MANKATO — On Sunday, people will get some exercise and wear off a few calories, giving them a guilt-free experience as they eat some of the famous Dam Store’s homemade pies.
The next day, anyone else will be able to get back to enjoying The Dam Store pies, burgers and shakes.
The former Dam Store next to the Rapidan Dam south of Mankato was demolished after high Blue Earth River levels swept around the dam and tore away the streambank leading to the store. The legendary store is planning to reopen Monday at the site of the former Wagon Wheel restaurant at 609 South Front St. in Mankato.
David Hruska, who with his sister Jenny Barnes, operate the The Dam Store, said they plan to open the doors to their new location at 11 a.m. Monday, provided all the equipment has been installed.
They will be open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., however winter hours may change.
“We’re basically going to have the same menu – burgers, pies and shakes,” Hruska said. “We added a few things like a grilled chicken sandwich, but no big changes. The most popular items are still the main ones.”
Pies remain the mainstay, with Jenny making them daily. They have about 80 kinds of pies, with a few different selections offered each day.
At the Rapidan location, the late Erna Lange baked the pies for decades and was still doing so into her 90s.
Hruska said Lange taught his sister how to make pies.
“Erna could bake anything. She went to Bakers Square and had a pie and she went home and recreated it.” It was the Chocolate Caramel Pecan pie, which remains the most popular pie at The Dam Store.
“Now, Jenny can do the same thing, taste a pie and recreate it.”
Becky Davis is helping organize the Best Dam Pie Thank You Ride on Sunday.
“We just wanted to say thank you to The Dam Store because they were so supportive of the former River Ramble bike ride,” she said.
The River Ramble drew many bicycle riders each fall and one of the highlights of the rides was a stop at The Dam Store for some pie. Disagreements among some state biking groups that helped host the Ramble caused the event to be ended.
Bikers will meet at noon at Mt. Kato ski hill south of Mankato and at 12:45 p.m. will ride to Mankato and The Dam Store. The pie will be served across the street under a tent in the Walgreens parking lot.
Then the bicyclists will return to Mt. Kato, with those who want to going on to do other longer bike rides on the Red Jacket trail or other routes.
The event is fairly informal, but Davis said they would like people who want to take part in the bike ride to register soon. There is no cost to take part, but those who register are given a suggested donation amount that will be given to the Hruska family that runs The Dam Store. They are also selling Dam Store T-shirts, with sales going to the Hruskas.
People can register for the event at: katobikewalk.com/events