A group of young Minot natives have repurposed an old building to create something new for downtown diners.

The Starving Rooster restaurant and bar, created out of a former loading dock in an old implement building, opened Oct. 14 on First Street Northeast. Although the space looks nothing like a loading dock anymore, pieces of the building’s history live on in a project that drew four couples into partnership.

Partners are Chad and Angie Thompson, Jeremy and Misty Mahany, Joel and Molly Welstad and Chris and Sarah Hawley. Joel Welstad with Welstad Construction was project contractor, and Chris Hawley was architect. Jeremy Mahany, who returned to Minot from Minneapolis, brings experience in restaurant operations.

“The history of Minot is very important to us. All of us have a strong history of farming through our families,” Jeremy Mahany said.

The building’s history, as recorded on a wall of the restaurant, goes back to the construction of the building in 1919 for Aultman-Taylor, a farm equipment company.

“Aultman-Taylor was known for making a threshing machine that was the best in the business,” Mahany said. It was so good that no grain fell to the ground, leaving scavenging roosters to go hungry.

“That’s where our name comes from,” Mahany said of The Starving Rooster.

The restaurant has hung the loading dock’s original garage doors from the ceiling. A glassed wall and overhead door replaces the old doors, giving diners a view to the west. Chad Thompson said the restaurant will seek a city permit to allow opening of the overhead door and sidewalk dining on nice summer days.

The restaurant and bar, which seat 95 customers, features bar tables and booths on the main floor with additional booth and table seating in an elevated section. The wood floors retrieved during the previous construction of apartment lofts in the same building were repurposed to create booths. Roof joists were crafted into tables. The doors behind the bar are original.

Tractor-seat stools offer seating at a counter, where customers can look into the kitchen and watch the wood-fired pizza being prepared. A canopy over the counter is reminiscent of the canopies on the steam-engine threshers manufactured by Aultman-Taylor. Discs off the Welstad family’s farm equipment make up table bases.

“It’s unique,” Mahany said. “It’s not something you can see in Minot anywhere else. The history in being able to repurpose material is something all four of us really take great pride in.”

Local artist Tina Brown created the restaurant artwork. John French of Burlington Electric fashioned the wire-mesh light fixtures.

The restaurant and bar sport multiple large screen televisions so guests can catch the NFL Sunday Ticket action.

The bar will have 28 beers on tap and a full liquor bar, along with house specialty drinks. The restaurant menu, in addition to wood-fired pizzas, includes soups, salads, sandwiches, paninis and appetizers.

The restaurant and bar have been in full operation since Oct. 14. A grand opening will be held later.

The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. each day. Saturday brunches are held until 2 p.m. and feature menu items such as scrambles and cinnamon rolls prepared in cast-iron skillets and house-special French toast and pancakes. Similar brunches are being offered Sundays, although the restaurant may be closed some Sundays during its initial start-up period.

The restaurant serves its own freshly made dressings and sauces. All menu items are made in-house with fresh ingredients.

Food will be served until at least 11 p.m. With different lighting and menu options, the restaurant has the ability to create a special late-night atmosphere.

Customers also will appreciate having a nearby parking lot available just north of Central Avenue and the railroad tracks.

The owners are hoping the restaurant will become a destination spot.

“It’s really needed for us to be a stepping stone in the direction of revitalizing downtown,” Mahany said. “It’s important for us to draw people down here, not only to come to our restaurant but to take a look at what the downtown has to offer.”