COMPANY INFO
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WR Restaurants, Management, L.L.C., was incorporated in 1994 in South Dakota and owns, operates, leases and or manages first-class restaurants, city convention centers and hotel conference centers. We manage restaurants and do not franchise or sell our concepts. We have built an impressive record of success by bringing together four essential elements: a commitment to guest service, a commitment to quality food, a clean and attractive environment for our guests and a staff of dedicated professionals in each of our locations.
Services We Offer
As a full service Restaurant Company, we offer the following:
- Free standing Restaurant management
- Hotel Restaurant and Conference Center management
- City Event Center or Convention Center food service
- Management and employee recruitment
- Employee training and management development
- A choice of 6 different Restaurant concepts
- Menu development
- In depth Restaurant operational standards
- Inventory control
- Centralized accounting
- Payroll data processing
- Human resources
- Employee benefits
- Purchasing
- Restaurant development
- Restaurant consulting
History
In 1994, two of South Dakota's finest hospitality companies, Ramkota Companies Inc. and The Minerva Restaurant Company formed WR Restaurants, L.L.C., to own, operate and manage restaurants.
Ramkota Companies was formed in 1965 and is one of the nation's largest hotel ownership and management companies. Today, Ramkota and its affiliates operate more than 65 hotels in 20 states.
Tradition
The original Minervas Restaurant was opened in 1977 in the heart of downtown Sioux Falls on the Corners of 11th and Phillips Avenue. Located in a historical building rich with restaurant tradition, Minervas been operating successfully by offering the area's finest quality food, service, and beverages. In a traditional, classic and comfortable style, Minervas Restaurant serves the area's choicest aged beef, fresh seafood, creative pastas, gourmet desserts and fresh coffees. Minervas has enjoyed an outstanding reputation for its quality food and service not only in Sioux Falls but also throughout the upper Midwest. Minervas has received many awards for excellence in dining and still receives special recognition as one of the top 200 independent restaurants in the country.
Minervas is a member of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and has been a good corporate citizen, participating in the many community supported fund drives as well as employing 90 full- or part-time employees.
Today
As of 2003 WR Restaurants has grown to over eleven restaurants and several different concepts for which we plan continued growth. Minerva's Restaurant and Bar is our largest concept, an upscale casual restaurant with a broad-based menu featuring our Steak, Chop, Seafood and Pasta background, same traditional Minerva's style but with a casual appeal both in the dining room and in the bar.
Kahill’s Steak, Chop and Seafood is our version of a Classic Steakhouse done with a darkwoods stylish décor with a retro twist. Kahill’s river view plus an extensive wine and martini list are compliments to an ala carte menu features steak, chop, seafood and chicken done with large portions and large family style side dishes.
We continue to expand our concepts while keeping our mission to provide a unique dining experience that exceeds our guests’ expectations. In the early Summer of 2005 we introduced RedRossa, a fast-casual approach to pizza, served in the authentic, Neapolitan tradition. An 800 degree wood-burning oven will cook a specialty pizza in less than 3 minutes, delivering a pure taste of Old Italy, fast, fresh and authentic .
The Phillips Avenue Diner in historic downtown Sioux Falls is an upscale rendition of the American Metro Diner. Filled with nostalgia and photos of Sioux Falls days gone by, The Diner serves all your classic favorites, plus a menu to compliment a meal served with a glass of beer or wine. Breakfast is available till 11:00 a.m. with everything to satisfy all tastes, with skilled baristas craft specialty drinks of Seattle’s Best Coffee and TAZO Teas for dine-in or to-go.
Our restaurant concepts are not created in a cookie - cutter fashion. Each location has distinctive features of their own. Our décor packages utilize mahogany, oak or other hardwoods with handcrafted detail work. We also make use of brass, stone, ceramic tile work, antiques, floral displays and specialty wooden flooring throughout the buildings. Some restaurants feature fireplaces in the dining areas, other restaurants display large custom bars and wine displays and several showcase large storefront windows overlooking the river or a championship golfcourse.
In addition to our own concepts, we have experience working with the restaurant franchise community. Currently we are working with the Green Mill Franchise in one of our restaurants and have had experience with a group of four TGI Friday,s Franchise restaurants for two years.
WR Restaurants, with the combined experience of Ramkota Companies and the Minerva Restaurant Company, is well qualified to manage and provide quality food and beverage service to your restaurant or community event center. Both companies have built their reputations based upon quality and a genuine caring concern for their guests.
WR Restaurants, Management believes our strongest asset we bring to the table to assist any organization, restaurant or conference center, is the skill and expertise of our operations personnel.
Operations Personnel
Paul Van Bockern serves as President and CEO of WR Restaurants Inc. He has been in the restaurant business since 1969 and is involved in all aspects of the industry. Mr. Van Bockern has been a co-owner of Minerva's since it first opened in 1977. The company is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mr. Van Bockern is originally from Lennox, South Dakota and is a graduate of Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Mr. Van Bockern's telephone desk number is 605-965-1470.
Don Anderson, Corporate Chef, has been a co-owner of Minerva's since 1986. His telephone number is 605-965-1471. Mr. Anderson has been involved in the restaurant industry for the past 23 years with much of his experience and expertise in the kitchen. After graduating from Luverne High School in 1978, Don began his career in the hospitality industry, joining Minervas in 1980.
Terry Van De Walle, Director of Human Resource Development and Training, has been in the hospitality industry since 1975 with over 27 years of restaurant management experience. Mr. Van De Walle graduated from Iowa State University with his M.S. Degree in Human Resource Management. He has been with WR Restaurants since 1995. His telephone number is 605-965-1472.
Ken Bashore, Regional Manager, has been employed with WR Restaurants and The Minerva Restaurant Co. for over 10 years and has been in the hospitality business for over 22 years. He has 10 years of single unit management experience and 8 years of multi-unit management experience. He is a graduate of the University of South Dakota. He can be reached at 605-965-1474.
Carmen Graves, Regional Manager, is the company’s POS and accounting specialist. She also one of the leaders on the restaurant opening team. Carmen has been with Minervas Restaurants Co and WR Restaurants since 1989 ; 12 years in Management. Carmen attended Sioux Falls College in Sioux Falls.
Charlie Spanier, Regional Manager, 27 years in the hospitality business, 20 years of management experience, has owned and operated his own restaurant and has been with WR Restaurants and Green Mill since 1994. Charlie attended St. Cloud State and received his Hospitality Degree at Normadale College.
Barbara Christen, Marketing Director, brings nearly 9 years of retail management and over 15 years of design and marketing experience to WR Restaurants. Barbara graduated from Platt College in Southern California before relocating to Sioux Falls. Barbara works closely with regional and general managers to provide tools for success such as menu design, promotional advertising and local store marketing.
Do you have the tools for success? Give us a call, let’s see if we can help.
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