Restaurant meets customers#039; needs

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 26, 2003

When Ron Valentine became the proprietor of Lansing Corners Restaurant in 1996, he had a vision and specific ideas for the property.

Now, seven years later, these ideas are coming to bear fruit. The first expansion Valentine did was to build on a banquet facility for 200 to 300 people.

"Our banquet room has fulfilled a need in this area. We are using it four to five days a week. It is perfect for weddings, grooms suppers, family reunions, sales meetings, and other gatherings. There was no full service bar in the restaurant when I purchased it and now there is," Valentine said.

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Besides booking the banquet room for events, Lansing Corners has an all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet. The restaurant also does special buffets for holidays such as Valentine's Day, Easter and Mother's Day.

"We just purchased a chocolate fountain. We melt Godiva chocolate and it is placed in the base of the fountain. It melts and bubbles up and flows out. It is great for dipping fruit. It is a real hit for special events, like weddings. The aroma alone will get to you," Valentine said.

The chocolate fountain was purchased after Valentine attended a catering show that he goes to each year in Las Vegas. He and the staff at Lansing Corners are excited about this new attraction to their catering and banquet services. There are five senior staff employed at Lansing Corners. Helen Johnson is the dining room supervisor, Carl Cochlin is the banquet manager, Becky Ramsey is the marketing and catering salesperson, Donnie Joseph is a chef. There are 10 full-time employees.

"We are in to having fun. We have entertainment in the banquet room. We have had DJs, small combos, the Spamettes, the Glee Club from Albert Lea and a hypnotist. We have two separate kitchens, one for the restaurant and one for the banquet and catering service," he said.

Besides the banquet room and catering, Lansing Corners is offering hot and cold box lunches and executive sandwich trays. They will be setting up a route in the Austin area and five days a week will deliver meals to those who have placed an order by 9 a.m. Each day, a choice of a special full hot lunch or cold sandwiches with sides can be delivered. Orders are taken by calling 433-8985, or by fax at 503-7771.

"We can cater off-premise from 50 to 6,000 people. We have started the Blooming Prairie Picnic Company. This will be a full service event. We will provide food, games for kids, and hay rides. One venue of this will be on site at Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch, Valentine said.

The restaurant is located on U.S. 218 north of Austin and is open Tuesday through Sunday. The restaurant does not take reservations.