Kountry Korner Cafe offers homecooked meals mixed with hometown pride

Diners searching for old-fashioned comfort food, classic staples and decadent desserts can venture four miles off U.S. Highway 20 and discover Kountry Korner Cafe in Page.

Tyson Peed assumed managerial duties Sept. 18 after attending several community meetings about the future of the business.

"I didn't even think this would be a possibility," he said.

At one meeting, investors told community members the cafe was slated to be shuttered Oct. 1.

"I didn't know if anybody else would take over. I didn't want to chance it," he said.

If he assumed managerial duties, Peed knew he would need quality help.

Enter Sandy Peed, Tyson's grandmother, who agreed to assist with kitchen duties.

Tyson has experience in the fast food industry. He spent two years working at Taco John's and another two years at Subway.

Daily specials have been well-received.

"We serve hot beef on Fridays and meat loaf on Tuesdays," Peed said.

A variety of burgers and sandwiches are available at any time.

Friday's special features steak while prime rib is a favorite menu item on Saturdays.

Alcohol is served, too, with Husker game day specials on tap.

Local residents have been supportive of the cafe.

"They all are really nice people and try to keep this place open. I think they realize how close it was to shutting down."

Peed would like to see the cafe's appeal spread to a wider audience of diners.

Sandy said several diners from O'Neill make the jaunt for a taste of Kountry Korner goodness.

"We had a gentleman come in for prime rib on Friday. Told him we don't serve it until Saturday. He came back and said it was the best he's eaten," Sandy said.

"I think the burgers are good," Tyson said.

Half-pound hamburgers are served here.

"I've never seen any place order so many burgers, bacon cheeseburgers. We sell a lot of them," Sandy added.

While reservations are not required on the weekend, Tyson said "we'll get diners in, unless we have a huge rush."

Road construction north of Page slowed the cafe's lunch crowd through fall months.

"All the detour started out there, so there wasn't a reason to come through town. It hurt us," Sandy said.

Tyson said once the highway north of Page reopened, lunch business picked up.

"We've been busy the past two weeks," he noted.

Currently, holiday party bookings are being accepted. Peed suggested making reservations as soon as possible, giving the cafe a week's lead time to prepare menu options.

A New Year's Eve special, including a meal and karaoke, is in the works.

"I hope we fill the place up," Tyson said.

The cafe operates a daily happy hour, from 5 to 6 p.m., except Wednesdays, and features $2 beer and 50 cents off mixed drinks.

On Wednesday, happy hour coincides with card night, running from 6 to 7 p.m.

Expanding the business is one of Peed's main goal.

He said approximately one year ago, the doors nearly closed for good at that time.

Locals stepped up, donating funds to update the building's interior.

A metal ceiling brightens the main dining room, along with country chic fixtures.

Page Development Corporation owns the building which houses the cafe and its contents. They rent it to Peed.

His top priority: "To see more friendly faces every day, some different people. I really like the same crowd we have, and at the same time, it would be nice to see more people, faces you don't know and you can get to know them," he said.