Photo by Barb Jeffers
Christina Evenson is one of those working women that customers are always happy to see and enjoy her company so much that they must take at least a minute or two to chat with her or at a minimum, share a quick wave into the kitchen if it’s a busy time.
Evenson has been pleasing palates at Clara’s Eatery in downtown Lanesboro, Minnesota, since 2022 when she and her husband Jordan opened the business that had become a dream come true.
Since opening, Clara’s Eatery has become a staple in Lanesboro with popular menu items that can please everyone in your family or group of friends.
When asked if she always wanted to be a business owner, Evenson says it was something she always wanted to do and when the opportunity presented itself, she was ready to take the leap.
“Since I think I have been able to work, so like 16, I have worked in small family-run places, I have never worked in large companies and I loved it,” she stated.
“We would always come visit Lanesboro, and Jordan saw the opportunity and he said ‘I know this is your dream, would you want to do this?” explained Evenson. She replied with “Let’s do it,” and the rest is history. “We just didn’t think about it and jumped right in.
“You never really think dreams are going to happen and then it falls into your lap,” she noted.
They named the business Clara’s Eatery to pay homage to Jordan’s great-grandmother Clara Evenson who lived in Lanesboro.
When asked the pros and cons of being a business owner, Evenson thought for a moment and said, “I like to know that the hard work I put in pays off for me and not for someone else. That feels good. And I feel good that I can fully stand behind everything I put out because it’s me and what I want to represent instead of being the voice of someone else. So, I appreciate that,” along with other aspects of being a business owner.
“It is a struggle that I don’t think I was quite fully aware of having not growing up with parents or family that had their own business or that were farmers, because it is 24/7. You don’t get to step away; there is no ‘done’ time,” explained Evenson.
Photo by Barb Jeffers
Photo by Barb Jeffers
“But that also grew my appreciation for the area and the farmers and everyone – all these jobs where you have to be there all the time. While that’s a con I think it’s also a pro because you can see the efforts of your work,” she added.
“I love the sense of community – that has been my favorite positive thing,” Evenson stated.
Clara’s Eatery has their “tried and true” menu items that customers look forward to which include pizza, paninis, wraps, the Monkey Plate, the Bunny Plate and my personal favorite, the Puppy Plate. Other favorites include the Glady Meal and Cheesy Dunkers.
Evenson is able to let her culinary creativity branch out as she conjures up a new cookie variation or the oh, so good soup selections on any given day. For example, a recent soup she featured on Facebook was miso soup with tofu, spinach and mushrooms. She also provides a wide variety of fresh salads at the Lanesboro market for purchase.
As a business owner, a wife, and a mother to Huxley, 13, and Henry, 10, finding balance in life can certainly be a challenge. “I am still working on that,” she admited with a laugh. “I feel like every year we are open I try to find a better balance.”
“I try really hard to find staff I can depend on and rely on and that understand how important it is to me and to my family and to the community so I can leave it in the hands of them,” she said.
One such employee is Sawyer Lepper, 17, who has worked at Clara’s Eatery for four years.
“I have found I am not the only one struggling with that juggle and so it’s nice to have the community here and be able to rely on a lot of other women that are in the same position as I am and we can commiserate or celebrate together with whatever is going on,” she shared.
As far as support Evenson says, “I lucked out in the department big time” between family, friends and the community,” which she very much appreciates.
Stop in at Clara’s Eatery for a bite and be sure to pick from their wide variety of ice cream flavors and a cookie for dessert.
Clara’s Eatery is located at 111 Parkway Ave. N. in Lanesboro and can be reached at 507-467-2200. Menu items, business hours and other information can be viewed at claraseatery.com or on Clara’s Eatery page on facebook.
Leave a Reply