FARGO – BernBaum’s, the popular downtown Fargo restaurant that garnered national attention, has closed its doors.
Co-owners and husband and wife Andrea Baumgardner and Brett Bernath announced on Monday afternoon, September 23, that the restaurant would be closing “effective immediately,” according to a written statement.
“BernBaum’s, perhaps the only Nordic Jewish restaurant in the country, has been in business for eight exciting years. Starting with a 1940s electric stove in a mid-century furniture store on Roberts Street, it grew quickly and moved to its current location on Broadway over five years ago to become a staple for brunch and lunch downtown,” the statement said.
“While the timing was unexpected for us, we know the constant work and attention a restaurant requires is more than we can give it at this time,” Baumgardner said in the statement. “We are grateful for the support of everyone, both inside and outside the business, and thank everyone in the community who has contributed to its vibrant life.”
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Baumgardner later told The Forum that a recent staffing issue had arisen that ultimately led to her and Bernath’s decision to close the restaurant.
On Sunday morning, the company announced on its Facebook page that it would be closed for the day. On Monday morning, it said the closure would be extended until Tuesday. By Monday afternoon, both the Facebook page and website had been taken offline.
“It made everyone think about their relationship with the restaurant,” she said. “To keep going, everything would have to be rebuilt, and Brett and I didn’t know if we had the time, space and energy to do that.”
Ultimately, the couple concluded that while the business was making money, it wasn’t working for them in other ways.
“It was an opportunity to think about whether we should still do this,” Baumgardner said.
The decision was made quickly, but still difficult.
“I really love cooking for people, working with them and getting to know them,” she said.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
She would often wave to friends and guests from the kitchen or, when she had time, come into the dining room to greet regulars.
The restaurant at 402 Broadway is only open for breakfast and lunch and has earned itself a loyal regular spot.
Earlier this year, Baumgardner was nominated as “Best Chef of the Midwest” at the James Beard Awards, the American food industry’s highest honor.
“I loved that the people who came to BernBaum made it their own,” she said.
Several metal toy ovens were mounted on the south wall of the dining room, and guests often left messages and enthusiastic reports in the ovens.
“Fortunately, there are people outside of BernBaum’s that I can still see,” she said. “I have a treasure trove of beautiful memories.”
Not only was the business a family affair in that she ran it jointly with her husband, but her father Dave, a retired doctor, regularly prepared his popular dishes like MD Chili and Dr. Bop’s Crackers there.
This isn’t the first time Baumgardner has closed a popular restaurant. In 2013, she closed Green Market, which she founded in 2006. After a few years away from the grocery business, she felt a desire to return to a commercial kitchen.
In 2016, she and Bernath opened BernBaum’s as a New York-style lunch counter in his mid-century modern furniture store, Mid-Mod Madhaus, on Roberts Street.
The restaurant blended its Jewish ancestry with its Icelandic heritage in a variety of sandwiches, spreads, salads and soups.
Earlier this year, Baumgardner estimated that the restaurant was making about 1,200 bagels a week, as well as gallons of chicken matzo ball soup, which was popular even on sweltering summer days.
In recent years, Baumgardner left meal planning to the staff for monthly dinners, where anyone was welcome to create a specialty meal that reflected themselves. Chefs Candace Stock and Edward Rodriguez created indigenous dinners based on their Native American cultures, while a former dishwasher served a soul dinner. The October dinner was to be an Oktoberfest collaboration with Moorhead Junkyard Brewing. Tickets purchased for that event will be refunded this week, BernBaum’s statement said.
The statement also said that unused gift cards can be refunded by contacting [email protected].
BernBaum’s appeal has been noted by food and travel magazines and newspapers nationwide. In a 2022 New York Times article titled “My goodness, even Fargo has become more upscale,” reporter Danielle Braff raved, “As a Jewish New Yorker currently living in Chicago, I can now say that the best Jewish deli I have ever visited was BernBaum’s.”
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
But not all of the attention was welcome. Baumgardner and Bernath turned down offers from visiting television crews and declined to appear on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”
Baumgardner said her biggest thrill in the restaurant is making good food for people.
“Serving food is a very special thing,” she said. “You get the opportunity to get a glimpse into people’s lives. Sometimes you realize how lucky you are. These interactions are a gift, truly moving and enriching.”
She doesn’t know what will happen next, but said she’s open to several options but probably wouldn’t jump into anything right away.
“If there’s a silver lining, it’s that we’re able to figure out how to continue without BernBaum’s,” she said. “We feel good that we’ve had our restaurant for eight years. It’s been a worthwhile endeavor.”
