The Brick Alley is in Stillwater, Minnesota, and was built in 1904 as a gas plant to support the region’s growing energy needs after the St. Croix lumber boom declined. It later became the original home of Northern States Power Company and served as a key electrical substation, distributing hydroelectricpower throughout the St. Croix Valley. Over time, the building evolved with changing technology, eventually becoming office and maintenance space. 

In the 1970s, it was acquired by architect Michael McGuire and investors. Mike envisioned it to be an indoor mall and office space for artists and small businesses, each space offering a showroom and studio. 

During this time artists such as Warren McKenzie, Mark Pharis and Wayne Branum had a store in the building called Food Tools and later Hand to Hand.

Food Tools existed from about 1978-1983. 
In the book ‘What Makes a Potter’ Mark Pharis describes it :

“It was an idea that I had about trying to create an environment that people could walk into and see pots in use and see other things that were utiliatrian in use that were analogous to pots, like wooden spoons or certain kinds of fiber or glassware or, you know, things that had an aesthetic appeal that belonged in domestic space, and to create a shop that would not have the intimidation factor associated with a gallery. And then we did the food connection so there was all kinds of kitchen stuff, and we did a bunch of demonstrations and we served coffee and did tea tastings and I forget all the things we did, but it was a fabulous idea [laughter] that didn’t really pan out financially. We had some structural problems. No one wanted to be a storekeeper. Everyone liked the idea. So I got a former student who was a farmer, and we got Wayne involved and Warren involved -- It was the four of us; we were partners and equals. People still come up and say , ‘There was this store in Stillwater a bunch of years ago; it was really great...’ And it’s gratifying to have people say that because I think it was really great.”

Other Mike McGuire buildings in the St. Croix River Valley

Commander Grain Elevator

Acquired in the 1970’s by Mike, the Commander Grain Elevator was transformed to living space while also holding the history of what the building originally was. In the hallway leading up to the apartments, you can see where the grain was sent down the shoot, and how it created pathways where it traveled most often. Mike built a restaurant on the first floor and an apartment at the top of the building to house clients and tenants. The remainder of the building was used for his painting studio and later his architecture office. In the last 5 years of his life he redesigned his studio to be another livable space. Both spaces are available for rent on Airbnb.

North Bin →            South Bin →


425 Nelson St E, Stillwater, MN

‘The Dock Cafe’, now ‘Rio 1854: Latin Craft Kitchen’, was built by Mike in the 1980’s as a restaurant that sat on the St. Croix River.  


233 2nd St S, Stillwater, MN

Currently ‘AR Workshop’. This building was home to a florist shop, natural fiber clothing store, and artist Morgan Clifford’s studio.


Wild River State Park

All of the public buildings here were created by Mike as a commission for the park. 

Park information →