Sayner has a new business and it’s the buzz of the town! The Junction Cafe held its delayed first day of business on June 5 and customers are saying nothing but great things about it.

Once upon a time, the building housed the Sayner Chamber of Commerce and also was a former restaurant. Elke had been eyeing potential restaurant locations for a long time. She searched Sayner’s surrounding towns for the right spot but never made it to Sayner. But then she found the listing for her future restaurant and sent it to a realtor friend and said, “I have to see this place!

“Well, we came into St. Germain and as soon as I turned onto 155, I just had a great feeling,” Elke reflected. “And when I saw it, I just wanted to put it in my purse and take it home with me. It was just so adorable.”

She discovered a striking coincidence that the road off 155, where the restaurant is located, bore her last name. However, she spells her name, Froehlich. This is the original spelling for the Sayner Froelichs, according to a book about Sayner history.

Elke grew up in the restaurant business. Her parents owned restaurants in Germany and she said she grew up in a playpen in the kitchen. She has worked in this hospitality industry her whole life. She has experience in every sort of venue from food trucks to high-end restaurants. She has also trained with chefs from all over the world — Germany, Austria, Sicily, Italy, Czechoslovakia, and with a couple of American chefs as well. 

“I have really been blessed to work with some amazing people!” 

The Junction Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch. Diners will find a German influence flavoring her menus. Menus, which, by the way, change frequently.

“I want to test the market to see what the locals and the tourists like. Also, because of Covid, we all have had a hard time getting certain products,” she said. She has been and will create ethnic specialties.

The building is tiny and that is part of its charm. She has done some structural remodeling and decorating. The decor is part modern and part European. In addition to indoor dining, there is a spacious outside dining area as well.

Unfortunately, her hours of operation are currently limited as she is having a hard time finding staff. Dining is from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. As she hires new help, she will expand her hours.

“I want to create a warm and inviting environment, a small-town feel, a family feel, where people know each other. I really like to know what people like and do special things for people. In fact, I have a customer who is doing Keto so I made something special for him. I want a small town, very welcoming feel.”

To add to the inviting atmosphere, diners will be able to choose either beer or wine to accompany their meals. 

The Junction Cafe is the perfect site to hold a rehearsal dinner, a bridal shower, a baby shower, or any special event. Elke has extensive experience catering to festive events and welcomes you to enjoy a private, evening event hosted by the Junction Cafe.

To keep current with the newest menu options, specials, and hours, be sure to visit the Junction Cafe’s Facebook site. The Junction Cafe is the darling blue building on Sayner’s south side, Highway 155 and Froelich Rd. Call 715-542-4894 for more information or to arrange your event.

If you enjoy working with great people or know someone who is — get ahold of Elke -please! We want everyone to have the chance to eat at this delightful Cafe more often!