March 28, 2024

Okoboji celebrating 10 years in business

Boji family. That is how Jeff Conn, owner of Okoboji American Grill in Newton describes his employees and customers after 10 years. Okoboji will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary with a party from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday with drink specials, free appetizers (while they last), give aways and a gift card special.

“I thought Newton needed a place where you could go out and have a cocktail and get a decent meal and a decent atmosphere,” Conn said of opening the restaurant.

After talking with a business partner, who has since parted ways, the two thought Newton needed some other options for more of a fine dining experience. Conn worked at Maytag previously and when the opportunity came to switch careers, he jumped on board, having been in the business regularly since he was 17 years old.

The site had already been approved for an Okoboji, but financing and other reasons caused previous ventures to not get off the ground. Conn and his partner designed the building themselves, working towards an upscale dining experience. While building, they used as many local contractors as they could including Manatts for the parking lot.

After opening, Conn had his share of successes while struggling like a lot of businesses when Maytag went out of business as well as during the economic downturn. He credits those he works with most for making it through the hard years.

“Thanks to a good customer base, good employees, good management staff,” Conn said.

Fourteen of those employees who started in the first year are still with him 10 years later, which is pretty uncommon in the high turn over restaurant business. In total, Okoboji employs 50 to 65 people depending on the season.

The menu has the same base items of the franchise, but varies quite a bit with what they call “Newton favorites.” Being in a different market than Des Moines, Conn has more streak and seafood options as well as homemade soup for his customer base.

“We know this is a place that people come out for an anniversary or birthday party, it’s not just go watch a football game type of place,” Conn said.

Another popular addition has been the lunch menu. Started about four years ago, the abbreviated menu gives customers an affordable option with a full meal and drink that gets changed up every couple of weeks.

The Iowa Speedway has brought many celebrities to the restaurant including Rusty Wallace and Kasey Kahne, but they most memorable was Kiss front man Gene Simmons.

“Gene Simmons was in town and his publicist called out here and wanted a reservation. My wife doesn’t follow the music and the guy said we need a table for Gene Simmons and she said well we are really busy right now I’m not sure if we can get you in. He’s like well this if for Gene Simmons, we need a place to eat and she said well I don’t care who you are we are really busy,” Conn said.

After hanging up, she went back to talk with other employees and found out that it was the Gene Simmons of the band Kiss, not just a regular joe calling for a reservation. They were able to call them back and Simmons dined at the restaurant, signing autographs and taking pictures with anyone who asked.

Conn hopes for many more years at the restaurant that he has seen grow and change over the past 10 years.

“We’re like a big family here.”