Dec. 16, 2025

Rosie’s Cafe will begin its second life before Christmas, owner Tom “Tiger” Hinrichs has announced.

Hinrichs and his working partner, Barry Selland, will reopen the neighborhood restaurant at 7 a.m. Dec. 23, closing at 2 p.m. It will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and serve meals again on Dec. 26.

They are leasing the property at 2200 W. Madison St., where Rosie Warner opened the original Rosie’s Cafe in 1984. Warner’s daughter Beckie Mettler took over almost 25 years ago while Warner continued to cook on a part-time basis.

Mettler now operates Rosie’s Farmhouse Cafe in Chester. She closed the Rosie’s in Sioux Falls in May.

Hinrichs and Selland, who have several decades of experience in the restaurant industry between the two of them, said something special may be on the menu on opening day — if their vendor can get hold of it.

“Otherwise, right now we’re going to stick with a slightly expanded menu compared to the old Rosie’s menu,” Hinrichs said.

The new Rosie’s will not open with a much-requested favorite special, but the liver and onions entree is coming.

“We will make it a point to add that as a special one of these days,” Hinrichs said.

The remodeled cafe will have room for 48 diners.

Hinrichs and Selland received many positive responses to the November reopening announcement, Hinrichs said.

“Some people were like, oh, don’t change a thing, and the rest were like, oh, we’re so happy,” he said. “People want and crave the old Rosie’s, so we’re not deviating too far, and hopefully they will still like what we have to offer.”

Hinrichs and Selland plan to establish a Facebook page for their Rosie’s Cafe, and when it is established, it will feature the daily specials and offer a behind-the-scenes look, Hinrichs said. He doesn’t know when the page will be up.

“As of right now, we’re pretty analog,” he said.

The big yellow sign near the building’s roof will remain, but a new sign above the door has been ordered. The old sign was returned to Warner and Mettler.

Rosie’s Cafe will be open six days a week. Hours will be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday when only breakfast will be served. For takeout orders, the phone number will remain at 605-334-7928.