After 26 years of business at its location in Grand Forks, Jeannie's Restaurant is closing its doors to make room for a new auto parts store.
Owners Jeanette and Conrad Sersland have been in the restaurant business for 56 years, owning eateries all over the state and some in Minnesota, until finally settling down on South Washington Street in Grand Forks for 26 years. The couple previously owned the Palace restaurant in downtown Grand Forks.
"I've never had any other job and had no experience when I started," Jeanette Sersland said. "I was dumb when I started, and now we're smart enough to retire."
The restaurant will close its doors April 22. The building will be destroyed to make room for an auto parts store out of Tucson, Ariz., she said.
"They had a Realtor in Grand Forks contact me," Jeanette Sersland said. "I didn't even advertise. I had 30 days to decide, and I thought about it, but they want to start building this summer.
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"Every year, I've been saying, 'I need to get out of here.' But it's been a lot of fun."
Jeannie's is the lone centrally located 24-hour restaurant in Grand Forks. A few truckstop cafes on the south and west edges of town are open 24 hours.
The Serslands - Jeanette, 75 and Conrad, 80 - have plenty to do during retirement, though. Jeanette said she loves crafts such as knitting and sewing and the couple has grandchildren and great-grandchildren to occupy their newfound free time.
Reach Gibson at (701) 787-6754, or lgibson@gfherald.com .
