What began as a mere dream for Richard and Rachel Fry became a reality several years ago, when Richard heard the news of a Shipshewana restaurant that was going up for sale.
What intrigued him was the restaurant business in general, but also the breakfast and lunch hours. After working in the management business for more than 10 years, Richard was ready for a change of pace. The husband-and-wife team now has grandkids, as well as children still living at home. Purchasing the restaurant seemed like the perfect opportunity to be able to spend more time with family and friends.
After purchasing the restaurant, known as Country Corral Restaurant, Richard and Rachel got right to work. Richard is in charge of daily operations, including hiring and firing, to create a friendly and professional team. Whether you are interested in being a server, hostess or cook, Richard is who you will meet with.
Rachel is in charge of creating mouth-watering dishes from scratch. One of her most popular items that people travel near and far to enjoy is her homemade cinnamon roll. Customers can enjoy this sweet treat in the restaurant with a cup of coffee or juice, or simply swing by and take some to go. However, make sure to get there before they are all gone.
As far as the rest of the menu goes, customers can enjoy delicious breakfast and lunch items. Start your day off right with popular items such as stuffed French toast, blueberry pancakes, farm-fresh eggs with hash browns, a country scramble, homestyle omelets, and biscuits and gravy, just to name a few. You can also choose something on the lighter side like fresh fruit, oatmeal and cold cereal.
Some lunchtime customer favorites include the classic cheeseburger, specialty burger, BLT, tenderloin sandwich, hot ham-and-cheese sandwich, fish basket, and fresh chef salad with turkey, ham and fresh veggies.
Country Corral has an extensive daily menu with all the staples you need for breakfast and lunch. However, what sets them apart from other restaurants are their daily specials. These include the Turkey Manhattan with homemade mashed potatoes, meatloaf with scalloped potatoes, baked steak with mashed potatoes, and the chicken tater-tot casserole. All daily specials include the option to add soup or a slice of pie, such as Dutch apple or raspberry cream.
The restaurant team is very active on Facebook where they update their daily specials regularly. If you forgot to check what is on special, no worries. Simply call or stop by to find out what is on the menu that day.
Although located in the small town of Shipshewana, Richard notes how customers come from near and far to enjoy their homestyle meals. There are the regulars, and some individuals travel from Michigan, Ohio and even Chicago to enjoy the delicious menu options and cozy dining experience.
As business continues to boom, Richard and Rachel have considered expanding the restaurant. However, Richard says “bigger isn’t always better” and many customers like the restaurant just the way it is. Instead, Country Corral is considering adding a banquet hall right inside the restaurant. This would allow for groups of family, friends, and business colleagues to gather and enjoy each other’s company while indulging in delicious food.
On a personal note, Richard says his favorite part of owning the restaurant is simply the people. He loves to meet and mingle with customers and many have become friends. He says he gets excited every single day to get out of bed and head into work.
Country Corral can be reached at 260-768-4589. You can stop by the restaurant at 260 East North Village Drive in Shipshewana. To learn more about their daily specials, be sure to follow them on Facebook.
