Peterson ready to make the restaurant a success
Staff writer
“Get ’em in and get ’em out,” is the philosophy of the new manager of the Tampa Café.
Amber Peterson of Tampa opened the doors to customers May 20, and has been going strong ever since.
“It seems to be a good decision so far,” she said. “The community has been very supportive.”
The first Sunday brought in 127 people. An average Sunday brings in about 100, she said.
Customers have come from throughout the county and surrounding communities including Salina.
In March, the wife and mother of three quit her job as secretary for the Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission. She was looking for a new job when gas prices began to spike. Following the urging of her father-in-law, she inquired about opening the town’s café.
Phyllis Mueller, owner of the building, agreed to rent it to her, and Tampa State Bank provided financial support.
Peterson launched the business with practical experience in cooking for a large group. She worked for several years at a large retirement community in Winfield, working her way up from dishwasher to head weekend cook. She cooked several times for Larry Hatteberg when he came to visit his mother.
“I’m a person who likes everything perfect, and I always was nervous when I knew he was coming,” she said.
The cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed on Saturday and Monday.
The menu features a full breakfast including biscuits and gravy, pancakes, french toast, eggs, meat, hashbrowns, and a ham and cheese omelet.
One of the more popular breakfast items, not listed on the menu, is Roundup, a skillet dish initiated by Peterson’s husband. It is a mixture of ham, hashbrowns, and cheese.
The lunch menu includes a daily special which is kept hot on a steam table and allows for quick service.
The Sunday special features a choice of fried chicken or roast beef and Butch’s cole slaw and corn, as well as a dessert.
Basket meals, special salads, and pie and ice cream are available every day including Sunday.
Amy Hajek and Alisha Barney, both of Tampa, are Peterson’s regular helpers this summer, along with Andrea Jost of Hillsboro, Sheila Makovec of Ramona, and Dakota Kaufman of Enterprise. Phyllis Branson, a former manager of the café, gives advice and assists Peterson in the kitchen during busy times.
Peterson likes her work hours because they will allow time for her to attend her 12-year-old son’s sports events when school opens in a few weeks.
Peterson and her husband, Ty, have lived in Tampa since June 2005. He is a native of the Burdick area and the son of Pete Peterson. He is a truck driver for Hajek Truckline, Lost Springs.
They have three children: Tanner, 12, a seventh grader; Austin, 8, a third grader; and Kyle, 4, a Pre-K enrollee. They attend Centre schools.