2609 S. Minnesota

There are few things that inspire more passionate, dreamy-eyed nostalgia than favorite eateries. Some of them stick around for a decade or two then go the way of the dinosaur. Heap Big Beef is one such place.

In March of 1967, an ad ran in the Argus Leader announcing exciting franchise opportunities for a business called Heap Big Beef. Franchise Investments, Inc. placed the ad as well as many others in Life magazine, the Wall Street Journal and major newspapers across the country. Lawrence Tessman answered the call for the Sioux Falls location, and construction began November 21st of that year at 2609 S. Minnesota, just north of Lewis Southgate. Tessman was born near Roswell, SD and had farmed in Miner county before operating a restaurant in Mitchell and a Pizza Hut in Omaha. When this franchise became available, he moved to Sioux Falls to bring this exciting restaurant to its hungry citizens.

Heap Big Beef appealed to the wild west motif that, around the same time, made businesses like Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Family Restaurant possible. Beef’s motif was a Native American theme, but in a culturally insensitive way that thankfully has become gauche. Ad copy in the paper read: “Circle the wagons, the Indians are coming with America’s favorite! Tender, juicy roast beef piled high and hot on a crisp, buttered Rippowam roll. You’ll let out a war-whoop when you sink your teeth into this delicious treat.” The company tried to inject as many Native American clichés as possible into their ads as well as their product names.

The Grand Opening of Heap Big Beef was March 28-31,1968. Chief White Buffalo Man, grandson of Sitting Bull, was on hand all four days to provide authentic stories and ceremonials. Tessman also brought in Mrs. South Dakota – Ramona Zephier. Advertisements promised “Colorful Indian dances around the campfire each day” and “Free Indian Bonnets and pony rides for the kids”. Shirley Kuebler of Sioux Falls College was named Miss Heep Big Beef; a dubious title at best.