PARKSTON, S.D. — After years of closures and reopenings, a familiar restaurant in Parkston has returned under a new name, aiming to provide affordable meals and a community gathering space.
Stephanie Elder, who grew up near Parkston and attended school in the city, first opened OverTime Steakhouse in 2017. Already operating an OverTime Steakhouse in Mitchell with her then-husband, the couple purchased the former Kenny’s Liquor building in Parkston, seeing it as an opportunity to bring a steakhouse to the community.
“I always believed growing up that Parkston needed a steakhouse,” Elder said.
The building was too small for the vision Elder and her then-husband had in mind, so the couple added onto the structure before opening OverTime Steakhouse as a full-service restaurant. But in December 2019, the restaurant closed because of ongoing staffing challenges.
The closure was short-lived. A few months later, in the spring of 2020, the couple reopened the restaurant after Boom’s next door closed, leaving a gap in the community’s senior meal service. Elder said providing that noontime gathering place quickly became an important part of the business, as the restaurant began serving senior meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“I loved serving the community with the senior meal program. The seniors enjoyed coming there for a noontime fellowship meal,” Elder said.
After her divorce in 2022, Elder gained sole ownership of the restaurant, operating it largely by herself with the help of cook Renae Wilkins. When Wilkins left for another position in 2024, Elder closed the doors once again — though not permanently.
For the past six months, Elder had been searching for a cook to reopen the restaurant. In February, Wilkins returned, bringing back her more than 20 years of professional cooking experience. She began her career at Sportsman’s Choice in Lake Andes and has worked in various kitchens throughout the region.
“I’m the hands and feet of the kitchen, handling all the daily prep, cooking, and cleanup,” Wilkins said.
With Wilkins back and the restaurant given a face lift by Elder and her husband, Todd, the business has reopened under the new name Social 37-44. The restaurant opened on March 9 and is now serving both seniors and the general public.
State funding changes in South Dakota’s nutrition programs presented a challenge for the restaurant’s senior meals. Jessica Pickett, director of community services, previously told the Mitchell Republic that Mitchell’s adults who benefit from the city’s Adult Nutrition Program were facing reduced meal availability because of new mandates from the South Dakota Department of Human Services. According to Pickett, because OverTime had previously shut down, the state viewed that as fewer meals being served and did not allocate funding when Elder planned to reopen.
Despite this, Elder was committed to serving the community.
“With finally a cook available to open the facility, we didn’t want the fact that there was no funding to stop us,” she said.
Social 37-44 now offers a small senior meal for $8 and a regular-sized meal for $11. The restaurant also sells $5 frozen meals made from unsold daily portions.
The menu focuses on homemade, traditional dishes.
“We’re offering something different than the typical offerings of what else is in town,” Elder said.
Wilkins said that meals rely on classic meat, potato, and vegetable combinations to ensure nutrition. In the future, the restaurant may add secondary options like cheeseburgers or chicken strips for customers who prefer alternatives to the daily special.
Social 37-44, located at the corner of highways 37 and 44 in Parkston, was formerly Kenny’s Liquor and later OverTime Steakhouse. The building has been renovated and reopened to serve affordable meals and community events.
Jennifer Leither / Mitchell Republic
Beyond meals, the restaurant provides community space. The addition built nine years ago is available for rent for events such as family reunions, weddings, and graduation parties. Elder said feedback from a previous renter highlighted the need for public rental space in Parkston, prompting her to open it to the community. Plans for future expansion could include in-house catering, entertainment nights, and a beer license.
Elder’s personal connection to the senior population plays a large role in her commitment to reopening the business. She occasionally plays piano at nursing homes, meets weekly for breakfast with an elderly friend and helps care for her mother, who has pre-dementia. Those experiences, she said, have given her a deeper appreciation for the importance of providing an affordable place for seniors to gather and enjoy a meal.
At the same time, Elder hopes Social 37-44 will appeal to a wider audience, including local workers and farming families looking for a quick lunch option during the workday. She said the simple meal structure allows customers to stop in or call ahead for a meal and be back out the door.
With Wilkins in the kitchen and renewed community support, Elder is optimistic about the restaurant’s future, though she said finding employees remains the biggest challenge to sustaining and growing the business.
“It feels good to be open again, offering a place for seniors and the public to grab an affordable, good meal during the week,” she said.
Jennifer Leither joined the Mitchell Republic in April 2024. She was raised in Sioux Falls, S.D. where she attended Lincoln High School. She continued her education at South Dakota State University, graduating in December 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. During her time in college, Leither worked as a reporter for the campus newpaper, The Collegian. She also interned for Anderson Publications in Canistota, SD the summer of 2000. Upon graduation, Leither continued to reside in the Sioux Falls area and worked as a freelance writer for the Argus Leader for a number of years.
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Dining and Cooking