France 44 started off as a simple bottle shop in 1950s in the infamous Gateway District of downtown Minneapolis. Founded by Red and Harriet Anderson, the original shop was located somewhere near Gluek’s. It was so tiny that an adult could nearly touch both sides of it with their outstretched arms.

Red Anderson’s Liquors, as the shop was called then, moved a couple times in the downtown area, settling in at Grant and Nicollet in 1960. This is the same site where Ichiban’s would eventually be located.

Red was forced to move in 1975 due to a downtown redevelopment effort. He purchased a defunct gas station at France and 44th in Linden Hills, where the store still remains today. The business was soon taken over by Red’s son, Rich, who evolved the business to focus on wine.

In 1983 as the business continued to grow, Rich doubled the size of the building.

By the end of the 90s, it was clear that the business could use more space. Rich razed the building and erected the existing building in 2000. During construction, France 44 remained open for business making its temporary home a trailer.

In 2001, France 44 took its first foray into food with the opening of the Cheese Shop. The food business went through several iterations and currently includes a cut-to-order cheese counter, a fully stocked whole animal butcher shop, a curated gourmet grocery, and a scratch deli that offers made-to-order sandwiches, salads, cheese boards, and beer and wine by the glass. France 44 also caters, specializing in epic cheese trays and quality comfort food.

Rick Anderson, Rich’s son, took over the family business in 2007 and has since expanded France 44 into three neighborhood gourmet lifestyle shops in Minneapolis and St. Paul.