Any long time Minneapolis resident should remember LaBelle’s catalog showrooms. They were part department store, part catalog store, and very outdated by the 1980s. LaBelle’s stores were purchased by BEST company (not to be confused with Best Buy) in the early 1980s and were renamed BEST shortly after. I will always remember the LaBelle’s annual Christmas catalog which was just as big as the Wards and Sears catalogs we had at the house every year.

From December 1986: The Twin Cities own Country Club Market Grocery Store, Santa tries out a Commodore 64, Kinney Shoes, and Gilbert Gottfried plugging microwave chicken nuggets.

A 1980s annual tradition: Cotton balls on Santa’s beard on a poster from 7up. This was featured on my fridge for several years (new poster each year). Also commercials for McDonalds, CBS television, and a Don Shelby news update. Originally recorded December 15, 1987 during the annual Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer airing on WCCO-TV.

After many requests, I have finally found the dancing Norwest Snowman commercial. Many remember the commercial, but few remembered the company that it was suppose to promote. I don’t necessarily see the connection between the bank and the kids, but I guess in the mid 80s a commercial out of goodwill was in the budget.