Bistro Red Beet renovates restaurant to better prepare for more socially distant future

WASILLA — Bistro Red Beet recently remodeled their interior to maximize space for a more socially distant future.

“We don’t see a bright future for indoor dining at all,” Bistro Red Beet owner Sally Koppenberg said. “Old style dining is probably gone for the near future… We need to be able to provide safe accommodations indoors to serve our customers the best way possible.”

Bistro just recently opened their indoor dining area back up to the public after a summer long closure. They remained open throughout the summer, serving customers through their drive through window and outdoor patio while offering takeout orders.

Koppenberg said they took advantage of the closed interior to make several changes that include reduced indoor seating with tables and chairs spread further apart, additional coolers and takeout menu options.

“We just felt like there was a new reality ahead of us… We just felt we needed to retool,” Koppenberg said. “We like what we had...There’s no point to holding onto the old if it’s no longer helpful. We just thought it was time to grab the bull by the horns and get ready for the future.”

With winter coming, Koppenberg said they needed a safe and effective way to continue their operations.

“We’re just gonna offer an expanded retail,” Koppenberg said. “We have so much stuff that’s ready to get out. I think it will pay off in the long run.”

Koppenberg said they didn’t have to lay off any employees over the summer but they still lost some for one reason or another. She said overall business has been faring well considering the circumstances.

“This is definitely not our best year but we have such good customers,” they’re very faithful. They helped us chug along and kept us going,” Koppenberg said.

The Bistro first opened in Palmer in 2007, eventually moving to its current location off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway in 2010. In 2014, they had to close due to a fire in the building. Koppenberg said they were eventually able to expand their total size after the fact.

“We’ve rebuilt several times,” Koppenberg said. “In the end it turned out to be a lovely thing. It worked out really well for us.”

The recent renovations are complete, with some minor affairs to finish up. Koppenberg said that she’s excited to bring her customers back inside.

“We’re ready as we can be,” Koppenberg said. “So far so good, good response.”

Bistro is a certified gluten free facility that specializes in healthy food options sourced locally. Koppenberg said all the accompanying items for sale around the restaurant are also from local artisans, ranging from pottery to seasonal spices. She also donates her homemade hats and scarves to people in need, including homeless residents and cancer patients.

“Everything we do is local,” Koppenberg said.

Koppenberg said they’re also changing their cooking classroom model, moving the courses from the kitchen to one of the dining areas, “dining by day education by night.”

“We can’t bring them in our kitchen anymore,” Koppenberg said.

Koppenberg said they will be able to teach up to eight students at a time, with the hopes of starting courses before the holidays.

“I’m hoping but we’ll see. This is still a work in progress,” Koppenberg said.

Koppenberg noted that they’re seeking part time and full time applicants to cover a range of duties and shifts.

For more information, call 907-376-1400.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com