The COVID-19 pandemic nearly broke Steve Patterson and Brian Miller’s plans last year.
The duo were slated to open a bar and grill and brewery in Rochester when the pandemic disrupted their plans.
Patterson and Miller were not deterred, however, and when the opportunity presented themselves, they led the way. That opportunity was presented to Lansing Corners, and now they’re about to open Lansing Corners Bar & Grill, a departure from the location’s earlier history as a supper club.
“It’s going to be a bar and grill and we’re going to have various entertainment events,” Patterson said on Wednesday from a table in the location. “Typical bargain. We are here and we are committed. “
Patterson and Miller plan to open the location in the near future. When this is the case, they are open on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to midnight and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
However, the location will not only be a bar and a grill. The love of brewing will bring a brewery to the location.
“I learned how to make beer for money and fell in love with the community,” Miller said from Patterson’s cell phone as he drove to the bar and grill. “I wanted to be part of it.”
The owners hope the brewery section will be up and running by 2023. When the time comes, there will be a range of different beers from porters to IPAs.
Patterson and Miller started dating a few years ago when they went to school and worked on a Kwik trip in Winona.
After some time and conversation, they began to make plans for the future that would bring them to Rochester first.
“We hit it off, and five years later we went wild and decided to start a business,” said Miller.
With a plan, they started developing their ideas and were ready to lay the foundation for the construction. But then the pandemic came and the couple suffered a major blow.
But the opportunity paved the way for another chance.
“That building was here,” Patterson said, pointing out that the facility was a good half for Miller, who lives in Albert Lea, and Patterson, who lives in Rochester. “It took a lot of renovation, but it’s here. It was in our price range and so we swung around. “
Miller, who often drove past the construction site while driving a route for Frito-Lay, agreed.
“I thought it was a cool building and I thought it was a cool place right off the freeway that you could see for a while,” Miller said.
A Patterson and Miller business mentor in Rochester also referred her to Lansing Corners.
“He said, ‘I have a chance for you guys’ and we’re open to opportunities,” said Patterson. “That’s how things happen.”
The building was 5,000 square feet more than they really wanted, but they plan to sublet the event space.
The property also has an abundance of open spaces that are perfect for outdoor activities in spring, summer, and fall. At the edge of the property, to the west of the main building, there is an extensive lawn.
The food they want to serve is your standard American dish – burger baskets, entrees, and a sirloin steak sandwich. Everything you need for a real bar and grill.
The owners are also quick to find that they are in the long run in establishing themselves as part of Austin’s culture. And they also see support from the community.
“Austin was easier to start a business than Rochester,” said Patterson. “The people want us here and it is a nice feeling to have a town and district church that supports us.”
“I just know it will work,” Miller said.
While there is no specific date planned for an opening, Patterson and Miller expect a grand opening next spring. For now, you can visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LansingCorners to find out more about her opening.
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