Emily’s Restaurant Reopening Along Scenic Highway

The popular Knife River restaurant is expected to open up in mid-July under new ownership

KNIFE RIVER, Minn. – Nearly two years ago the popular Lighthouse at Emily’s in Knife River closed up its doors, but later this summer the restaurant along the North Shore will be opening back up under new management.

Earlier this year, a group of investors decided to bring Emily’s back to the community and brought on a young, motivated couple to help them breathe new life in to the once–loved spot.

“It’s been here for so long that it has been a focal point of the town,” said Evan Rollo, one of the new managers at Emily’s.

In the small North Shore town of under 300 people, everyone in Knife River knows of Emily’s.

“When it’s open it makes the town very festive,” said Andy Matson, co-owner of Great Lakes Candy Kitchen, right across the street from Emily’s. “It’s nice to have an option where people can go and grab something to eat or grab a beer after work.”

When the restaurant closed in October 2015, a hole was left in the community.

“It makes the town a lot quieter,” Matson said.

That was until a small group of investors came together with a vision of bringing Emily’s back to what it once was.

“We’ve had people stop in and peek in and say we’re so happy, we were praying this place would open,” said Chloe Dryke, co-manager at Emily’s along with her partner Even.

For the past month, Dryke and Rollo have been working non–stop.

“Eventually we decided we’re young, we have energy, and this might be the only time we get to work together all day,” Rolo said. “We’re a great team, we enjoy working together.”

As the new managers of what will now be called Emily’s Eatery on Knife River, the Duluth natives hope to create a community atmosphere for locals and visitors traveling up the shore.

“We want it to reflect the people in Knife River,” said Rollo. “We want them to feel like it’s something they’re champions of.”

Emily’s is expected to open in mid–July and plan to keep the menu pretty similar to its past.

“We’re hoping to keep to the same fare they had in the past, fish, burgers, keep it casual, affordable,” said Rollo.

And as the two have been cleaning and getting things in place, neighbors have stopped by to check in, including a special visitor who lives right across the street from the restaurant.

“My mother was Emily, so it was my dad that started the store,” said Joanne Lind.

Family of the original owners of Emily’s, which began as a general store in 1924. A link to the history of this nearly ninety year old place.

Now, decades later, with the same vision in mind: a welcoming place to bring people together.

“It’s always been so full of life, bustling with people and music,” said Dryke. “We want to bring it to life again.”