Liberty’s Restaurant & Lounge is a staple in the historic and picturesque riverside town of Red Wing, Minnesota, providing a dining destination for the community since 1975. The restaurant is located in one of the city’s oldest and largest buildings, which includes five apartments above the first floor.
Unfortunately, in September 2020, a vehicle crashed into the front corner of the restaurant, causing substantial damage to the building including a partial collapse of the roof and three floors. The community came together on behalf of Liberty’s raising more than $20,000 to support the owner and those impacted.
Bauer Design Build partnered with Pope Design Group to quickly and carefully design and reconstruct the building structure and façade. The team selected bricks, windows and details to restore the façade back to its original appearance. In addition, the accident revealed the building’s original historic cast iron columns that were presumed to be gone. The upstairs apartments were reconstructed with improved configurations and improved code compliance.
Liberty’s and it’s owner Doug Noreen were recognized by the Red Wing Heritage Preservation Commission with a 2022 Award of Merit.