By Chad Koenen

Publisher

There are perhaps no more iconic buildings in central Otter Tail County than the large purple bar/restaurant that sits along Highway 210 in Vining. The bar, which has been a staple in Vining since the 1970s, was recently sold to Kevin and Tina Rasmussen of Battle Lake.  ¶  The iconic purple bar/restaurant was opened and operated by Glenn and Helen Whiting beginning in the 1970s and remained in the Whiting family until the start of 2020 when when their daughter Lynda Rubink sold the establishment. Since that time there have been a few owners who have continued the legacy of the Vining Palace, along with its broasted chicken and purple decor.   ¶  While the Rasmussen’s may be the new owners of the Vining Palace, their family roots in the area go back generations, even if they spent the better-part of their lives living in the Las Vegas area. 

Since Kevin’s side of the family is originally from the Eagle Lake area, the Rasmussen family has made a number of trips to Otter Tail County through the years. Over the years the family fell in love with the region and all of the offerings of the lakes area. 

“We talked about when we retired we wanted to come back up here,” said Kevin.

When the COVID-19 pandemic essentially shut down life in the greater Las Vegas area, that timeline was bumped up a few years as the Rasmussen’s purchased a home in Battle Lake about four years ago. Kevin and Tina sold their house in Las Vegas and moved to Battle Lake full time. Kevin did return to Las Vegas for one year to work, but said he is looking forward to staying in the heart of lakes country from now on. 

The Battle Lake couple said they always wanted to start or own their own business, and after mulling the idea of purchasing the Vining Palace for quite some time, the couple decided to pull the trigger and officially took over the ownership on June 1. 

“Our youngest child turned 18 and is going off to UND. So now that we are empty nester’s what are we going to do,” asked Tina with a smile. 

Since purchasing the business, Tina said the family has been assisted by former and longtime owner Lynda Rubink who took the family under her wings and showed them how to make the original broasted chicken that was a staple when the Whiting family owned the bar and restaurant.

“Lynda pretty much put us under her wings and taught us the steps,” said Tina.

Since taking over as the new owners just three months ago, Kevin and Tina said they have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know new and existing customers, while also hearing quite a bit of history about the Vining bar/restaurant. 

“We are meeting a lot of people. There are a lot of good stories about this place,” said Kevin.

In addition to broasted chicken, the Vining Palace serves a variety of chicken sandwiches, smash burgers, features a scorpion hot sauce that is not for the faint of heart and even recently unveiled an Iowa Classic Fritter. 

Once guests walk inside the Vining staple they are greeted with a fresh look in the bar area as a new wall-mounted fireplace sits behind the bar with two massive 75” TVs on either side. There is also more lounge seating available and new flooring throughout the establishment. The back dining room received a deep cleaning, but the classic purple flower wallpaper remains, as does the mirror that was once located behind the bar with the Vining Palace logo. That mirror now sits behind a second bar in the dining area. 

Throughout the restaurant the Rasmussen’s have placed boxes and frames of Vining and Vining Palace history, newspaper articles and pictures to tell the story of the community. 

In addition to a makeover inside, the couple is also planning to have a meat raffle and Bingo night in the future as well.

The Vining Palace is located at 3040 E Front St. in Vining. For more information, or for takeout, call (218) 769-4185.