Next time you go downtown to eat at Minervas in Sioux Falls, there will be new owners overseeing their legendary salad bar and to die for menu.

Paul Van Bockern, Don Anderson and Steve Jervik, have sold the iconic Sioux Falls restaurant to WR Hospitality employees Ken Bashore and Tim Meagher.

Bashore and Meagher will also have their own business partner in the new venture, Mike Gjernes, who hails from a financing background.

Along with Minervas, the new owners will also purchase the Grille 26 restaurant and Paramount Cocktail & Food, which is attached to Minervas.

The two restaurants will now be operated under the corporate entity of Vanguard Hospitality SF.

Van Bockern, along with his business partner at the time Dave Thompson started Minervas in 1977 as Minervas Corner Creperie.

The space at 11th and Phillips Avenue was originally a candy store known as Minervas Confectionary. It later became the Palace of Sweets, Lemonds restaurant and the Peanut Gallery restaurant.

Van Bockern will continue as CEO of WR Hospitality. The properties under the WR umbrella include; The All Day Cafe by Minervas, Phillips Avenue Diner, RedRossa Napoli Pizza and Taphouse 41 in Sioux Falls. Eight other restaurants under the Minervas name are also owned by WR Hospitality.

The approximately 150 employees of Minervas and Grille 26 will be retained according to the new ownership group.

"The new owners are going to wait before making any updates or changes at the restaurants", Bashore said.

They do however plan to grow the Vanguard portfolio over a period of time.

Source: The Argus Leader


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