The building was built in 1886 and was specifically built to operate as a bar. It was owned by the Grain Belt and Minneapolis Brewing Company’s, at the time it was common practice for breweries to own neighborhood bars that would distributed their products.
In 1984 the bar was sold to Gary Mackenzie who began the music and blues tradition the Whiskey Junction is famous for. Some of the more notable musicians that have recorded here include: Johnny Lang, Lynwood slim, Doug Maynard, and “Big Walter Smith”. As well as a blues series called “Live at the Whiskey
The game and rest rooms were added on in about 1987, the kitchen also was also added at that time offering mainly pizza and later a full menu.