Blooming Prairie plots its comeback after fire - Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet

InsuranceNewsNet — Your Industry. One Source.™

Sign in
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home Now reading Newswires
Topics
    • Advisor News
    • Annuity Index
    • Annuity News
    • Companies
    • Earnings
    • Fiduciary
    • From the Field: Expert Insights
    • Health/Employee Benefits
    • Insurance & Financial Fraud
    • INN Magazine
    • Insiders Only
    • Life Insurance News
    • Newswires
    • Property and Casualty
    • Regulation News
    • Sponsored Articles
    • Washington Wire
    • Videos
    • ———
    • About
    • Meet our Editorial Staff
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    • Newsletters
  • Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • Magazine
  • Newsletters
Sign in or register to be an INNsider.
  • AdvisorNews
  • Annuity News
  • Companies
  • Earnings
  • Fiduciary
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Insurance & Financial Fraud
  • INN Exclusives
  • INN Magazine
  • Insurtech
  • Life Insurance News
  • Newswires
  • Property and Casualty
  • Regulation News
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Video
  • Washington Wire
  • Life Insurance
  • Annuities
  • Advisor
  • Health/Benefits
  • Property & Casualty
  • Insurtech
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Staff

Get Social

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
Newswires
Newswires RSS Get our newsletter
Order Prints
February 11, 2020 Newswires
Share
Share
Post
Email

Blooming Prairie plots its comeback after fire

Post-Bulletin (Rochester, MN)

Feb. 11--BLOOMING PRAIRIE -- Two weeks after a fire destroyed one Main Street business and damaged another, it's still too early to say what the long-term fallout will be on Blooming Prairie, business leaders and residents say.

But one thing is clear: The loss of The Bakery and Sportstitch Inc., an adjoining sports apparel business, is being felt across the community. Both decades-old businesses, located in the heart of this 2,100-person town, were interwoven into the daily rhythms of this community.

"It hurts. It's going to hurt our downtown," said Greg Johnson, manager of B -- Z Hardware, just down the street from the burnt-out bakery. "Anytime you lose (businesses) on Main Street of Small Town, U.S.A., it's tough."

Blooming Prairie bakery a total loss

Blooming Prairie bakery a total loss

Firefighters are battling a blaze at a popular Blooming Prairie business this morning.

"Obviously, it impacts us all," Johnson said.

But amid the loss and uncertainty, Blooming Prairie is plotting a comeback. A community-wide benefit is planned for 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday to raise money for the stricken business owners, Gregg Fristedt of The Bakery and Linda Klemmensen of Sportstitch.

"Blooming Prairie is a survivor," said Sandra Basness, a lifelong Blooming Prairie resident who was shopping downtown Monday.

Business leaders say the town's response is emblematic of the community, described by residents as welcoming and generous, and as a place where everyone knows one another.

It's not unusual for the small town to raise $80,000 for a cancer auction or an education fundraiser. Two downtown businesses will be hosting the benefit -- Pizza Cellar and J & H Liquors.

"These people rally around each other," Johnson said. "This is what this town is about."

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined or publicly released. Douglas Neville, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said in an email that the investigation remains open.

Uncertainty surrounds both businesses. Most communities the size of Blooming Prairie can't boast of having their own bakery. Blooming Prairie has been able to do so for decades. The Bakery not only brought foot traffic to the downtown, which benefited other shops and stores, but it was embedded and linked to its culture.

The Bakery made cakes for birthdays and family celebrations, the bread for local restaurants and businesses, even the communion wafers for church celebrations.

It was a gathering place where men and women chatted over a doughnut and coffee, and children looked forward to treats during downtown trips.

Blooming Prairie

Buy Now

Blooming Prairie residents Sandra Basness left, and Jackie Vorleick talk about the loss of the Bakery to fire from Prairie Home Floral on Main Street Blooming Prairie Monday, February 10, 2020. (Ken Klotzbach/[email protected])

"The guy made the greatest rosettes in the world," Johnson said. "People would come from all over to get them."

People who know and have talked with Fristedt about his plans say it's unclear what he plans to do. The destruction of The Bakery occurred at a time when he was nearing or at retirement.

Fristedt was unavailable for comment.

"He doesn't know yet," Cheri Krejci, owner of Krejci Ford, said about Fristedt's intentions. "It all depends on what happens with the insurance. It's basically what it boils down to."

The fire erupted early Jan. 28, prompting fire departments from across the region to converge on the town, 39 miles southwest of Rochester. At first, firefighters entered the two-story brick structure, hoping to contain the fire and save the building. But they were forced to retreat as smoke engulfed the interior and the blaze spread to the walls.

Close

1 of 5

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

*

Facebook

*

Twitter

*

WhatsApp

*

SMS

*

Email

*

Print

*

Save

addasset

json

1021fdbe-4c6b-11ea-8fa6-d36d4cafc644

editorial

true

images

Save

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

*

Facebook

*

Twitter

*

WhatsApp

*

SMS

*

Email

*

Print

*

Save

addasset

json

126534d8-4c6b-11ea-815c-ef62ef3225ad

editorial

true

images

Save

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

*

Facebook

*

Twitter

*

WhatsApp

*

SMS

*

Email

*

Print

*

Save

addasset

json

15606d92-4c6b-11ea-be09-2f03ede8aaa7

editorial

true

images

Save

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

*

Facebook

*

Twitter

*

WhatsApp

*

SMS

*

Email

*

Print

*

Save

addasset

json

17c31a26-4c6b-11ea-b1b1-ab97365c0fdc

editorial

true

images

Save

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

*

Facebook

*

Twitter

*

WhatsApp

*

SMS

*

Email

*

Print

*

Save

addasset

json

1a254802-4c6b-11ea-912e-b3b1b5555e31

editorial

true

images

Save

The Bakery in Blooming Prairie

1 of 5

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

Blooming Prairie Fire

Buy Now

The building that was home to The Bakery in Blooming Prairie has been deemed a total loss after a fire Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Link / [email protected])

The Sportstitch building suffered both water and smoke damage. A structural engineer inspected the building to determine whether the building can be salvaged, but a final verdict has not yet been publicly rendered.

Residents say The Bakery and Sportstitch shared a common characteristic: Both generously supported the community, its clubs and the local school district.

"They themselves supported the community," Basness said. "It's only right that the community turn around and give back to them."

___

(c)2020 the Post-Bulletin

Visit the Post-Bulletin at www.postbulletin.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Older

Accident Fund Names Anderson Insurance Associates Agency of the Year

Newer

How Health Brokers Are Helping Employers With Personalized Benefits Education

Advisor News

  • Women say their advisors respect them, but talk down to them
  • How PEPs compare with traditional 401(k)s
  • Allianz studies why 42% of Americans retire sooner than expected
  • Why advisors should be talking about life settlements
  • Millennials are ready to bring their advisor to the family table
More Advisor News

Annuity News

  • NAIC regulators continue pushing for annuity illustration updates
  • Wink: Flat first-quarter annuity sales fall just short of $100B
  • 26North Re Agrees to Acquire 100% of Independent Insurance Group
  • Matthew Michelini named Athene president, with an eye on annuity growth
  • Lincoln Financial Announces Executive Leadership Transitions
More Annuity News

Health/Employee Benefits News

  • Tom Campbell: Our healthcare system is spiraling out of control
  • After Iowa Medicaid goes private, abuse rises, wait for services soars
  • NEW YORK SENATE VOTES TO MODERNIZE PAID MEDICAL LEAVE BENEFITS FOR WORKERS FACING CANCER AND SERIOUS ILLNESS, ACS CAN CALLS ON ASSEMBLY TO DELIVER FOR PATIENTS AND PASS BILL
  • Cuts coming to Kentucky Medicaid program, social services and more
  • Parker: Investment helps healthcare crisis
More Health/Employee Benefits News

Life Insurance News

  • Prudential announces more layoffs as insurer continues to restructure
  • Pradip Patiath Joins Securian Financial Board of Directors
  • Over $107 million in life insurance benefits located for Tennesseans in 2025
  • Study Data from National Institutes of Health Provide New Insights into Law and the Biosciences (Taking actuarial fairness seriously: what is required for the ethical use of genetics in insurance?): Legal Issues – Law and the Biosciences
  • 26North Re Agrees to Acquire 100% of Independent Insurance Group
More Life Insurance News

- Presented By -

NEWS INSIDE

  • Companies
  • Earnings
  • Economic News
  • INN Magazine
  • Insurtech News
  • Newswires Feed
  • Regulation News
  • Washington Wire
  • Videos

FEATURED OFFERS

Aim higher during Annuity Awareness Month
Raise the bar with our diverse portfolio of Ascend annuities, backed by superior financial strength

Maximize Your FIA Case Results
Learn a repeatable process to review, reposition, and present FIA opportunities with confidence.

You Could Be Losing Up to 20% of Your Commissions
GreenWave helps you find, fix, and prevent commission errors.

True Independence Means Having Choices
Cambridge offers flexibility, stability, proven tools—no private equity strings attached.

Life moves fast. Your BGA should, too.
Stay ahead with Modern Life's AI-powered tech and expert support.

Press Releases

  • RFP #T01625
  • Rockwood Programs Appoints Kerry Ladouceur as Vice President, Financial Lines
  • JP Insurance Group Launches Commercial Property & Casualty Division; Appoints Joe Webster as Managing Director
  • Sequent Planning Recognized on USA TODAY’s Best Financial Advisory Firms 2026 List
  • Highland Capital Brokerage Acquires Premier Financial, Inc.
More Press Releases > Add Your Press Release >

How to Write For InsuranceNewsNet

Find out how you can submit content for publishing on our website.
View Guidelines

Topics

  • Advisor News
  • Annuity Index
  • Annuity News
  • Companies
  • Earnings
  • Fiduciary
  • From the Field: Expert Insights
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Insurance & Financial Fraud
  • INN Magazine
  • Insiders Only
  • Life Insurance News
  • Newswires
  • Property and Casualty
  • Regulation News
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Washington Wire
  • Videos
  • ———
  • About
  • Meet our Editorial Staff
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Newsletters

Top Sections

  • AdvisorNews
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits News
  • InsuranceNewsNet Magazine
  • Life Insurance News
  • Property and Casualty News
  • Washington Wire

Our Company

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Meet our Editorial Staff
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Write for INN

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.

select Newsletter Options
Facebook Linkedin Twitter
© 2026 InsuranceNewsNet.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • InsuranceNewsNet Magazine

Sign in with your Insider Pro Account

Not registered? Become an Insider Pro.
Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet