ALDEN — Change, while gradual, has been steadily transforming Mootsie’s Bar & Grill since it opened earlier this year.

Formerly Main Street Grill, it was bought by Amanda and Dan Hensche on Jan. 1. Amanda said it opened under its new name Jan. 2.

She said a lot of the menu items from the Main Street days remain, but that the Hensches are slowly putting their own spin on the place along with some of their own menu items. Mootsie’s menu consists mainly of sandwiches and steak, shrimp and walleye dinners, among others.

Amanda said while Dan has food service experience from managing a McDonald’s, her ties to the industry are somewhat closer to home. She was a server at Main Street as a teenager.

The Hensches have been slowly changing the atmosphere at Mootsie’s, and Amanda said they have musical acts from time to time. They also offer different nightly specials, $5 burger baskets on Mondays and have Wings Wednesdays, where wings are 50 cents a piece.

For Amanda, the biggest change she’s had to get used to from taking over the business has been the schedule. She said her schedule was busy enough with four children, and that it’s become more hectic with her long and frequent hours at Mootsie’s.

Mootsie’s, 127 N. Broadway in Alden, is open from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and 4 p.m. to midnight on Saturdays. Amanda said they’re considering opening on Sundays for football season.

Besides the Hensches, Mootsie’s has eight employees made up of servers, cook staff and dishwashers.

Amanda said the community has been welcoming and supportive since she and her husband took over the business. “It’s become a community gathering place,” she said. “We like that.”