PERHAM, Minn. 鈥� A number of hospitality businesses recently changed hands in the Perham area and a restaurant that set up shop in a former church is celebrating its fourth year in operation as the lakes area community prepares for a busy summer.
Pamela Osterfeld and business partner Marcus Zitzow opened in May 2019 after renovating the town's former German Lutheran church, which was built in 1894.
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During the approximately 14 months they spent renovating the church with help from family, Osterfeld and Zitzow operated a food truck, which Osterfeld said helped establish a customer base for the restaurant.
"As soon as we opened, we got busy," she said, adding they are happy to have made it this far, given the first years are often the most difficult for fledgling restaurants.
She acknowledged, however, that it was a struggle recouping ground lost to the pandemic and she said as with many businesses these days, "Staffing is a major, major issue for us."
Osterfeld said 1894 employs about three full-time staff, one of whom is a friend she's known since high school days.
The other positions tend to be filled by a mix of individuals, including students and the children of friends and relatives, said Osterfeld, who noted restaurants in the area have traditionally had a difficult time finding service industry workers.
And that is something she doesn't quite understand, given that she personally finds such work to be rewarding.
"The service industry was always where I was my happiest and most fulfilled with my job," said Osterfeld, who has a masters degree in communication from North Dakota State University and an undergraduate degree in psychology.
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Osterfeld, who has spent time in the corporate world, said when people ask why she isn't working in a field more aligned with her education, she tells them she uses that knowledge "every minute of every day."
Walking into 1894, one is immediately aware of both the stately beauty of the former worship space and its intimacy.
Just inside the doorway, visitors are greeted by a small area that features photos of the church's past, including images of weddings and confirmation classes.
"Most people do get stuck there," Osterfeld said, referring to the understated photo gallery and she added it's not unusual for couples who were married in the church many years ago to show up to celebrate anniversaries.
The restaurant's outdoor space has hosted celebrations of life and other community events like birthdays.
On the last Thursday of each month, customers are encouraged to bring along their canine family members for what is playfully known as the 1894's Yappy Hour.
Osterfeld said if the former church had not become 1894 the restaurant it very likely would have been torn down and replaced with something like housing.
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Now, the restaurant is thinking of ways to grow its offerings, with one idea being the creation of an outdoor amphitheater.
Osterfeld said in planning the business, they figured preserving the building was "one of the coolest things we could do for the community," adding she uses a one-word term to describe 1894's vibe.
"We call it fellowship," she said.
Mama T's
Tori Nash is the "Mama" of Mama T's, a restaurant on the edge of Perham that for decades was known as Mrs. B's.
Nash and her son, Joshua, recently bought the business from long-time owner Lola Bachmann, who operated the eatery with her daughter, Missy.
and the first thing they did was give the interior some new paint and a metal-clad counter.
They also redecorated with items picked up from local thrift stores and Tori Nash's own house.
"So, now I have bare walls at home," said Nash, who added they have enjoyed help and support from relatives, including in-laws.
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"While it's Josh and I, mainly, it is a family thing," said Nash, adding that she focuses on the business and customer service aspects, while Josh, who has years of professional experience managing kitchens, handles that part of the restaurant.
So, when it comes to making decisions that affect the business, "We're the only company meeting we have to have," Tori Nash said.
Josh Nash agreed there are perks to being the boss.
"You can change the things you want to change," he said.
Mama T's first two weeks of business were very busy, though once the new wore off, things calmed down a bit, according to Josh Nash.
"It has it's ups and down," agreed his mother, adding things are starting to pick up as summer approaches.
She said tourist traffic is starting to appear, as are snowbirds returning after a winter spent in the south.
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And, she said, they don't take for granted the folks who tend to stick around year around.
"The local people through the winter are what keep all the businesses around here thriving," Tori Nash said.
The Salty Pickle
The Salty Pickle Bar and Grill is the new name for another long-time Perham-area business that until recently was known as the
The updated name was chosen by Kristi Shursen, her sister, Sara Pishler, their brother, Tom Piechowski, and Shursen's son, Trevor Deyo, all of whom recently purchased the bar and outdoor activities complex located between Perham and Ottertail on Highway 78.
While brainstorming a name for the business they focused on a pickle snack the family has long enjoyed that is made from an old family recipe.
Now, the homemade item is a side dish on their menu.
They initially considered calling the bar The Polish Pickle, but settled on The Salty Pickle instead.
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The business held its grand opening in late May with an outdoor bash that included a band and activities like sand volleyball and free drink samples.
Going forward, offering live music will remain a priority, according to Deyo, who said family members had talked for years about owning a bar.
He said when he discovered the property, including surrounding acreage, was for sale, he phoned his mother and together with their relatives they decided now was the time.
They've already established a number of routines, including offering karaoke on alternate Friday nights.
They also plan to hold a singing competition this summer called Otter Tail Idol, according to Deyo, who said the feature will start in June and wrap up about a week before Labor Day
Shursen said owning a bar was part of the appeal in purchasing the property, but what convinced her was the potential of the surrounding land, which they plan to turn into a full-amenity RV park in the near future.
"We'll have about 65 sites back there," she said.
Her son agreed the bar is just the start.
"We want this to be the entry to the Otter Tail lakes area," Deyo said.
Perham's proximity to the recreational potential of the lakes region combined with the presence of several factories that call the town home 鈥� including Bongards' Creameries and Shearer's Snacks 鈥� means Perham enjoys the best of both worlds, according to Nick Murdock, Perham's economic development director.
"We have tourists who come and bolster our economy and we've got industry that really lays the foundation for maintaining our economy through the off season," Murdock said.
And businesses in Perham go out of their way to help each other, according to Osterfeld.
"We're very lucky around here, especially the restaurant community. If we run out of something, you just make a call or a text and you're like, 'Hey, can we borrow a box of Coke until our Coke truck comes next week?''' Osterfeld said.
"Everybody just wants to see everybody succeed, because we still want to go to other food places when we're not working," Osterfeld added.
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