The Spirit of Community in Delano is defined by the
Creativity, Resilience, and Community Investment of its people.
East Brick Block on Bridge
Built 1905
The east end of Delano’s Brick Block at 137 Bridge Avenue E. has served the community through more than a century of changing businesses. Built in 1905 by Olof Peterson in partnership with Henry and Louis Bock and John L. Stein, the property’s early history was connected to Peterson’s shoe store and later to several furniture businesses. In 1933, William Heinen moved his hardware store into the building, where Heinen Hardware remained for 58 years, until 1991. The building later housed Kevin Linquist’s custom framing shop, and its upstairs apartment even appeared as a filming location in the 1998 movie A Simple Plan. More recent occupants have included Delano Floral and Gifts and The Refoundry. After another sale and the naming of the building as the Delano Brick Block, The Vintage Storyteller opened there in May 2026, continuing the building’s long tradition as a downtown Delano business location.
The Brick Block building on Bridge Avenue was built in 1905 by Olof Peterson in conjunction with Henry and Louis Bock and John L. Stein. Olof Peterson had come to Crow River (Delano) in 1869 and opened a shoe store. His business, from at least 1894, was just to the east of the brick block. Olof retired in 1913 and died in 1914; his building went to his son-in-law, Ole Backman.
Berner Bloomquist moved his furniture business into that space in March 1917, adding additional space by erecting a balcony.
In 1919 John Berlin tore out the west wall of the old shoe store stand and connected it to his present store in the brick block.
John Lohmiller had a furniture store in the building until September 1933, when the building was sold.
In 1933 William Heinen moved his hardware store from River Street to the east end of the brick block building. Heinen Hardware remained there for 58 years, until 1991.
Kevin Linquist bought the building and opened a custom framing shop.
The apartment upstairs was used for Bill Bob Thornton’s character’s apartment in the 1998 movie “A Simple Plan.”
Delano Floral and Gifts was in the building from 2000-2015
From 2019 to 2025, The Refoundry, a store specializing in repurposed furniture and home accessories, occupied the building. The building was again sold and was named the Delano Brick Block. In May 2026 the Vintage Storyteller opened in that location.
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