April 29, 2024

The new owner of OverTime Sports Grill & Bar plans to expand and update the space and make a few menu changes, while ensuring that it remains a favorite family-friendly neighborhood gathering spot.

Rapid City-based M.G. Oil bought the east-side restaurant at 4529 E. 26th St. earlier this month from an offshoot of the Vern Eide Group, which had owned it for almost a year.

M.G. Oil, which is family owned, has several sports bars, video lottery casinos and convenience stores in Sioux Falls, mostly along the 41st Street corridor and in the northwest part of the city.

“Eastern and southern Sioux Falls are happening, and we wanted to make our presence into these areas,” said Lindy Swedeen, regional retail general manager. The longtime OverTime in a retail center at 26th Street and Sycamore Avenue provided a perfect expansion opportunity, he said..

With the change in ownership, one of customers’ biggest concerns was that OverTime would no longer be family-friendly because most of M.G.’s sports bars such as The 18th Amendment and The Lie’Brary Bar aren’t, Swedeen said. And their other worry? “The OT Bites. Don’t take away the OT Bites,” he said. The bacon-wrapped chunks of chicken and slices of jalapeno are the signature appetizer.

“There’ll be some changes,” Swedeen said of the menu, adding that there’s no rush. “Good things, different things to try something different, but the core of their menu will remain.” He describes it as “sports bar meets family restaurant.”

Other customer favorites are OT Nachos Supreme and MVP Wings, which are parbaked, flash-fried, sauced and finished on the grill to caramelize the sauce flavor.

There are burgers, sandwiches, pasta dishes, chislic and salads.

“We want to improve the broasted chicken offering, and we hope to have that new flavor coming soon,” Swedeen said.

It’s possible that the pizzas The 18th Amendment is known for could make their way to the OverTime menu, he said.

The business, which is open daily, is about to get bigger too. OverTime is expanding into a former tenant space in the southeast corner of the building that will become two video lottery casinos.

That will allow the business to move the video lottery machines out of the bar, adding about 40 seats, Swedeen said. Now, the bar has room for 100 at high-top tables and around the horseshoe bar. The dining room, which has booths and tables, can seat 70.

Another upgrade for OverTime will be reupholstering the booths and chairs, along with new bar equipment and some improvements in the kitchen.

In addition to buying the business, M.G. Oil purchased the retail center where it’s located. Other tenants include businesses like Tokyo 26, a CBD product shop and a nail salon. There are two vacant spaces, which are drawing interest from potential users, Swedeen said.

M.G. Oil’s presence in Sioux Falls has been expanding. It also bought Detour Bar at 10th Street and Kiwanis Avenue in the past month and the Shop N Cart at Sixth Street and Cleveland Avenue, which is now the fourth here under M.G.’s Corner Pantry brand. Other businesses include the Quiznos in the Corner Pantry at Russell Street and Kiwanis Avenue, Music Service and Heartland Transportation. The other bars are Billy Frogs, The Alpine and The Red Eye and casinos are The Mint, 777, Happy Jacks, Jokerz, Dakota Star, Big Al’s and Empire.

Up next is M.G.’s first full-line liquor store, 49th Street Liquors, which is expected to open in May in the former VFW building at 49th and Minnesota Avenue, which the company also owns.