The venue served as a gathering place for the punk and new wave community in the city, drawing both emerging musicians and devoted fans to its small stage. Local bands like Hüsker Dü and The Replacements used the space to build their sound and find their audience before gaining wider recognition.

The venue no longer operates as a public music space and is not open to visitors today. To learn about its history, you can research archival materials, interviews with musicians who performed there, or local music history resources.

Peter Jesperson, who worked as a DJ at the venue, later founded Twin/Tone Records and managed The Replacements as they achieved national success. His time working here shaped his influential role in Minnesota music history.