April 6, 2017
An early-morning fire in downtown Menno destroyed The Open Door Cafe on Fifth Street in Menno Monday, April 3. Firefighters from five communities – Menno, Freeman, Lesterville, Scotland and Yankton – fought the blaze for hours in an attempt to extinguish the flames and protect the two adjacent buildings – Menno Mercantile and the building that houses Bierle Insurance and The Cutting Edge. While those buildings primarily suffered only smoke damage, The Open Door Cafe was a total loss. The building, built in 1947, served as the home to several businesses but began operation as a cafe in 1968. The current owners, Jerome and Rita Hoff, purchased the business in 1986. The cafe was a central gathering place on Fifth Street, where it offered daily lunch specials, a senior nutrition program and social area where community organizations often held meetings. The remains of the building were demolished late Monday afternoon.
PHOTO BY CINDY AISENBREY
For more images from the fire, click here.