Posted: 10/16/07
New owners planning on some changes to popular supper club
By Tom Hammell
Special to the Caledonia Argus
The sign on the road to the Back 40 Supper Club still says Elmerís, but the new owners are planning on making some changes soon.
Ron and Lissa Fruechte bought the popular supper club situated on the west edge of Caledonia on July 1, and are already starting to make changes here and there.
The new name for the establishment seemed like an obvious fit.
"Weíre surrounded by corn fields and soybean fields, weíre out in the country," Ron Fruechte said.
Lissa Fruechte runs the day to day operations while Ron Fruechte farms and does custom work.
"The best part of all, we walked into a turnkey operation," he said. Doug and Jan Moen, the former owners, have still been around to lend a hand. The Fruechtes retained much of the existing staff.
Jan Moen has been around to help ease the process, Lissa Fruechte said.
"Sheís been very, very, very helpful," she said, and has, at times, been able to work there on short notice.
They have also been making some changes.
"Weíve upgraded the quality of the food," Lissa Fruechte said. They have also added some new items to the menu, including buffalo burgers.
"Our specialty is steaks," she said. They had ribeye and tenderloin, but have now brought on porterhouse steaks. Next week they are going to try serving a filet mignon with bacon wrap.
The establishment is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Lissa formerly managed the Marriott Hotel in Charleston South Carolina, and did everything including ordering the liquor. The only thing she had not done there is order food, which can be a challenge, since The Back 40 doesnít use frozen steaks.
The restaurant has been doing good business since they started, often getting 130 people a night, which can be a challenge if they come at the same time. They have seen a lot of private parties that have come to the restaurant.
The first plan was to put a salad bar in, but that will wait for other changes. The couple plans to renovate the dance hall area of the supper club and put in air conditioning.
Ron said business picks up in the fall, but they donít get as much business in the summer, because of the lack of air conditioning.
The club is also trying to bring back something they havenít seen for years, bands.
He said Reimer Revolution will be playing this fall and hopes to get bands or DJs to draw people to the establishment.
"We want that Friday and Saturday," Fruechte said.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com