Multi-tasking farmer runs Bergie's Bar and Grill in Ridgeway, Minn.
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 03/25/2010 9:22 AM
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Bergie's Bar and Grill
Address: 35960 County Road 12, Houston, Minn.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Noon to midnight on Sunday.
Biggest seller: A quarter-pound cheeseburger with french fries and pop. The cheeseburger sells for $30; a regular portion of fries go for $1.25. Small portions are available.
Call them at: (507) 452-5949
RIDGEWAY, Minn. — Ken Bergmann is a farmer by day and a bar owner by night.
He owns Bergie's Bar and Grill, located in Ridgeway despite its Houston address.
Bergmann grew up on a dairy farm in Wilson, about 10 miles away. The bar was a local hang out for him. He bought it in 1991, and now raises beef cattle and crops on the family farm.
The team of employees pitch in when he is busy with planting or harvest. Through it all, he likes having his own bar.
"It's steady income," he said.
He lives on the second floor. Kathy Pulk, his sister, manages the place. She lived in Dallas for 25 years prior to joining Bergie's.
Nightly specials are available, like Wednesday's special of a large pizza with unlimited toppings for $5.50. Everyone gets free chicken drummies Thursday nights just for walking in the door. Patrons play free songs on the jukebox Friday nights, making for an eclectic atmosphere, from country to pop to heavy metal. Customers may also watch the TVs or play foosball, pinball, darts or pool.
Bergmann honors NASCAR races and Vikings football games with Happy Hour rates, even though he is really a Packers fan.
"You have to appease the clientele," he said.
A couple Packers decorations have their place around the bar's Vikings signs.
A fish tank sits high on the wall behind the bar. Bergmann was in the Navy and likes water, said Pulk, who described him as an "old beach bum." He likes Jimmy Buffet music and fishing.
"Please tip waitresses, or else Bergie will have to start paying them," reads a sign over the bar.
The menu has appetizers, burgers, chicken, fish, specialty burgers, sandwiches and pizza. Most popular of the appetizers are cheese curds for $3.75, said Pulk. People also like the onion petals for $2.50.
Bergmann came up with his own specialty burgers.
"He's a good cook," Pulk said.
The Bergie Burger is a quarter-pound of beef with grilled mushrooms and onions, topped with sour cream and A-1 sauce for $3.50. The Ridgerunner, a quarter-pound bacon cheeseburger for $5.00, has sauteed onions and mushrooms, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Pulk likes the fish sandwich, a breaded cod filet with American cheese, tarter sauce and lettuce on a bun for $3.75.
During the week, construction workers and local farmers eat there and they want basic food, she said. Pulk enjoys getting to know everyone.
"They've become a part of my life," she said.
— Heather Thorstenson