Wally Matush ( center ) came from Germany , bought the old Harney Peak Hotel in 1974 and 10 years later renamed it the Alpine Inn , transforming it into what it is today . In 1998 she sold it to her daughter Monika Matush , left , and Wally , Moni and Wally ’ s other daughter , Deborah Kenaston , right , have established a reputation for consistently great food and service .
“ I told her I would come back , but I wanted her to run the business with me ,” said Moni .
The two have been a team ever since she returned to Hill City and purchased the business in 1998 . Their admiration and respect for each other has trickled down to their staff and to the restaurant patrons .
“ We work with our employees and try to help each other . We want them to feel at home , to feel safe ,” said Moni .
They have some long-term employees . Clark Braun has been the chef for 35 years , and Trudy Knapp has served as a waitress , and now manager , for 38 years . Their lunch cook , Tim Burleigh , has stayed for 20 years .
She went on to say that they are an owner-run business , so a family member is always on site to ensure things are running according to their standards . Moni ’ s sister Deborah Kenaston is also an integral part of the success of the business . Moni said it is a high-stress operation and run with exactly the number of employees they need . If someone must be gone , another employee is always willing to cover the shift . In the winter months the Alpine Inn employs about 35 people and in the summer that number swells to about 50 .
“ Over the years we have had a countless number of employees , too many to name them all , that dedicated themselves and their family members to us for many , many years , and without all of them , we wouldn ’ t have such a great restaurant with great service . I am so grateful to have such a great and loyal staff ,” said Moni .
When Wally first had the Alpine Inn , she operated a bed and breakfast with the rooms on the second floor of the building . After Moni bought the business , she oversaw a renovation of the upstairs rooms in the early 2000s , creating four bedrooms that are rented out today .
Wally used to be the creator of the special desserts at the Alpine , but at age 84 she has relinquished that responsibility to others .
She makes soups and lunch specials along with hostessing and cashiering at times . Most Friday nights customers will see Wally at the cash register and Moni as hostess , their opportunity to work together .
Wally continued to expand her influence in the atmosphere of the little tourist town , beyond the quaint Alpine Inn . When she sold the restaurant and building to Moni , she reinvested the money into Old World Plaza where many businesses have found a home in the twostory enterprise . What about during Covid ? How were they able to keep going ? They majored in to-go orders for a while , but the orders kept increasing until they decided to open the restaurant again . “ We removed some of the tables in the front dining room to allow more spacing between customers . South Dakota was one of the least shut down states that summer and we got hammered that year ,” said Moni .
It was incredibly busy that summer , for many of the businesses in Hill City , a real boon to the economy . Moni said they liked having a little more space in the dining area and never went back to the pre-Covid number of tables .
As busy as Moni was with Alpine Inn , she established a new place in Deadwood name FLYT Steakhouse by Alpine Inn with Kari Monger , Trudy Knapp ’ s daughter , as manager . The understanding was that Moni would sell it to Monger after five years . “ I was pretty busy that first year , running back and forth to Deadwood , but after that it wasn ’ t too bad . Last August I sold the business to Kari ,” said Moni .
Moni said her mother is a real go-getter , and it appears the apple doesn ’ t fall too far from the tree . They close the Alpine down in January for a few weeks , conceivably for a time to get a little extra R & R . Not so , said Moni .
“ That is our time of year to accomplish some needed renovations . This year we put in a brand-new deck and handicap lift .
54 Black Hills Adventure Guide 2024