Britton's Cafe

In 1900, Charles E. Ayers ran a jewelry store in a small building at the front (southwest corner) of this lot. The rest of the lot was part of a large livery stable that covered the remainder of this space and the back of the lot to the west. The livery stable operated until 1920 (about), when the popularity of cars, caused many liveries to be converted to garages. That did not happen here. The livery was torn down and in 1920 the building you see today was constructed. It spent much of its life providing photography and camera services before becoming the restaurant it is now. Read below for additional history. 

Initially, the livery stable was run by Hannah and William Scott, immigrants from Canada. The Scotts also owned the building to west where they operated a saloon.  By 1910, the Scotts had moved to Oregon and the Livery Stable was run by John A. Dinsmore, also from Canada. Mr. Dinsmore lived on Harvey Street with his wife and three children. He managed the business until the year before his death in 1921. 

The building you see today was built in 1920 (about). Best available information has Otto Hokkanen running his photography business here as early as 1921 and until 1951.    

Mr. Hokkanen had practiced his photography trade in Ely since soon after his arrival from Finland in 1912. Initially, he worked for Oppie Photography. When he opened his own business at 5 East Chapman, he named the shop ‘Otto Hokkanen’s Cyko Arts’.  Cyko was a photography paper that supported ‘beautiful platinum, Black-and-white effects or by adding Cyko Toner (to the developing process) red, brown or sepia tones as desired.’  In 1916, Otto married Katie Maki. In 1930 they were living on Harvey Street with their two children. He retired at 62 selling his building and business to Eero Lane.

In 1951, Eero Laine, a camera expert who had worked for Eastman Kodak Company in New York, moved to Ely where his wife had family and took over the business. Eero named the business, Cyko Arts Studio and Camera. Eventually, he expanded to include space in the building next door at 9 East Chapman and he added Records and Crafts.

In 1968, Mr. Laine had consolidated his business at #9 and this building began its long and successful career as a restaurant.  Edna Erchul, a successful restaurateur moved her business (Edna’s Café) to this location in 1968. That same year, George and Shirley Britton bought the business and Britton’s Restaurant was born. Shirley ran the restaurant for 27 years until 1995 when she sold the restaurant to Bonnie Jacobson. Throughout its restaurant history this establishment has been known for its excellent home cooking, extremely generous portions, and friendly atmosphere. As late as the 1970s Brittons offered coupon books for those making the restaurant their primary source of sustenance.

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1900 (or earlier) – Charles E. Ayers ran a small Jewelry Store located on part of the west side of the lot; the remainder of the lot was a livery stable owned by William Scott; the corner lot to the west was also owned by the Scotts in 1891 and was a saloon

1910 – livery stable owned by John Dinsmore

1921 – Cyko Arts photography shop – Otto Hokkanen

1951 – Cyko Arts Studio and Camera – Eero Laine

1968 – Edna’s Café – Edna Erchul

1968 – Britton’s Café - Shirley Britton

1995 – Britton’s Café – Bonnie Jacobson

The Sanborn Insurance Maps 1900-1924.

Ancestry.com. Accessed April 8th, 2022.

Ely Phone Directories from 1949 to 2020 (available at the Ely-Winton Historical Society.

The Ely Miner, Ely, Mn.

The Ely Times, Ely Mn (1891)

The City of Ely Cemetery Listing

Information from Mrs. Shirley Britton (owner of Britton’s Café)

Information from Mrs. Alice Richards