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June 21, 1999
Doug-Outgets newownersBy SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- For many people, the ties of family are the ties that bind. Such is the case for Tom and Sandy Sterger, from North Dakota, new owners of the Doug-Out Family Restaurant, New Ulm. The couple moved from Grand Forks to New Ulm to be closer to two of their three children. Their two daughters, Kandee who recently graduated from the University of Minnesota Morris with an elementary education degree, and Sally who just completed her first year of college this year at the University of Minnesota/Morris, live in Minnesota. Their son, Ron, who is in the Air Force, and his wife Jamie, live in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Stergers purchased the business on June 10, 1999 from Doug and Terry VanOrden, who moved to Phoenix, Ariz. They had owned a pizza business for six years in Grand Forks and sold it June of 1998. Tom has experience in owning and operating a feed mill in Hawley (near Moorhead) and work experience in construction. Sandy was employed at a newspaper doing advertising, and she has worked with senior citizens. They are quickly adjusting to New Ulm. "We like the town, we like the people," said Sandy, "They make you feel at home." No major changes are planned for the menu, and they will keep the "Doug-Out" name for the business, the couple said. Daily lunch specials will also stay. The greatest change the Stergers have made is that business hours are now 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. In keeping with the baseball theme, the Stergers plan to display old baseball pictures in the restaurant. "We found some old baseball pictures from the Brown County Historical Society," said Sandy, "We plan a lot around what we like." Tom plans to do some cooking for the restaurant. Sandy plans to help out with operations in the front area. "We don't plan to be absentee owners," said Tom, "In a small town, it's more personal to have the owner present at work. You feel a part of the town more." The couple said they would like to keep up the catering portion of their business and also push towards doing more buffets, picnics, and large group gatherings. "This business is different than the pizza business we had," said Tom, "We had pizza delivery. It's different having waitresses."
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