Ramsey County History – Spring 2015: “Brings Is Gone: The Life and Death of a St. Paul Family Business”

Brings Is Gone: The Life and Death of a St. Paul Family Business
Author: Marcia Kremer

Joseph Brings and his family immigrated to the US in 1857 and eventually settled in St. Paul, where Joseph opened a store in 1870 on West Seventh Street that later (1884) became Brings and Company, a feed and seed business. The Brings Company survived hard times and flourished until the middle of the twentieth century, despite a disastrous fire, the coming of the automobile, and changing consumer tastes. The family-owned business dissolved in 1971 following the decision of the City of Saint Paul to acquire its location for urban renewal and a housing project.
PDF of Kremer article