Jules’ Bistro Owner Celebrating Four Years at the Helm

(KNSI) — The shop local mantra has been at the forefront of how the public can help small businesses survive and thrive under a cloud of uncertainty hanging over many in the last year.

One local restaurant owner is celebrating and reflecting Wednesday as she marks four years at the helm of Jules’ Bistro.

Donella Westphal says of the last four years, “It seems like yesterday that we purchased Jules’ Bistro, but also a lifetime ago. Time has flown by so quickly.”

Community support has been important, and Westphal says the community is “probably the biggest reason I purchased Jules.”

Westphal explains she was a regular for ten years before she “made the leap” to ownership and said the feeling of community is what she loved about the place.

“It felt like a place for community, a place for creativity, a place for conversation. And when Julie mentioned that she was going to sell it, I didn’t want anything to happen to that. I didn’t want it to go away to be ruined. I think I panicked and decided that I needed to buy it so that I could make sure that that continued.”

So, how is she celebrating? By celebrating her team.

“I’m making a point of telling each of my team members who’ve been with us almost since the beginning, how much I appreciate them. They really are the heart of Jules’, and we’re just taking time to reflect today.”

Of course, there is something in it for their fans and friends.

“We’re going to celebrate by sharing a mini cupcake with everyone who comes in today. So if you come in for lunch or coffee, we’ll give you a little sweet treat from our bakery.”

Jules’ Bistro is on the corner of 10th and West St. Germain Street downtown St. Cloud kitty-corner from Falcon National Bank and next to the Paramount Theater. Jules is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

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