Merchants to open new Cottage Grove building

Merchants Bank, Winona, Minn., will be moving quarters at its Cottage Grove, Minn., branch in the fall..The current Merchants Bank location in Cottage Grove, 7200 East Point Douglas Road South, has been sold to Hy-Vee, and Merchants has acquired the former Famous Dave's restaurant at 8479 East Point Douglas Road South, said Lawrence Stovern, regional president for the $1.6 billion Merchants Bank in the Twin Cities..The bank started construction on its new facility the week of May 9 which will continue throughout the summer. Merchants will move into the new facility sometime in October, said Branch Manager Randy Bachman.."We'll continue to do business in our current location until the day of the move and then be open for business the next day without any interruption," he said..Stovern said the motivation for the sale of the current location and purchase of the new location was about being a good neighbor in the community.."We recognize Hy-Vee's plans to bring a new store to Cottage Grove as something that is good for the economic vitality of the community,"Stovern said. "For us, as a community bank, that made the choice to sell easy. It is a win for everyone involved."