MANKATO — Starting around 6 or 7 P.M. on Tuesday, tributes to the bar Blue Bricks started pouring in from Mankato area residents.

Word had spread on social media that the bar was shutting down for good, causing many residents to rush down, have one more drink and share their favorite memories of the establishment that has been a part of the Mankato community since 1999.

And, it seems, they jumped the gun a little bit.

Blue Bricks Owner Marty Lewis confirmed to the Free Press on Wednesday that the bar was closed, but noted that it was only "temporary."

The rumor of the full-time closure seemed to spread from the popular Mankato Man account on Facebook, which posted, "Blue Bricks in downtown Mankato appears to be closing their doors after tonight. The longtime 'barmuda triangle' staple first opened its doors in 1999, taking over the Don's Hobby location. Cheers to all the memories, as blurry as they may be," at 6:45 P.M. on Tuesday before another post at 10:17 P.M. saying, "Goodnight Blue Bricks."

Those posts prompted a rush of customers to the bar, and a flood of posts on social media about the bar's closure.

The Free Press also reached out to Jason Beal, another owner listed on a liquor license application, for further comment and did not hear back in time for publication.

I’ve had insomnia on and off for the last year and now the boredom at night is getting to me more and more what is there to do around here at night I’m tired of biking around bored at night/early am

Never fired a gun in my life, I’m from Canada and am interested in learning how to shoot properly and be responsible. I know I’ll need to get a permit to purchase, I don’t want a concealed carry. It’s more to go to a gun range and in case of an emergency to have in the house. What are the best resources to learn and places to go to shoot?

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This weekend, we are back; join us at our home base in Rapidan on July 25th and 26th for another MAGNIFICENT Miscellany sale!

As a growing small business we're always going back to the drawing board, reevaluating what you, the people, want and how we can supply it. Not only are we expanding our tables and inventory, but we are meticulously procuring more specialized stock; every time we sell something we're given the opportunity to uncover something new, and that means our inventory is ever evolving!

While we'll be providing our traditional Miscellany variety- everything from historical artifacts to mid-century patterns and two centuries worth of miscellaneous goodness in between- we are also featuring a special highlight this sale: furniture! Big or small, your next statement piece will be waiting for you to come rescue it. Few vintage pieces speak their resilience against time better than furniture, something today we as modern consumers increasingly struggle to find.

Come join us!

19075 Rapidan Avenue

7/25 & 7/26

10 AM - 5 PM

Has anyone lived specifically in the maple wood portion? Is it as bad as the reviews say?

Blue Bricks in Downtown Mankato has officially closed its doors forever.

​It’s a bittersweet day for Downtown Mankato. After serving the community at 424 S. Front Street since 1999, Blue Bricks Bar & Eatery has officially shut its doors for good.

​Whether you were a Maverick student grabbing a late-night bite, stopping in for pre-game drinks before an event, shooting pool, or enjoying a beer out on the patio, Blue Bricks was a staple of Front Street for over 25 years. I’s hard to imagine downtown without it.

​Raise a glass to the staff, owners, and memories made there over the last quarter century. Downtown Mankato won't be quite the same.

Hey guys, I got an interview from E4 Ops LLC in Mankato but I’ve never heard of this company before. Has anyone else heard of them? If so, what are they like?

Is anyone here an Amazon flex driver? If so, how long did you wait to begin working?

What’s being released today? Or are eggs back up?

He owns an EV.

Munson spent countless hours on a taxpayer-funded salary writing speeches, posts, and attempting to write legislation attacking Minnesota's green energy industries, and EV owners as a whole. It turns out that he owns an EV after all.

He even gave an Earth Day speech on the MN House floor in 2021 (via Zoom) about "Green Energy Science Deniers".

His attacks never mention that oil, gas, and coal industries have a long history of forced labor, servitude, displacement, and of course, environmental damage. He also fails to mention the billions in taxpayer-funded subsidies that go to oil, gas, and coal industries each year.

Jeremy Munson lies. He is a fraud. He will waste your tax dollars on ridiculous, divisive "projects" again if he is voted into the MN Senate.

I will be entering loyolas high school after spending k-3rd and 8th grade there, if anyone has any experience with loyolas high school can anyone tell me if they will prepare you well for college or if I should just go to mca?

Offering a free website to any business or person that wants it for any business related purposes. I'll do a phone call to ask you what your needs are; services, hours, prices, etc. Then we can make you a website and have it up within a few days. DM me or comment for more details.

My car has stopped working. When I try to start it nothing happens. Lights still come on but no clicking or anything. I don't know if it's the alternator or starter. Is there any place or person that I can contact about looking at it while I'm home?

I need two sofas picked up and disposed of. I have reached out to multiple junk removal services and not one has responded 😅

If you know of anyone who is interested in earning extra money please me send a message to set up a time!

Has anybody else been getting scam called from somewhere up in the Cities? It's been every single day around the same time (usually in the evening). I was wondering if anyone has experienced this.

Im just wondering why both public pools here in town are closed and if they're gonna open this year (tourtellotte and Spring Lake)

Average guy here in decent athletic shape looking for someone just to go shopping at Sam's with me so I don't have to go by myself as I have anxiety when I go by myself please hit me up for DM me directly either way

I have a lot of strays that show up at my house and am trying to homes for them. THEY DO NOT NEED TO GO TOGETHER. They are not bonded. I have looked for their owners extensively but no luck.

Attached are pictures of Froggy (Tabby) and Nutmeg (Orange medium/long haired). They came to my house as strays and are needing a good home. Located in Mankato.

Froggy is probably 1-2 years old and snuggles right into you when picked up. He is soft pawed (doesn’t use the claws he has). He loves pets and belly rubs. Loves to snuggle with my kids.

Nutmeg LOVES people. He will be by your side wherever you go and keep you company. He is around 9-12 months old. Does well with kids too.

Both are neutered, rabies vaccinated, flea treated and dewormed.

Asking $50 or whatever you can afford to help cover vet costs. Message me if interested!

Long story short, moving truck screwed us.
Moved from the Charlotte, NC area. Truck picked up our stuff last Sunday and was supposed to be here Thursday.

So the truck is 3 days late now and has informed us that they had to leave behind most of our big furniture (couch, entertainment centers, dressers, etc).

I have tried getting into the local Mankato buy nothing group on fb but no luck. And most people on marketplace are being unresponsive/unreliable.

I guess I’m just putting out feelers to see if anyone is getting rid of a couch or any other furniture items for cheap/free. Oh and I also have 2 cats missing their cat tree if there are any cat people out there getting rid of stuff as well.

Any pointers or suggestions would also be greatly appreciated.
I’m loving the area so far! Just ready for our new place to feel like a home.

Good morning everyone! Just wanted to make a post to let you know that their is a 25+ small business vendor show here in Mankato at fleet farm today starting at 9am until 2pm.

There will also be adult and children scavenger hunts as well as food and drink vendors.

Come on out and enjoy the beautiful day and check out the large selection of local vendors.

Thank you, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

Edit: The Adam west batmobile will also be in the vendor lot.

I'm surprised I never tried reaching out here for any information, I really need to give it a shot for the sake of Akasha and secondly my nerves and basically my life altogether, because ultimately it changed dramatically that day in June of 2025 (obviously this is last year), I haven't got what anyone would consider a good day since. And if I ever get the chance to explain how this all happened, I'm extremely confident that even you would understand, the extremely judgemental people of reddit. And on that note, could we please keep this about the 😺🐈, and if not, then at least get at me about something I did, and not someone I'm related to or use to know, because I'm no longer related to anyone, and sadly, (or maybe 🤔 not) nor do I currently know a damn soul here. (And God's sake, at least get at me for things are true, that humor shit, or getting stories confused, or making fake profiles.... Come on, if someone is making a fake profile, and obviously isn't at all honest about who they are, and all they do and troll local shit, you should have some better discernment and they should have some shame thank you have a great night)

I have the end of the driveway which has fallen apart. The area is probably 20’ x 40’ and it needs an asphalt repair. Does anyone have any recommendations for people who do small asphalt repairs like this?

Looking for bars in the area that are nice for using a laptop at for a couple hours of work a week. I work Tuesday/Wednesday from home so any fun happy hours would be cool. Thanks!! :)

It feels like there's next to no jobs available in the creative field anywhere in Mankato or any towns in a 30min radius.

I work in graphic design/digital marketing and I've been searching for a new job that has less of a commute than my current role (which is an hour drive one way) but I feel like there's a serious dead zone when it comes to those roles out here. I've been searching for over a year at this point.

The nearest place that has a consistent posting of jobs is the Cities and I'd really rather not trade one hour long commute for another. I know the job market sucks hardcore right now but I'm starting to get so frustrated by the lack of opportunities 🤧

Is there somewhere these are getting posted that I'm not aware of or is that just how it is out here?