It's not every day you hear about a Bar-B-Q joint having a hand in the construction of a major sports stadium, but then again, Aleck Ellis was no ordinary restaurateur. Not one to sit back and let his smoked meats do all the talking, Ellis played a key role in the development of Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington — a town he was deeply dedicated to. According to a recent feature, by Bloomington's communications department, Ellis wasn't just about slinging ribs and briskets at his Smoky Point Bar-B-Q. He was the kind of guy who knew everyone, sat on several boards, and even engaged in the sporty politics of stadium planning.
As history would have it, Ellis's Smoky Point Bar-B-Q, nestled near the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, would become a neighbor to the Twin Cities' new sports hub. In 1953, Ellis hopped on a trip to Milwaukee alongside other community leaders to scrutinize stadium designs, and it was his brainwave to put the new arena near his BBQ joint — talk about convenience. Not only did this move provide a significant boost to his business – as anyone with taste buds and a predilection for spectator sports could tell you – but it also gave him a short ride to his box seats for the games. In a statement obtained by Bloomington Communications, his daughter Pat Lambros said in 2008, "My father was always community-oriented. He knew everyone in Bloomington and worked tirelessly to make it a better place."
Built in 1956, Metropolitan Stadium went on to host the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Vikings, and eventually, the Minnesota Kicks soccer team. This storied piece of real estate would later morph into the retail giant we know today as Mall of America, standing as a monument to Ellis’s love for his community and — whether directly or indirectly — BBQ. As for the Smoky Point Bar-B-Q, it firmly planted itself in the local narrative, becoming a kind of landmark for anyone passing through to pay homage to Ellis's legacy.
So, as Bloomington reflects on its past and the figures that helped shape it, Ellis’s story serves as a reminder that sometimes, it's the folks in aprons and the smell of hickory smoke that can leave a lasting impact on a community. Patrons might have come for the slow-cooked brisket, but in the end, they became part of a larger story — Ellis's vision of a thriving Bloomington, with a side of sports history.
