In 1922, Harry E Pence commissioned renowned architects Fredrick Kees and Serenus Colburn to design and building on a 3-acre parcel located on the corner of Broadway and Stinson Blvd in NE Minneapolis. Kees and Colburn already had made quite a reputation for themselves, being the architects of record for some of the most famous buildings in Minneapolis: The City Hall, The Flour Exchange, the County Courthouse, Masonic Temple, and the Loring Theatre just to name a few. 

Mr. Pence was a businessman and leader in the automotive industry in Minneapolis. As an entrepreneur, Pence branched out from his initial Buick dealership into used cars as well as other business ventures in the early twentieth century. In 1914, Pence was the first, to construct a parking ramp in downtown Minneapolis at his Buick dealership located at 800 Hennepin Ave.

His new building was named ARROWHEAD STEEL PRODUCTS CO. focusing on the production of pistons, pins shafts and motors for "automotive motors, automotive trucks" Pence retired from the automotive business in 1930. City records show in 1938 the property changed owners, after that it became a FOUNDRY.

During World War II, the building was used as a foundry, making submarine missiles for the US Navy. In 1964, the Cathay Partnership purchased the property and rented it out to various tenants until April 30th, 2021, when we purchased, rebranded, and renamed it: Foundry on Stinson.