Finding Minnesota: Couple Wins A Café
SHERBURN, Minn. (WCCO) -- Two years ago, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity opened up in southern Minnesota: a chance to win a free restaurant through an essay contest.
A Twin Cities couple jumped at the chance and, since they won, they've come through with surprises of their own.
The Cup N' Saucer Café closed in 2012 after nearly 60 years in the town of Sherburn, population 1,137. A wealthy former resident decided to buy it, renovate it and give it away to someone who would bring it back to life.
Elizabeth and Seth Lintelman of Crystal took a shot, submitting a three-page essay in March 2013.
Seth Lintelman had years of experience as sous chef at the prestigious Lafayette Club on Lake Minnetonka. Elizabeth Lintelman has a Master's degree in Business Administration.
Just months before the contest, they had lost their home in what they say was a case of predatory lending. Elizabeth Lintelman said the family started thinking of leaving the metro and moving closer to her husband's family in southern Minnesota.
"And then one day I got a text from my mother-in-law saying, 'Hey, there's an article in the paper down in Fairmont saying that you can win a restaurant by writing an essay,'" she said.
The offer was from Gene Scheppmann, 78, who now lives in Nevada but hated to hear that his hometown cafe closed. He and his wife, Carmen, spent thousands of dollars to buy it and renovate it.
"I've virtually never heard of someone just giving away a restaurant," Seth Lintelman said.
Scheppmann joined forces with a business class at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato to set up the essay contest and find a worthy recipient.
"We wrote the essay, we had an interview, we found out we won and we moved, all within a matter of three months," Elizabeth Lintelman said.
For townspeople, it quickly became clear that it was more than just an ownership change. New things started appearing on the Cup N' Saucer menu, like celery root bisque, maple bacon roasted brussel sprouts and rhubarb cream cheese stuffed French toast.
Seth Lintelman gradually pushed the boundaries with his daily specials, using items from his family's garden and other local gardens.
"It's broadened everybody's palette, I think," Dee Kokan of Sherburn said.
"I'm a fussy eater," Marlene Mielke of Kasota said, "and everything I've had here has been excellent."
"I think people came to the realization that it doesn't matter what the special is, or if they could pronounce it or if they know exactly what the ingredient is," Seth Lintelman said. "They know it's going to be good."
The Cup N' Saucer is usually just open for breakfast and lunch. But one night a month, they offer a six-course tasting menu, by reservation only, and it's already sold out for the rest of the year.
