More Food on McHenry's Main Street

There's more food on Main Street in McHenry once again following the decision of a once-retired lady to jump in and reopen the long-standing McHenry Cafe.

Robyn Sorum, who moved to the northeast corner of Foster County in McHenry three years ago with her husband Bruce, said, "I just thought it would be a nice thing to get the cafe going again in the town."

So, she did and with the help of her husband and a host of locals, redecorating began.

"Dorothy Briss and Darla Short along with Arlene Ehlers were just some of those who helped get the cafe open again following two-and-a-half years of the business being closed," Sorum said. Briss and Short have a long history with the cafe having operated the business for many years in the past.

Sorum even renamed the cafe "The Hunting Shack" and opened for business on November 14.

"We're trying to get the kinks out now... all things went wrong that first week, but in time we'll be running full boat," Sorum said.

Sorum's daughter and son-in-law, Christina and Chris Mischke, who operated the McHenry bar tabbed as "Bucks & Does," were responsible for the Sorums moving to McHenry in the first place. They have also assisted in preparing the new eatery.

Hours at the cafe are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., "So not to be in competition with the bar which also serves food such as steaks and dinners after 5 p.m.," Sorum said. Her granddaughter also helps in the cafe.

Sorum's menu at breakfast includes "the normal" breakfast favorites and at noon lunch time one can find specials- burgers, sandwiches and all types of spuds. "We're trying to be different," Sorum said.

Business is picking up weekly and like all businesses now, The COVID-19 situation has drawbacks including small cafes ... as well as the large ones.

More than the Cafe

The Sorums were in retirement, once for four years, after husband Bruce retired following 40 years of work with the Cargill company. They came to McHenry from Horace, a small community in Cass County. Bruce is a custodian at the Binford elementary school and "really enjoys his work, especially with the young kids," according to Robyn.

And, for Robyn, she also has another job other than the cafe. Residents in McHenry voted her in as Mayor last June and while she didn't campaign for the position, "They wrote my name in so I accepted the responsibility," she said.

And it's not that she didn't have experience in county government or it's a problem that could arise, she's been through the ranks before... for 12 years.

Robyn served those 12 years as a member of the Cass County Board of Commissioners, the county which is the home to Fargo.

"Now that was an experience, an education," she noted. Robyn was also an EMT and member of the Horace Fire Department for 12 years.

The new Mayor says the toughest problems she has to work with are "changes" as she will be working hard to revitalize the small-town Main Street and add to the city park to make it more "kid friendly."

"This is a nice little community and I'm hoping to revitalize McHenry Days this summer. We all hope this COVID-19 situation will end or be controlled soon, so we can do things without worrying," she said.

"I am willing to work with anyone to keep our small towns going... I have an open mind."

It's worked before, it will work again with the support of the community.

Extensive interior decorating has taken place inside the new "Hunting Shack" cafe in McHenry in preparation for the Christmas season.