A group of local attorneys purchased the former Elks Lodge building Thursday with plans to redevelop it for two separate businesses.

The building, at 1811 S.E. Broadway, was bought by Albert Lea Improvement LLC, an entity owned by attorneys Matt Benda, Dan Kolker, Stephanie Haedt and Eythan Frandle. After renovations, it will house the Peterson, Kolker, Haedt & Benda law firm and a real estate development and financing firm owned by former attorney Richard N. Davies and family, according to a news release.

“Our law firm has been embedded in the Albert Lea community for over 97 years, and we intend to continue our long tradition of serving multiple generations of families, businesses and farm operations in southern Minnesota,” said managing attorney Matt Benda in the release.

The law firm, which had been leasing its space at 211 S. Newton Ave. since 1992, plans to relocate the summer of 2020.

“This new location provides us with a permanent location, ample room to grow and allows us to serve our client needs,” Kolker said. “We are excited to relocate in this part of town to join the momentum that is growing on South Broadway.”

In addition, Frandle said the group liked the accessibility the building offers for clients and the capability it has to have the office all on the same floor.

“Our current office has us split into two floors, and the move to a single floor will be great,” he said.

The release stated the law office will occupy the east two-thirds of the building, and the real estate business will be in the west one-third.

Frandle said the first goal in the renovations will be to clean and repair the exterior of the building and property. After that, they will convert the interior into office space while maintaining as much history and character as possible.

“Many of us have memories there, and we would like to keep those memories strong while simultaneously updating the atmosphere,” he said.

At its height, the Albert Lea Elks Lodge reached 2,100 members and was not only the largest Elks in Minnesota, but the 12th largest in the United States at the time. It has been closed since 2009 when the local organization declared bankruptcy.

To recognize the historical significance of the building, the ownership group states it will offer various ways to document and share memories of the club’s history.

“We are committed to provide a platform for others to share their Elks’ memories and help us tell the story of this great landmark,” Frandle said.

A Facebook page titled “Albert Lea Improvement” has been set up for the public to share their memories of the building and to follow the development progress.

Haedt said the members of the firm are committed to improving the communities in which they work and look forward to being part of the growth and success of the area.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. said it is good to see continued investment in the south side of the city.

“It’s really special to see some local people reinvest,” he said.