Friends Bar Closes It Doors For Good Sunday After A Vikings Win

Yesterday marked the end for one Central Minnesota business. Friends Bar & Restaurant closed for good at 4pm yesterday, and I wanted to be there for the Vikings game and a bittersweet last call.

Friends Bar and Restaurant made the announcement that they would be closing for good earlier this month and circled the 22nd as the last day they would operate.

In terms of the crowd for the final day, it was a big one. I arrived at Friends around 11:20, 20 minutes after it opened, and there were maybe 4 tables open, and a few spots at the bar itself.

I of course had to order one final Friends burger, with a side of chips, and a cold Hamms beer to wash it down. From an outside perspective you wouldn't have known it was the last day at work for the staff. Both front-of-house staff like the bartenders, and the back-of-house staff like the cooks, were pleasant and went above and beyond to serve everyone.

At one point, someone playing e-tabs struck it big and bought the whole bar a round.

The atmosphere had always been a fun one when the Vikings were playing, but it felt extra special as many in attendance were aware the bar would be closing for good after the game wrapped up.

Many left with a souvenir from the bar, ice scrapers with Friends printed on them, while others left the bar with some swag from their gameday drawings. Still others left with memories from a neighborhood hangout that was known for their burgers, and bar games like keys for cash.

It's unclear what will move into the space that Friends occupied, but my hope is that it's something that the whole neighborhood can enjoy.