2 days ago
Al's Oasis on a daily basis
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — It's perhaps one of the most iconic and legendary restaurants in South Dakota.
We're talking about Al's Oasis, that's located along I-90 halfway across the state near been around since 1919 and in all that time it's only had three third and current owner says he never ever had any desire to get into the bar and restaurant business.
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Now that it's June, tourism season is ramping up in South Dakota and a popular destination for travelers along I-90 is Al's Oasis.
'It's just a perfect halfway point, people getting gas or stopping in for a bite to eat whether it be a family going on vacation or a guy going across the state on a business trip or busses coming through here all the time,' owner RF Buche said.
RF Buche bought Al's back in 2022, but he leased it out to other operators, except for the grocery store, which has always been his passion.
Buche owns and operates 20 grocery and convenience stores across South Dakota.
But when things didn't work out with the other company running Al's Oasis, Buche decided to take over the bar and restaurant himself; something he thought he would never do.
'I have plenty of experience of being on one side of the bar and one side of the restaurant, but we have an incredible team here, we have people with 30-plus years' experience,' Buche said.
Buche says the decision to take it over was really about making sure it was running as a family based business, the way it started when the original owner, Albert Mueller, built it back in 1919.
'He started out as a restaurant and then eventually opened the grocery store at a later day and kept expanding, expanding and expanding,
'I just wanted to get back to it operating that same way,' Buche said.
Al's Oasis is well known for its buffalo burgers, indian tacos, and homemade pies.
'We are really, really known for our pies; I think we sell about 50,000 slices per year,' Buche said.
While Al's is rich in history, Buche wants to change things up a little bit to better suit the customers, who come from all over the country.
'We get a lot of them, they like to walk around and look at some of antiques and the mounts we have on the walls and learn a little bit about the history of Al's,' Buche said.
This buffalo is a customer favorite for picture taking.
Buche also turned the gift shop into the Riverfront Boutique, offering all kinds of clothing and other South Dakota made gifts.
There's also the Last Chance Saloon, where people can stop in and have a drink or beer.
Buche also started a flavored popcorn area for kids, but he says keep an eye out for other changes.
'Eventually, I think we're going to be doing some remodeling out there, probably putting in an arcade and for someplace for the kids to come and just continue to make this a family destination,' Buche said.
Customers like that idea and that's why they keep coming back year after year.
'We stop here because it's convenient for us, it's about half way between Rapid City and Sioux Falls, which we are on our way to Sioux Falls to do a little shopping and they are always good with service and we also like their shopping also,' Audrey Brooks of Rapid City said.
Pat Kerwin runs the grocery store. He says he sees familiar faces all the time.
'I love the family feeling and the traditions and having people stop in regularly, like throughout the years, you'll see the same groups of people, so you get to know people from all over the country, it's really exciting,' Kerwin said.
An exciting South Dakota landmark, that's satisfied tourists for years and years.
To learn more about Al's Oasis and its rich history and a look at the menu, click here.
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