ENDURING LEGACY
Al & Alma ’ s :
AN ENDURING LEGACY
Set against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota , Al and Alma ’ s has proven to be one of the most enduring Supper Clubs in the region . Not only do they serve customers through their Supper Club but they also have the largest fleet of cruise ships on the lake , allowing them to offer guests a variety of unique experiences regardless of their individual tastes and with the beauty of the local area to provide even more flavor .
Originally founded in 1956 by Al and Alma Quist , the dining establishment was one the new owners desired be the best destination on the lake . Under their leadership , the business achieved just that . The original name , Al and Alma ’ s , has stayed with the business through subsequent ownership .
The history of Al and Alma ’ s is as rich as it is long . Starting in the 1920s , Chester
Park Grocery Store was the impromptu community hub . Customers could get gas , groceries , ice , and eat at the deli counter . They could also rent boats for a day on the lake . In 1956 , Al and Alma Quist purchased the store and remodeled it to be a restaurant , naming it Al and Alma ’ s Supper Club . Many of the menu items they first began to serve are still on the menu today , including walleye , ribs , porterhouse steak , browned potatoes , and liver and onions .
Al and Alma ’ s vision for lakeside dining eventually evolved when the Nolans took over the business in 1973 . Eileen and James “ Bud ” Nolan introduced the first charter boat to the business . Initially , the boat was just an attraction to the restaurant , offering rides to complement the dinners in the Supper Club . Finding it difficult to actually get people off the boats , they eventually began serving the meals aboard the boat . From there , the popularity of the dinner cruises led to the creation of Al and Alma ’ s fleet along with the concept of summertime dinner cruises . In 1983 , Merritt and Daryl Geyen purchased the company and , over the years , expanded the fleet to seven yachts .
That brings the story of Al and Alma ’ s to its current owners , Jay and Jenna Soule . Jay had worked with the Geyens for 26 years , eventually partnering with them and finally buying them out in 2019 . Jay and Jenna have maintained the traditions and service quality that have always kept the company growing while still looking for ways to leverage new technology to keep the company moving forward into the future .
The success of the company comes down to their ethos . The beginning and the end is the customer experience . Everything else follows from there . Staff aim to bring an authentic smile and a genuine passion
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