Essentia Health plans to establish a family clinic in downtown Moorhead. The corporation has purchased the former Wells Fargo Bank building, which has been empty since March 2023. (Photo/Nancy Hanson.)

Hospital and city officials applauded Essentia’s announcement. (From left) Joe Wendt, West Market senior vice president; Danca Johnson; operations director for primary care, and Al Hurley, West Market COO, all Essentia Health; council member Lisa Borgen; Dr. Stefanie Gefroh, West Market president; Matt Leiseth, Downtown Moorhead Inc.; council member Sebastian McDougall; and West Market vice president Kerry Carlson and chief nursing officer Suzanne Zeitinger, both Essentia.

Nancy Edmonds Hanson 

The curiosity over the future of the former Wells Fargo Bank building downtown was finally satisfied Friday, Jan. 30, when Essentia Health announced its plans: By mid-2027, the bank – empty since its closure March 2023 – will reopen its doors as Essentia’s newest family health clinic.

Hospital officials and city leaders gathered inside the former financial institution at Eighth Street and Center Avenue to hear the president of Essentia’s West Market, Dr. Stefanie Gefroh, reveal plans for the second private development in the new version of downtown Moorhead. “Essentia Health is incredibly proud to provide care for patients in Moorhead,” she said, “and we’re constantly looking for ways to better serve our communities. This new clinic represents a fantastic opportunity to provide more convenient, comprehensive care and meet the needs of this growing community.

Essentia currently operates a walk-in clinic on the corner of Main Avenue and Eighth Street, as well as a family medicine clinic on Eighth Street south of Interstate 94. The president said both are expected to continue.

Gefroh pointed out that the ratio of patients to medical clinicians in Moorhead is far below the recommendation of the National Institute of Health. The NIH cites an ideal ratio of one primary-care physician to 2,000 patients. In Moorhead, the number is one to between 6,000 and 7,000 residents.

“We can do better,” she told the Extra on Friday. “We’re planting deep roots in Moorhead.”

Plans for increasing services here have been under discussion for several years. “When the bank was first suggested as a possible location, my reaction was, ‘Really?’” she said, smiling. “But after we looked this building over, we could see exciting possibilities. It’s a great structure. It has great bones.”

Council member Lisa Borgen shared Mayor Shelly Carlson’s remarks. (The mayor was absent because of the death of her mother-in-law.) “Our city’s vision is a vibrant, connected, thriving core, and we are thrilled to welcome Essentia Health to the downtown neighborhood! By transforming this building and operating quality health services here, Essentia will become a cornerstone of our downtown.”

The mayor noted that that Essentia recently presented the city with a gift of more than $1 million to support the indoor walking path in The Loop, the new library/community center, as well as to support the riverfront trail system. “That focus on health and wellness continues as we celebrate their investment in a transformational reuse of this strategic location.”\

According to Gefroh, the health-care system expects to invest $7 million to remodel and renovate the bank building. In the first phase, it will establish an 8,100 sq. ft. family medicine clinic, including 10 exam rooms, on procedural room and laboratory, and radiology services, all inside the existing structure at 730 Center Ave. The organization will continue to explore opportunities to expand services based on evolving community needs.

Matt Leiseth, president of Downtown Moorhead Inc., said, “This is a huge day for downtown Moorhead. Essentia is transforming a landmark building into the downtown heart of Moorhead. Thank you to Essentia Health for helping us write the next chapter.”