Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) -  “Thanks to all who came today to say goodbye to the old VFW Building.”  

That’s what was posted on the Rochester VFW Post Facebook page Sunday as the veterans organization formally closed the doors to its downtown site.

The building along 6th St SW near Soldiers Field Park served as the organization’s home for 51 years. The property was sold last year and a new home is expected to open this Friday on the other side of town. The VFW post purchased the former Golden Corral restaurant site and is planning a grand opening next month.

VFW Post 1215 sold the downtown site to the University of Minnesota for use as a future campus for UMR. The $2.7 million purchase price allowed the veterans organization to purchase the Golden Corral property and spend about a million dollars renovating and remodeling the building into a bar and event hall. It will be the new home and meeting place for the VFW Post’s over 400 members, along with the 60 member VFW Auxiliary and a number of other smaller veterans-related organizations.

The current building will be demolished in the near future and converted into green space until UMR is ready to proceed with the construction of the new campus.

The VFW property also includes the old Benny’s R-Tic Root Beer Stand building, which is also slated for demolition.

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