| When Emil Schatzlein left Kilzschein in the Bavarian | | | | inventory. For good reason. Hennepin County, |
| Wine country, he came to Minneapolis with several | | | | where Minneapolis is located, has one of the |
| others from his hometown. He was a leather | | | | largest per capita number of horse owners in the |
| maker and he wanted to set up a business in a | | | | entire country.Even so, 97 years is a long time to |
| central location. At the time, Minneapolis was a | | | | be in business. The fact that it is still around |
| thriving milling and lumber center set on the banks | | | | speaks to the dedication of the family to keep |
| of the Mighty Mississippi. It was a small | | | | the name and company going. Schatzlein's is still |
| commercial area surrounded by farms and he | | | | famous for its traditionally friendly customer |
| knew that farmers needed harnesses. So he set | | | | service. Grandchildren of the customers who |
| up shop on Lake Street near Lyndale Avenue at | | | | bought harnesses are now buying their clothing |
| the eastern edge of the city. Not too long before, | | | | and saddles there. But customer service is only |
| Lake Street was the main Indian path from Lake | | | | one aspect. Another is the location. Although West |
| Calhoun to Fort Snelling.His decision turned out to | | | | Lyndale Avenue is no longer the outskirts of the |
| be a good one. Many farmers were German and | | | | city, the shop is convenient to major arteries. |
| liked to deal with him because he made a good | | | | 35W and I94 are only blocks away, and Lyndale |
| product. They also liked the location because it | | | | Avenue is still an important route between the |
| was easy to find. As the years passed, the city | | | | northern and southern suburbs.Schatzlein's was |
| expanded. Schatzlein's no longer was at the edge | | | | around when I was a young boy in the middle |
| of the city, but very much in the center. The | | | | '40s and our family passed it often as we |
| products he sold changed with the expansion. | | | | traveled on Lake Street. As far as I know, it's |
| Horses no longer were used nearly exclusively for | | | | the only one left from that era. Even though I've |
| labor, people began to ride them for enjoyment. | | | | only ridden a horse three times in my life, I hope |
| Sales of harnesses gave way to saddles and | | | | it will still be around for my grandchildren.John |
| leather boots. The trend has continued into the | | | | Anderson has been an entrepeneur for most of |
| third generation. Janet Schatzlein is the | | | | his life, working as a substitute teacher, stamp |
| granddaughter of Emil. Their storefront sells | | | | dealer, antiques and collectibles dealer, and most |
| English and Western saddles and clothing. People | | | | recently, author. His novel, The Cellini Masterpiece, |
| who have never been near a horse buy western | | | | is a mystery-suspense novel set on the island of |
| clothing, and cowboy boots are as common as | | | | Malta. |
| loafers. But saddles are still a large part of their | | | | |