The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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June 17, 2008

Boarding up Bandana's

Bans, regulations factor into the closing of brewery

Amanda Dyslin

MANKATO — This weekend will be a bittersweet celebration at Bandana Brewery.

Owner Bob Ahlstrom will be taking the opportunity Friday, Saturday and Sunday to thank his customers for five years of patronage before closing the doors for the last time Sunday night.

“We just want to thank people who stuck with us for the past five years,” he said. “We appreciate their loyalty to the Bandana Brewery.”

Money is the reason for closing, Ahlstrom said. The smoking ban implemented a couple of years ago resulted in less business, which caused Ahlstrom to start making a series of budget cuts.

“The brewery was one of the first things to go,” he said.

Other factors were new city drinking regulations, the construction of the new highway and taxes, he said.

“We keep cutting costs,” he said. “It’s time to go on our way and figure out a new opportunity.”

Ahlstrom said three people have bids on the property. All he knows about the future of the building is that it won’t be called Bandana Brewery.

Ahlstrom said the construction of the new highway has made his property a hot commodity. But for him, he said it was just time to move on.

“We just thought this is an opportunity — people are looking for investment property on the hill,” he said. “We’re ready to move on.”

The party weekend will include karaoke and live entertainment. The “big finale party,” Ahlstrom said, starts 4 p.m. Sunday. He’s hoping many of his customers will be able to stop in and say goodbye to the place.



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