601 Washington Street, Brainerd, MN 56401

This historic corner building combines a ready-to-operate restaurant with income-producing residential and commercial space. The restaurant is described as turnkey and conveys with an extensive list of commercial equipment and fixtures already in place. The property’s history is tied to its original service as an office for the Brainerd Sawmill and later relocation to serve the Northern Pacific railroad depot, before becoming Van’s Cafe and ultimately the Sawmill Inn. The building includes upper-level rental units, totaling 8 residential rentals, plus an additional commercial rental fronting Washington Street.

The property fronts Highway 210 / Washington Street on one of the busiest, most visible corners in the Lakes Area, with roughly 26,000 vehicles passing through the corridor daily. It sits at the intersection of Washington Street and South 6th Street, directly across from a white water tower. Access is supported by both on-street parking and a generous off-street lot, and the listing notes major MnDOT Washington Street corridor reconstruction with new streetscape, sidewalks, and trail connections.

For buyers and operators, the lower level is positioned for food and beverage use given the turnkey restaurant infrastructure and the presence of a suite of equipment and fixtures. The combined layout also supports an operator-owner approach, with residential income from the upper units and a separate commercial rental component along Washington Street.