Strauss Skates, inc. (Saint Paul, Minn.).

John E. (Johann Edvard) Strauss was born in Koenigsberg, Germany, on October 29, 1856. In the early 1880s he arrived in St. Paul, and around 1886 opened a general mechanic, repair, and locksmith shop downtown. He began to manufacture skate blades around 1887, and later expanded into repairing and manufacturing bicycles. Strauss retired around 1940, and his son John took over the business. The elder Strauss died October 17, 1946. The younger Strauss was eventually joined in the business by his nephew, Don Eyinck.

The firm discontinued the manufacture of speed and hockey skates around 1948, concentrating instead on figure skates. In 1962 Strauss expanded into retailing, offering for sale hockey skates and equipment made by other manufacturers. In 1978 the firm was manufacturing skate blades, and was also engaged in general sporting goods retailing, offering for sale bicycles, softball and hockey equipment, uniforms and warm-up suits, skateboards and components, athletic shoes, and roller skates.

The production of Strauss long-famous figure skates was discontinued in 1981. The younger Strauss and his wife Ella sold the business and retired in 1983. John Strauss died in 1995.

The business was known variously over the years as Strauss Skate Shop, Strauss Skates, Inc., and Strauss Skates and Bicycles. The firm was located in various buildings on Third and Fourth streets in downtown St. Paul until moving to Maplewood in 1970 when its building was demolished to make way for construction of the St. Paul Civic Center Arena.

From the guide to the Company records., 1854-1998 (bulk 1910s-1996)., (Minnesota Historical Society)