Then & Now photo looking south along Robert Street in 1980 and 2026.

Then & Now: More Fast Food on Robert Street

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A 1978 article dubbed Robert Street the “Heartburn Highway” for its plethora of fast food. At the time, there were roughly 36 fast food establishments. Today, the number is about the same. We’ve looked at the history of fast food on Robert Street before, but here’s another glimpse.

Then & Now photo looking north along Robert Street in 1980 and 2026.

This time it’s the west side of Robert Street between Thompson and Wentworth. There are photos looking both north and south, so you get a more complete picture.

Robert Street: 1980

(Photo credit: Dakota County Historical Society)

2026 West St. Paul Rider community bike ride on June 7, 2026.

Back in 1980, this was a string of fast food restaurants. Listed from north to south, starting at Thompson, those restaurants included:

  • Mr. Steak
  • Pannekoeken Huis
  • Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips
  • A&W
  • Senor T’s Supper Club
  • Winchell’s Donuts
  • Aamco Transmission (not fast food, obviously, but it’s the last business visible in the photo)

Robert Street: 2026

Today this stretch is vastly different. Listed from north to south, starting at Thompson, it includes:

  • U.S Bank
  • Huntington Bank
  • LeadMN
  • Napa Auto Parts
  • River-to-River Greenway Trail
  • Savor Apartments

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