Celebrating Winchester & Rye

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It was a grand soft opening of the newest place in downtown Victoria on Wednesday, May 9th, with over 100 invited guests, a full bar, and a full buffet dinner.

The transition from Victoria Creamery to Winchester & Rye is complete.  The place is now open to the public and it’s fabulous, from the impressive mounted caribou head prominent in the foyer to the fancy brick oven in the pizza parlor to the longest well-stocked whiskey bar.

This group of friends at Winchestesr & Rye originally got together at the Island View Country Club in Waconia where they had standing Friday night dinner reservations for the past 20 years, when Kim and Kevin Heenie were in charge of that place.  Now the group of friends have their Friday nights back with Kim and Kevin at Winchester & Rye in downtown Victoria.  L-r: Jerry and Judy Bailey, Jane Eveslage, Donna Moonen, Sandy Berger, Leann and Ellen Rindahl, Ray Rindahl, Jim Berger, Jerry Eveslage, Audrey Geiger.  Said Jane Eveslage, "What a wonderful night!"

Kevin and Kim Heenie, owners of the new restaurant, had several relatives on hand for the occasion, including Kim's parents, Al and Louise Lehner of Victoria, and Kim's three sisters, Mary, Gina, and Tanya.  Mary Meuwissen, owner of the property, and her husband Mike and son Taylor were also part of the evening.  Some of them got in the picture.  Some did not.  Front (l-r):  Tanya Hisey, Mary Meuwissen, Louise Lehner, Gina Holman, Kim Heenie. Behind:  Nick Heenie, Mary and Greg Sumner, Al Lehner, Dave Holman, a guest, and Kevin Heenie.

(L-r): Kim Heenie, Porter Conklin, Kevin Heenie, Amanda Pedersen, Nick Heenie, Kevin McKiernan, Kevin Logelin.

Yes, Kim, it’s a beautiful brick oven!  And it does make the most delicious pizza, even gluten free if you ask for it.

Kim’s sister Gina Holman worked the whiskey bar and offered her favorite beverages by J. Carver Distillery.

The buffet line of scrumptious food was located in the pizza bar.

Kim and her sister Mary Sumner.