Photo by Barb Jeffers
Twenty years ago, when Angie and Scott Taylor opened the doors of their new business in Lanesboro, Minn., they didn’t really know what to expect but they were excited, nonetheless. Fast forward to 2025, and the success of the business is unquestionable. Pedal Pushers Café has become a staple for locals and visitors alike and the Taylor family has become a piece of the heart of Lanesboro.
Scott was born and raised in Lanesboro and his family still farms there. Angie grew up in Preston, Minn., and explained, “I have been in restaurants for 40 years now; I started waiting tables when I was 14 at the Victory Café in Preston. It was my first serving job and I have just remained in the industry ever since,” because she enjoys the work.
“We had an opportunity to come back here and raise a family in a small town and come back home,” Scott said, which sounded like the exact life they were looking for.
Angie and Scott purchased the building on the corner of the main intersection in downtown Lanesboro, in October 2004. They spent some time developing a menu while working on the building in preparation for their opening on February 1, 2005.
Their children, Katlyn, Allyson, Jackson and Nicholas, have grown up working in the restaurant and are now old enough to have opinions on dishes to add to the menu that they think will be favored by people their age.
“We started with the traditional small town café menu; burgers, chicken strips and comfort food and as we started working with local producers and local foods that kind of pushed us into some more creative dishes,” stated Scott, including Pedal Pushers grain bowl which is a year-round favorite for customers.
“It is such a unique menu, and you don’t find some of our dishes anywhere else,” added Angie.
There are many things to consider when creating menu items. “There is such a diverse group of people that come to town from local farmers to twin cities lawyers and everything in between, and so to have a menu that kind of meets the needs of everybody without being a five-page menu is a challenge,” Scott said.
This year Pedal Pushers Café is going to offer a “Throwback Menu” with featured specials of some of the old menu favorites, along with regular menu items. Check the Facebook page and Pedal Pushers Café website at pedalpusherscafe.com for updates or phone 507-467-1050.
Pedal Pushers Café works with many local vendors to have the freshest and highest quality of food to prepare. “We have worked with a number of vendors over the years. We have been fortunate enough to have things like W.W. Homestead Dairy of Waukon (Iowa); we get cheese and milk from them all year long,” says Scott. Others include McCabe Family Farms (meat), Cry Baby Craig’s, Serio Farms, Revol Greens, Carlin’s Colonies, Organic Valley and more.
Not only have their own children worked at the Pedal Pushers Café, but for many area kids, it was their first place of employment.
“We have had well over 100 first-time jobs here; it’s been rewarding because a lot of them we will hire them at 14 and they will stay with us through college, so they work for us for 7 or 8 years and we get to watch them grow up,” says Scott. “And they become a part of our family,” added Angie.
This last season, we had 10 employees that were Pedal Pusher grandbabies we call them, so they were the children of some of our first employees from 20 years ago. So, it was really fun to watch the next generation coming through,” Angie said.
“Besides our children, we have had 10 nieces and nephews that have worked for us as well as siblings and in-laws,” stated Angie, noting how thankful they are for a great support system.
“It’s been a treat just to be part of the community and watch the community change and grow and change and grow with it and deal with the ups and downs of life together as a community,” added Scott.
“It is such a joy to serve the community and to hear the appreciation from the locals who say thank you for being open,” stated Angie.
Pedal Pushers Café celebrated its 20th Anniversary on February 1, 2025, serving cake and punch with friends and customers stopping in to say congratulations. Here’s to another 20 years of innovative and delicious food at Pedal Pushers Café!