Brekken’s Comes Home: A Beloved Brainerd Store Returns to Downtown

After decades as a fixture in the Westgate Mall in Baxter, one of Brainerd’s most cherished independent retailers closed a full circle in its story—Brekken’s moved back to downtown Brainerd in 2024.

Returning to Its Roots

It all started on Laurel Street in Downtown Brainerd in 1954, when Brekken’s first opened its doors as a small menswear shop. Over the years the business evolved and relocated to the Westgate Mall in 1988—a move that made sense at the time as malls became centerpieces of American retail. More than 70 years after its original founding, Brekken’s relocated to the historic Parker Building on Laurel Street, just blocks from where it began.

A New Chapter for a Historic Building

Brekken’s is located in the historic Parker Building which was built in 1909. It is a three-story Romanesque-style building originally constructed by the Parker-Dunn Corporation to house Citizens State Bank. It has had a variety of tenants over the years; the old bank space on the street level has been remodeled into a beautiful bright space with large windows perfect for retail businesses.

For owner Isaac Brekken, returning downtown was about more than just a retail move, it was about reconnecting with community and heritage. After years away working in Las Vegas as a photojournalist, Isaac moved back to the Brainerd Lakes area and took over the family business. He saw this relocation as an opportunity to contribute to the energy and redevelopment happening downtown.

By returning downtown, Brekken’s not only honors its history but also helps breathe new life into Brainerd’s urban core, proving that independent retail still has a place in the heart of small-town America.