Jan. 12, 2022

Boss’ Pizzeria & Sports Bar has been open for a few weeks in Tea, but it’s moving closer to being fully operational this week.

The Sioux Falls-based business bought the Tea Steak House in November and closed it for about a month for remodeling.

The spacious bar, game room and video lottery casino opened first, providing seating for about 80 sports fans to watch games on the big-screen TVs and read local sports highlights scroll on the tickers. High-top and regular tables feature newspaper clippings of Tea Area High School athletics.

The bar has a liquor license and serves the full menu.

The main dining area, which can seat about 100 customers and also features TV screens, is expected to open this week.

“Opening is a process,” owner Jeremy Seefeldt said. “Now, between the normal staff shortage and COVID on top of that, it’s tough. … Every single person there is new, and they are getting trained in. It’s not like two years ago when I could take three people from each store and get them trained and added in. Nobody can spare anybody, and nobody can find anybody.”

The menu also has been a work in progress. It was missing Boss’ broasted chicken until this week when the equipment finally arrived.

In addition to typical pizza offerings, Boss’ features 38 specialty pies, ranging from the Pulled Pig and Sauerkraut Supreme to Buffalo Chicken and Chicken Alfredo. For a gluten-free choice, there’s a cauliflower crust.

While steaks are no longer offered, the sports pizzeria also offers Boss’ new sandwiches, and it added burgers to the menu. There’s a full menu of appetizers, including choices such as wings, gizzards, chislic and cheese curds.

Seefeldt plans to start offering delivery, possibly next week.

The sports pizzeria also will serve breakfast on the weekend, “but that’s a few weeks out,” he said.

Seefeldt said he hasn’t done much advertising yet because he didn’t want to overwhelm the new staff.

“We’ve been busy for supper and fairly busy for lunch. … The bar and casino are open until 2 a.m. People in Tea are trained that there’s nothing open after 11 or midnight, so we’ll need to do something special to let them know it’s there.”

Boss’ also took over the Tea Event Center that was part of the Tea Steak House. A dozen events were already on the schedule, and it’s “certainly available for booking any events, weddings, graduations,” Seefeldt said. “I feel like we have probably the best rate in the Sioux Empire compared to some of the places I’ve seen.”

The Event Center has room for about 300 guests, he said, noting that the menu isn’t limited to pizza and chicken. Prime rib and steak are among the options.

Saturday night, it will host the first comedy show of many.

“The comedy club that we have been running at the Ramada is moving full time out to Tea,” Seefeldt said. “We’re looking forward to the support that a bedroom community might give, along with continuing to attract the people that are excited to see comedy from Sioux Falls.”

Tickets for the show, which will feature three local comedians, are $15. Food and drinks will be available, and there are no minimums.

Seefeldt said the goal of becoming a community gathering place to talk about sports or other events is already starting to build.

“We’ve been showing Tea boys and girls basketball games on the TVs, and parents are there watching or coming in after the games, and we replay them, and they’re enjoying that.”

Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.