LINTON, N.D. (KFYR) – After being open just a couple of months, a new restaurant in southern North Dakota is already becoming a go-to spot for locals and travelers. But it’s more than a place to eat; it’s also helping preserve a piece of rural North Dakota history.
“When it closed, and it wasn’t being opened for business anymore, we felt we needed to make a move to see the place thrive again,” said Connie Dockter, the owner of the Dock Bar & Grill.
The restaurant officially opened its doors in May, but the building has been part of the area for decades, first known as Bayside Bar & Grill back in the 1990s. It’s stationed near Bayside RV Park just off Highway 1804.
Since then, the space has been transformed with new walls, fresh paint, updated décor and an expanded layout. One of the biggest changes is on the bar side. That area used to be a convenience store, and even though it’s gone now, drivers can still stop and fill up at the pumps on their way through.
Even with all the renovations, Dockter said she wanted to keep the same small-town feel, a place built on family, fun and face-to-face connection, not something you experience through a screen.
“I feel it’s important to have that human connection with people. They like to go around and see how their food is, and people enjoy that,” said Dockter.
Running a restaurant hasn’t been easy, especially in a rural community where many small-town businesses are struggling to stay open. But Dockter said that’s exactly why she’s committed to keeping this place going.
“We felt if we didn’t, it may not be that again. It might turn into a storage building or a cabin or something along that line… because these small-town restaurants in rural areas are starting to die off. So, we want to continue that,” said Dockter.
The original owners are regulars at the Dock, a habit that Dockter hopes will become tradition.
“Eventually we want to patronize that again, and be on the other side of the bar, so to speak,” said Dockter.
But for now, Dockter and her husband said they’re happy to see the Dock busy, keeping a small-town gathering place alive for the next generation.
The renovation process is still far from over. Dockter said she hopes to eventually upgrade the gas pumps and add more space to the building.
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Dining and Cooking