The Rapidan Dam Store was demolished to prevent its inevitable collapse into the flooded Blue Earth River

The Blue Earth River engulfed Hrusek’s home in Rapidan, Minn., on Tuesday as rising rainwater eroded the ground beneath it. It gathered strength from heavy rains last week, bypassed a dam when debris blocked its flow and quickly eroded along the riverbank.

Now, in a sense, the floods have also destroyed the family business.

Anticipating the building’s collapse into the river, Blue Earth County took possession and demolished the Dam Store on Friday. In a Facebook post, county officials said significant erosion had accelerated along the riverfront, so they presented the Hruska family with a purchase agreement “to protect other properties downstream and reduce environmental impact.”

David Hruska, 44, spoke to MPR News for the first time on Thursday. He then hoped that the store building could be moved. Later, the contractor said it was too late. The ground was too saturated with water and the river was getting too close, pieces of the earth were disappearing all at once.

According to Google Maps, The Dam Store had about 300 feet from the riverbank about a week ago. By Thursday morning, that distance had dropped to about 10 to 15 feet, according to Hruska. “The store is right on the bank, like the house,” he said.

On Friday, Hruska said their only option was to remove the building. He estimated that nearly all of the family’s two acres of property now lie in the river.

“I never imagined this would happen in a million years.”

The Dam Store has been in operation as long as the Rapidan Dam, since 1910. In 1972, the store was taken over by the Hruska family, who also moved into the house next door.

David Hruska has lived his entire life between the two buildings. He said he accepted the house would collapse after the basement flooded and collapsed earlier this week. His biggest concern has always been the store.

“You can replace houses, but our company is a very old building. Old business. And that’s largely ingrained. And it’s hard to replace it with something like this,” Hruska said.

Hruska said its charm was that it was an “old-fashioned place.” The Dam Store has retained its old booths, payphone, Wurlitzer jukebox and Hamilton Beach milkshake mixers over the years, transporting customers back to the 1950s and 1960s.

“In the 50 or so years that we’ve owned it, it’s not changed much. We’ve done very little to change it or improve it. We’ve stayed the same, which is why people love it and enjoy it,” said Hruska, who co-owns the bar with his father, Jim Hruska, and sister, Jenny Barnes. He did most of the cooking and waiting. Barnes baked the pies that the community loved.

In an interview Friday evening, Hruska said The Dam Store will be reborn in some form. Family, friends and county workers removed everything before the demolition, including appliances, memorabilia, furniture. He said it will be included when the family opens the new location.

“The Dam Shop hasn’t sold the last burger or the last piece of cake,” reads a June 26 Facebook post to supporters. “When it is safe for everyone, we will be open in some way or shape.”