MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) – The old Wagon Wheel Café is being given new life by the Dam Store, a popular dining establishment that was located at the Rapidan Dam before the historic flood.
The family originally wanted to rebuild in Rapidan, but quickly realized that this would not be possible for the time being.
“The county needs to figure out what they’re doing out there before we do anything,” said David Hruska, owner of the Dam Store. “And they say the only thing I’ve heard is that they have to replace the bridge. And they said that’s a process that’s going to take two or three years.”
The Hruska family turned to their friends, the Fishers, who helped them find some possible locations.
“I actually thought of the Wagon Wheel before we even talked to them, just because it fits perfectly with the Dam Store,” Hruska said.
The interior of the old café has been redesigned to convey as much Dam Store flair as possible.
“But it’s just difficult to recapture the feel of the dam store, and I think with this building here, in this location, you get as close to that as you can get,” Hruska said.
The Hruska family plans to offer their same menu and classic cakes.
“We’ll do everything the same as we did at the Dam Store until we get settled in, and then we’ll see how it goes,” Hruska said.
The move is almost complete, only a few things and a viewing are missing.
“It’s going to take a while to get everything set up and comfortable,” Hruska said. “For example, they have twice as much seating here as we do, but we have a much bigger kitchen.”
For a family that lost almost everything, including their home, in the raging waters of Rapidan, this is a major turning point.
“The communication with all our friends and customers and so on, we would never have survived without that,” Hruska said. “I mean, with all our family and friends and customers, we got through this.”
Now old friends and family members will help the Hruskas advance on the Wagon Wheel.
The Hruska family does not yet have a specific date for the opening, but if the inspection is positive, they assume that an opening will be possible in early September.
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