Posted: 6/18/03

Al Bergstrom, Alís Breakfast founder, dies at age 97 in FL

Alfred Bergstrom lived a quiet retirement life in Forest Lake far removed from a hectic business life in Minneapolis where his name became a lasting icon.

Bergstrom, the founder of the still-popular Alís Breakfast in Minneapolis, died earlier this month at an area care center. He was 97.

Along with his wife Evelyn, the Bergstroms were well-known senior citizen residents of Forest Lake who frequently turned out at area community events, including many trips to Scandia for Swedish celebrations.

Bergstromís claim to fame, however, lies in Minneapolis and Dinkytown where he started Alís Breakfast. The tiny 10-foot-by-14-foot breakfast spot was owned and operated by Bergstrom from 1950 to 1973.

The hole-in-the-wall eatery has seating for 14 and serves a broad base of customers, many from the University of Minnesota. The business has retained his name, the atmosphere he created and many of the breakfast recipes that he perfected as owner.

Bergstrom was born in Minneapolis and attended schools there. In 1912 at age 5, he traveled with his family to visit relatives in Sweden and nearly became part of history.

For the return trip to the United States, the Bergstrom family was booked on the Titanic for its maiden voyage to America. Fate smiled on the Bergstroms, however.

With his mother pregnant with Alís brother, Roy, the family booked an earlier passage to America on the Mauritania and the family was spared the tragedy of the Titanic which struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 14, 1912 and went down claiming more than 1200 lives.

The brush with death at an early age did not discourage Bergstrom from traveling. In his retirement years, Al and Evelyn Bergstrom traveled the world widely with trips to Sweden, Russia and China among their destinations.

A memorial and remembrance celebration of Bergstromís life took place last Friday at Bergstromís home in Forest Lake.

He is survived by one daughter, Linda (Curtis) Sellman, North Branch; one son, Thomas (Gloria) Bergstrom, New Brighton; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and one brother, Roy Bergstrom.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1994.

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