Business Spotlight: Bird Dawg Café & Ice Cream Shop
April 1st, 2014 – Stop in for dinner and a visit with the new owners of New Rockford’s burger joint and ice cream shop along Highway 281, newly re-opened as the Bird Dawg Café & Ice Cream Shop. Owned and operated by Brad & Roberta Reisnour, the Bird Dawg opened March 17 in the location previously home to Nathan’s Burgers.
At least for the time being, the menu at the Bird Dawg Café will be familiar to locals, featuring burgers, soups, sandwiches, soft serve ice cream and more, with the possibility of new dishes to come. Hours are currently 11-7 Monday through Friday, with weekends to be added in mid-April. The plan is to be open all spring and summer, closing for the winter months at the end of October.
After working for 15 years with United Airlines, Brad Reisnour attributes his career change to upheaval in the airline industry. He explains, “After 9/11, the whole industry changed, and a lot of workers were let go. I had to find a way to reinvent myself.” He went into specialty food service, working in barbecues from Famous Dave’s to Ribfests to Sturgis to the Virginia State Fair.
In 2005, a desire to be nearer to family brought the Reisnours back to their hometown of Carrington. When the opportunity to purchase the café fell into place, they made the deal and named it after one of Brad’s favorite hobbies: hunting with bird dogs. Roberta says their experience in New Rockford has been, “very positive and welcoming. Everyone has been really nice.” “Stop in and say hello anytime,” adds Brad.
Reisnours currently live outside of Carrington, where Roberta is employed as a bookkeeper at Wholesale Ag Products. Their son, Christopher Semmens, resides in Fargo, and daughter Brittney Reisnour, attends college in Bloomington.
The Bird Dawg Café & Ice Cream Shop is located at 104 Central Ave in New Rockford. Stop in or call (701) 947-5781 with any questions.