News

Couple purchases Red Wing Diner

By Tyler Ohmann

04/17/2012

A Bottineau County favorite will re-open it’s doors this week as new owners have decided to take a chance on the Red Wing Diner in Willow City.

Sadie and Glen Oppen, both from the area, will re-open the diner that is a mid-point between Bottineau and Rugby.

“I think we’ll do well,” Sadie said. “It is a halfway point between Rugby and Bottineau, and a lot of people are saying ‘thank God you’re re-opening,’ and I asked them, ‘why is that?’ and they said ‘it is just so nice to be able to have somewhere to stop.’”

Sadie is a graduate of Bottineau High School, and worked in the food industry in Bottineau ever since she roamed the halls of BHS.

“I really enjoyed the fast food industry,” Sadie said. “When I was growing up I worked at Cenex in Bottineau and then for Jackie Klingbeil (at Dairy Queen).”

Sadie first came up with the idea of purchasing the diner after she noticed it was for sale during weekend trips from the family’s farm (located between Rugby and Towner) to Bottineau.

“Every weekend we’d drive to Bottineau and see that it was for sale,” Sadie said. “We figured we’d try it and see how it goes, and hopefully it pans out.”

The couple have been working tirelessly to ready the place for re-opening, which is tentatively set for Friday. New additions to the diner include a fresh coat of paint and some new equipment.

“Her (Sadie’s) mom came in and helped paint, and we bought a new frier,” Glen said.

Sadie hopes that the Oppen’s can continue to improve things in the future.

“It really didn’t need much work, but it needs some updating,” Sadie said. “Hopefully we can do that in time if we can keep it going.”

Glen would like to see some additions outside.

“We hope to put some more tables outside, so people can enjoy it outside on nicer days,” Glen said.
As for other changes to help succeed, Sadie has some high hopes.

“I guess instead of being a fast food place, we would like people to come in and sit down and enjoy,” Sadie said. “We hope to put a big screen TV in here, and I know Judy (Backwoods Cafe) closes every day at one, so people can maybe come in and sit and relax then.”
“I know we’d like to add some baked goods, and do things like that,” Sadie added.

As a farmer Glen knows the long hours put in during harvest, and hopes that the Red Wing Diner can provide some evening meals to the many farmer’s surrounding the area.

“I guess advertising and the owners before us said they got a lot of take-out business from the farmers,” Glen said. “And hopefully people going back and forth to the lake will stop in on the weekends, and we can spread by word of mouth.”

Sadie mentioned that hours, which will approximately be 11-8 daily, may be extended in the fall during harvest.

“I know that this is such a big farming area, and there isn’t anything open (late),” Sadie said. “There is usually a lot of semi traffic during harvest and things like that, which is why it kind of got me interested in it.”

Red Wing staples, such as burgers and fries will still be on the menu, as well as a few new things.

“We’re still going to serve hamburgers and french fries and different appetizers,” Sadie said. “We’ll also have chicken, fish, shrimp and the popular flavor burst ice cream.”

“We’ll also have noon specials,” Sadie added.

The Oppen’s purchase allows for a Bottineau County staple to stay up and running, as well as yet another dining option for folks to try out.

“It’s been here for quite a few years, and we’d like to keep it going,” Glen said. “It can be another place that people can come and socialize and give us some business.”