There's been a surge in the sale of property on Water Street in downtown Decorah

At a recent public hearing on the Kwik Star application, one Decorah resident spoke about "all the empty buildings" in downtown Decorah. However, that's not the case. In fact, there's been a surge in property purchases on Water Street in 2022. Starting from the east end of Water Street, longtime restaurant owner Jo Olson sold her restaurant at 120 East Water Street in February. The new owners, "Van De Braun, LLC," have leased the first floor of the building to a new restaurant featuring vegan food choices. Across the street, the former High, Wide & Handsome building, the Decorah Newspapers building and the beauty salon building on East Water Street, and the Anundsen Publishing building on Washington Street have been sold to a new company named DREF 105-109 E. Water St LLC, based out of Northfield, Minnesota. Back on the north side of Water Street and down a few blocks, the former Amundson's building has been sold to Keri Bodensteiner and Chris Redenius, with plans to open a new business in the building soon. Former Amundson's building owner Ross Hadley announced at a recent city council meeting that he had eight bids for the building. Shifting to the south side of Water Street and down a block, the former Zahasky Law Office building at 309 West Water Street has been sold, with new owners W.A.D.E. INC planning soon to open a clothing store in the historic building. Another two or three properties on Water Street are in the process of being sold. At the same time, another building--at 301 W. Water Street--won't have new owners, but will soon have a new restaurant inside the building, with permits already issued for the new business. In short, there won't be empty storefronts for long as a hectic real estate market is sweeping across Decorah's downtown business district--a sign that several people are willing to spend money to capture business from the tourists and residents who continue to visit downtown.