Rumors Swirling About Brother’s Bar & Grill in Rochester: Here’s What’s Really Going On

I grew up in Nebraska so when I moved to Rochester 20 something years ago and heard about the Husker bar in town, I immediately had to check it out.

Back then, catching a game wasn't as easy as it is today. Not all games were broadcast on TV,  and sometimes you had to order them on Pay-Per-View. Brother's always had my game on along with all the Minnesota teams, so it quickly became my go-to sports spot in town.

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It didn't take long to realize it was so much more than just a place to watch football, though. Brother's has amazing food and their staff has always been super friendly.

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Is Brother’s Bar & Grill Closing in Rochester? Here is the Truth

If you’ve heard rumors around town or online that this longtime staple is closing for good, you're not alone. The restaurant recently posted an open letter on Facebook to address the chatter directly:

An Open Letter to Our Community

I’ve seen some rumors circulating lately about the restaurant closing, and I feel like it’s time I address them directly.

We are NOT closing permanently.

The truth is, we’ve been going through a difficult stretch with staffing. My general manager recently gave me one week’s notice before accepting another job. I completely understand that people have to do what’s best for themselves, but one week simply wasn’t enough time to find and train a replacement.

That left me working roughly three weeks of open-to-close shifts to keep the restaurant running.

I’m not going to pretend that hasn’t taken a toll. I’m a human being, and eventually exhaustion catches up with you.

On Sunday August 2, after weeks of working extremely long hours, I slept in. I didn’t make it in until around 7:00 AM to unlock the doors.

Yes, we were open for the rest of the day. No, the restaurant was not closed down. And no, we are not permanently closing.

I’m sharing this because there’s a real person behind this business. I love what I do. I love this restaurant. Most importantly, I love being part of this community. I’ve put an enormous amount of my life, time, energy, and heart into keeping this place going.

What I need right now isn’t another rumor. I need support.

If you hear something about the restaurant, please come ask me. I will always do my best to tell you the truth about what’s happening.

We are working through some challenges. We are hiring, we are rebuilding, and we are figuring things out one day at a time.

I’m not asking anyone to feel sorry for me. I’m simply asking for a little understanding and for people to stop feeding the rumor mill.

We’re still here. We still want to be here. And I’m going to keep fighting to make this place something our community can be proud of.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us, checked in on us, stopped in for a meal, or simply wished us well.

We’re not done yet.

-The Brother’s TEAM

Between construction, staffing struggles, and the economy, a lot of local spots are struggling right now. It's good to know the rumors about Brother's closing aren't true, but it sounds like they could use your support right now.