CRYSTAL | ROBBINSDALE NEW HOPE | GOLDEN VALLEY
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025-26
Robbinsdale: It’ s better in Birdtown
Robbinsdale, often referred to as Birdtown, is home to about 14,000 people.
The city of Robbinsdale was named after Andrew B. Robbins, an entrepreneur who purchased 90 acres of land after he passed through the village by train in 1887 and became enchanted with the city’ s scenic beauty and its proximity to Minneapolis.
The city is a 2.9-square-mile suburb bordered by Minneapolis, Crystal, Golden Valley and Brooklyn Center. Robbinsdale celebrated its centennial in 1993 and its 125- year anniversary in 2018.
The city has a home rule charter form of government and employs 70 full-time employees. The five-member council typically meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Regular city council meetings are cablecast through CCX Media and live-streamed online at ccxmedia. org.
A diverse and award-winning array of food and drink options continue to establish and grow in the area, including Nouvelle Brewing and The Birdhouse Eat & Drink. HyVee continues to entice development south of the downtown corridor into France Avenue. A clinic, the municipal liquor store,
8 | Crystal • Robbinsdale • New Hope • Golden Valley | Community Guide 2025-26 a gas station and vintage store have settled in the area, and Parker Station Flats, a 198-unit apartment complex is located at the corner of France and 36th avenues.
The city’ s municipal liquor store has been in operation since the 1940s and gives residents a chance to give back to their city. Profits from the store are used in the preservation and improvement of the city’ s parks. Residents also recently began reaping the benefits of a brand-new water treatment facility.
The Robbinsdale police and fire departments are at 4101 Hubbard Ave. N. The fire department, which originated in 1909, operates a system of paid-on-call firefighters.
Two art galleries near 42nd Avenue North – the Robbin Gallery and Gallery 5004 – form the“ Birdtown Avenue of Art.”
The city’ s annual Whiz Bang Days community festival takes place in July.
Robbinsdale’ s community service organizations include the Diggers Garden Club, the Westphal American Legion, a historical society, Lions Club, League of Women Voters, several masonic organizations, a chamber of commerce, Little League and the Robbinsdale Crime Prevention Association.