South Dakotas State Legislature in Pierre started its legislative session in January without an onsite dining option

FM Staff

Lawmakers, lobbyists and staffers attending the opening of the South Dakota State Legislature in Pierre did not get hot onsite foodservice for more than a week until a new operator was finally found to take over the capitol’s inhouse cafe, according to an Associated Press story. The operator, a general manager at a local restaurant whose family runs six restaurants in Austin, TX, says he is confident he can make the enterprise successful. If so, he’ll be the first. Despite free rent, the South Dakota capitol cafe has been a money loser for all previous operators because the legislature is only in session for two months each winter, and even then, it must compete with free food given away by various interests offering free meals as part of their lobbying efforts, as well as with several nearby restaurants--though they are several blocks away and the legislature meets in the depth of winter. The rest of the year, the town of Pierre has only a population of about 14,000, and most state workers either brown-bag or go home for lunch.