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BEMIDJI -- Brett and Derek Leach are hoping to rule the day and nightlife of downtown Bemidji as they celebrate the opening of two new restaurants on Minnesota Avenue.

Last Friday, the brothers held the grand opening of the Red Stu Breakfast Bar and this week comes the new Bar 209.

Red Stu is named after Brett and Derek Leach鈥檚 father, Stu, who spouted bright red hair in his younger years, they said. Their logo of a thick black mustache is also modeled after their father, who鈥檚 now graying mustache still holds strong.

Both new establishments are in the former American Legion building at 217 Minnesota Avenue, which they bought in 2014. They originally planned on turning the Legion building into the new Bar 209, but with the building spanning some 7,200 square feet, it was too large for only one business. So, the brothers met with a design team from the Twin Cities and they suggested breaking the building up into two different businesses.

The brothers took this idea and put it into action. The new building has a 鈥淣ight and Day鈥� concept, housing not only Red Stu鈥檚 bright white, crisp atmosphere but the new Bar 209鈥檚 dark, cozy and warm atmosphere.

鈥淲e were worried Bemidji residents wouldn鈥檛 respond well to it; the feedback so far has been really positive,鈥� Brett said in regard to a more modern rustic design.

Adding to the flavor of their newest restaurant, Red Stu鈥檚 menu boasts dishes such as the G.H. Brett breakfast special and their Chocolate Gouda Melt sandwich. All menu items were experiments among the brothers. 鈥淲e would write and test the recipes and think of how we can make them better,鈥� Brett said. 鈥淢aking the menu is the best part about opening up a restaurant.鈥�

The Leach brothers also own established restaurants in the area such as The Cabin Coffee House & Cafe and the Turtle River Chophouse. Both also have 20-plus years working in the restaurant industry.

Red Stu鈥檚 Breakfast Bar is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, and the new Bar 209 will be open 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week -- the two restaurants separated by a glass garage door.

The old Bar 209 was known for its length rather than width as it packed in both restaurant and bar patrons.

鈥淲e interviewed our customers over concerns about the new location,鈥� Brett said. 鈥淎 majority were worried the new location wouldn鈥檛 have the same closeness.鈥�

So, eager to retain that feeling in the new Bar 209, they鈥檝e arranged the seating and tables to maintain a friendly, social atmosphere that made the old 209 so popular.

Modern wooden paneling and rustic accents make the bar modern and updated while still pertaining to Bemidji鈥檚 affinity for the outdoors, and even Bill the buffalo head finds himself at home on their wall, looking over the customers as they take their seats at the bar.

Seeing the latest project come to life as construction comes to a close, Brett knows the challenges of adding another restaurant are far from over. 鈥淭he real work begins after construction has finished,鈥� he said.