Tucked inside the historic Pillsbury Club is something most people do not expect to find in a Gilded Age mansion: a boutique. The Minnesota Market is the Club’s curated shop, and it is a good reason to arrive a little early for a tour, a dinner or a trolley ride.

What Is the Minnesota Market?

The Club describes the market as a thoughtfully curated boutique celebrating the people, stories and creativity that make Minnesota unique. Its shelves hold artisan-made goods, home décor, books, candles, apparel, vintage treasures and distinctive gifts created by independent makers from across the state. The Club’s About page puts the selection at more than 100 locally made products, and calls the market “less of a gift shop and more of a treasure hunt.”

We cannot promise a particular item on a particular day, since the selection comes from independent makers and changes with the season.

Who Is the Market For?

• Souvenir shoppers who want something made in Minnesota rather than a mass-produced keepsake.
• Gift givers looking for a hostess gift, a thank-you or a present for someone who loves local design.
• Early arrivals with a few minutes before a tour, dinner or trolley departure.

How Do You Visit the Market?

The Pillsbury Club is a private, members-only club that welcomes guests with a reservation, so the market is part of a visit rather than a stand-alone shop stop. Our Plan Your Visit page suggests browsing before or after you come, and the Club’s policies note that admission is for guests holding a ticket for a tour, event or experience that day. Check your reservation for arrival times.

Riding the Minneapolis Trolley? Trolley riders receive Club access starting up to one hour before their scheduled departure. That is the ideal window to explore the market, order a cocktail in the lounge, or eat in the dining room, which needs no additional reservation before a tour. The Club is also where the holiday lights rides begin, so a December evening can include a little shopping before you board.

A Shopping Stop With a Story

The market fits the building. The Pillsbury family’s fortune came from flour milling, and the mansion’s English oak, carved fireplaces and leaded glass were the craftsmanship of their age. Shopping for handmade Minnesota goods under those ceilings feels like a natural continuation of that story. If you want the history behind the rooms, start with our History Journal.

If you enjoy museum shops, you may also like the Minnesota History Center store in St. Paul, which sells books and gifts, many from Minnesota artisans and companies, according to the Minnesota Historical Society. To pair a market visit with a meal, see the dining page, and to see everything the Club offers, browse Experiences & Tours.

Staying overnight? 300 Clifton, our historic mansion bed and breakfast in Loring Park, offers direct-booking guests a $20 Pillsbury Club dining voucher and a $20 Minneapolis Trolley voucher per stay, and Oakland’s on 9th offers furnished downtown studios for longer visits.

Plan Your Visit

Reserve your experience, arrive early, and leave time to browse. Make a reservation at the Pillsbury Club and find hours, parking and policies on Plan Your Visit.

Keep reading: can you tour a mansion in Minneapolis at Christmas?