Local Business Spotlight: Ryden’s Gas Station & Ryden’s Border Store
Summer is bustling across northern Minnesota and the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Following a mild winter with minimal snow and reduced tourism, numerous small business owners in Cook County welcome the return of summer and their patrons.
Further north, near the U.S./Canadian border in Grand Portage, the third-generation owners of the family-run Ryden’s Gas Station, Debbie Bakke, and Mike Ryden, and Ryden’s Border Store, Lori “Sam” Boomer and Mike Boomer are starting to see the return of regular fisherman and generational families.
“We see lots of regulars. Lots of generations of families that have come through fishing,” Bakke said. “It’s quite interesting to see.”
The return of regulars and increased visitors traveling through the nearby Grand Portage Port of Entry is a welcomed trend following a few challenging years for the owners of Ryden’s Gas Station and Ryden’s Border Store.
The closure of the cafe at Ryden’s Border Store nearly a decade ago undoubtedly shifted the business, but the more recent pandemic has proved to be the most significant. With the U.S./Canadian border closed for an extended period, the family chose to close the business for 20 months.
Despite the closure and challenges, Ryden said the family stuck with the business and is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels. “We’re slowly getting back,” he said. We’re still not back full-bore.” At the start of the 2024 summer, Ryden said the business was approximately 65 percent of its pre-pandemic state.
Although the two businesses are independently owned and operated, siblings Ryden and Bakke step in wherever necessary to support their cousin Lori Boomer next door. The mutual assistance extends in both directions, with Lori Boomer stepping in to help her cousins where needed.
“We help each other any way we can,” Lori Boomer said. “If we need something, you know, we’ll jump in and help each other. So that’s great.”
The third-generation owners said they are happy to continue the family legacy and are optimistic about this summer and the future of both businesses. “We’re just happy to continue,” Lori Boomer said.
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with the third-generation owners of the family-run Ryden’s Gas Station, Debbie Bakke and Mike Ryden, and Ryden’s Border Store, Lori “Sam” Boomer, in the latest feature of the Local Business Spotlight. Audio below.
The Local Business Spotlight highlights our local business community’s economic strength and innovation. This feature is brought to you in partnership with Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce.
Kalli Hawkins June 21, 2024
