Minnesota man rebuilds after flood, opens cafe

By MATTHEW STOLLE, The Rochester Post-Bulletin

RUSHFORD, Minn. (AP) - Like many in this community of 1,600, Eric Hoiland was forced to rebuild his life after an epic flood three years ago wiped out his turkey operation, drowning his flock of turkeys and scattering them around town.

In the three years since that disaster, this former farm operator has learned to reinvent himself, this time as an operator and proprietor of a new restaurant called the Feed Room Cafe. In the process, the 41-year-old Rushford resident has breathed new life into a historic landmark that now houses the shop.

Variously known as the Hoiland Mill or the Rushford Mill, the building was built 135 years ago as a grist mill for turning wheat into flour. When wheat-grinding fell out of favor, it took on different roles and incarnations, including a turkey hatchery, a feed-grinder for poultry and a storage facility.

But to many, the mill had become a venerable old building, a symbol of Rushford's past, but one that to many had lost its relevance. Many thought the building at 301 West Winona St. was no longer being used. Listed on the national historic register, the mill has been in the Hoiland family since the late 1950s.

Now the old mill has been modernized, made handicapped-accessible and with up-to-code plumbing and electricity, thanks to $200,000 in grants and low-interest loans from the city and Minnesota Historic Preservation Office, Hoiland said.

There is talk of one day locating new commercial ventures and retail shops in the newly renovated area. Hoiland's cafe opened its doors this summer for the first time in a part of the building.

While the renovation of the mill was funded from public sources, Hoiland invested his own money in creating the cafe.

People seem taken with the building's latest incarnation. They tell Hoiland how glad they are to see the place being used, but Hoiland says there was never really a time when the building was not in use.

What's different this time is that the building is now open to the public for the first time.

"There is a bit of mystery, the unknown (surrounding the building)," Hoiland said. "A lot of people who are familiar with this building all of their lives have never been there. We get a lot of people who just want to find out what it's like."

Hoiland's own transition from farm operator to restaurateur was more an evolutionary process than the unfolding of premeditated plan. There was no business blueprint exploring the viability of a restaurant. Except for some limited exposure to the business, Hoiland went into the venture with little in the way of restaurant experience.

But Hoiland is hoping the site's landmark status and curiosity about one of the city's oldest buildings will drive customers to his shop. So far, he says, business has been "great."

"I really don't know what the potential that it has and what capacity we have. Hopefully, we can make everyone's visit enjoyable," he said.

So far the plan is to ease into the business. The Feed Room Cafe is only open Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hoiland says that weekend hours are likely to expand as the fall progresses.

Given the mill's long history, it has taken awhile to get used to the new role to which the old mill is being put, Hoiland said.

"That really hasn't set in for me. For it to be open to the public and be used in this manner, it's quite amazing," he said. "I would say the transformation is not complete. There is always more that can be done."

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Information from: Rochester Post-Bulletin

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