New St. Olaf Tavern owner has community roots and experience

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

Originally built in the early 1900s as a hardware store, St. Olaf Tavern has spent its most recent decades as a “quaint, rural bar and grill” in the village of St. Olaf. The spot has become known for its legendary pork tenderloin sandwich, which was a finalist for Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Award just two years ago. 

St. Olaf Taverns has also been known for a string of owners who have been firmly rooted in the community, including recent owners Randy and Lisa Lenth. 

Randy’s story in the Tavern dates back to age 17, working behind the bar out of high school, and also includes the fact his parents once owned the establishment between the 1970s and 1990s. There is a history and an attachment to the restaurant and community which cannot be severed. 

Those roots were a guiding light when the Lenths were looking for new owners. They wanted someone local who would continue the traditions and uphold the longstanding legacy of the St. Olaf Tavern— someone just as attached to the business, the community and St. Olaf. They found that person in Julie Suhr, who officially took over in January. 

Julie has called St. Olaf home since the late 1980s. She graduated from Central and got her first job at Johnson’s in Elkader when she was 16. It was through her job, and the tutelage of Bernice Johnson, as well as her family, that she learned the value of hard work and the belief that a good work ethic could take you far in life. It was emphasized and instilled in every facet of her young life, and she worked at Johnson’s until 2004, when she and husband Andy decided to start a family. 

It was at that point Julie started an in-home day care, which lasted until 2016, before she started working at the Tavern in 2017. Having lived in St. Olaf, she wasn’t unfamiliar with the restaurant. It was a place where she grew up eating and hanging out at. Like a lot of locals, she was a loyal customer, and one of many who helped the Tavern stave off the storm of the Covid-19 pandemic that was so hard on many businesses.

Thanks to employees like Julie and the community, St. Olaf Tavern never closed during the pandemic. It stands as a testament to the power of what roots mean in small, rural towns. 

In 2017, Julie started as a waitress, a trip back into the past when she was 16. This time, she worked her way into more positions, such as managing and doing the scheduling. It was something she enjoyed.

“I have always liked working with the public and getting to know people. Being a waitress and bartender, you get to know a lot about people’s history and who they are. I love hearing about each person’s story,” she said. 

Julie was tackling new challenges and gaining valuable experience, which served her well, especially when the Lenths decided to sell. Based on the support of family, friends and the Lenths, Julie and her husband “decided to take the leap.” 

The leap has been aided by Randy and Lisa remaining active in the Tavern, lending a helping hand and guiding the new owners. Lisa does the bookkeeping and Randy pops in often to see if they need anything. 

“I am very grateful for them and their help. It has made everything go a lot easier,” Julie said. 

Since taking over, the Tavern has turned into a family affair, with Andy doing maintenance and upkeep when he isn’t working as a mechanic for Ziegler’s in Postville. The couple’s daughters, Rebecca (19) and Kimberly (17), help cook and do some waitressing. 

“They are really good in the kitchen,” Julie said. 

Even son Christopher, who is 10, comes in to help Julie on the weekends, filling pop coolers and getting the sinks ready. It all helps as Julie manages the day-to-day activities of the Tavern. 

“I have a lot of experience with the working part, but as a new business owner, I’m learning a lot every day and what it takes to keep things running,” Julie said. 

Learning new things is something Julie enjoys, because she believes “a person should always challenge themselves.” Among the challenges she has faced early on as the new owner has been learning how to manage her time efficiently. Work sometimes travels home with her, whether it be working on the books, getting supplies or behind the scenes tasks. There is always something keeping her busy off the clock. 

At work, though, keeping the place running, while a learning experience, is also a team effort. It includes Randy, Lisa and the entire staff that ranges in age from 14 to 60. All, according to Julie, “bring something good to the business.”

“We learn together, and whether they are the dishwasher, cook, waitress or bartender, I appreciate each one of them,” she said. 

One thing that wasn’t a challenge, at least so far, was the transition, a process that has been “smooth,” according to Julie. On this fact, Julie credits Randy and Lisa, who created a well-established brand with a solid customer base. With her experience in the industry, which included the most recent years at the Tavern, she was already aware of the ins and outs, lowering the learning curve. 

The community and customer support has also been “wonderful and great,” she said. 

Though Julie hasn’t made any changes since taking over, she has a few goals for the future, like growing the customer base and keeping prices as low as possible. 

“I want people to know we are family friendly. I try to keep the prices as low as I can, so families can come in and have a meal without it being too expensive. I just want it to be a place where people can come and enjoy themselves,” she said.  

As Julie adds her name to the history of the St. Olaf Tavern, at the heart of it is still her roots to the community. In St. Olaf, those roots are attached to the Tavern, where you’re welcomed with friendliness and, of course, great food.