Mexican restaurant opens at local landmark

"I didn't know what I wanted it to be, but I didn't want it to be torn down," Sarina O'Connor told the Eagle on Tuesday.

O'Connor was referring to the old stone building located at 102 Short Street in Ekalaka.

On March 24, 1925 construction began on that stone building in Ekalaka. By July 8th of that same year, the first issue of The Ekalaka Eagle had emerged from it. The stone structure was built from local sandstone blocks by stone mason Nick Folak, with other materials supplied by Lantis-Rickard Lumber Co.

Folak built several stone buildings in Ekalaka and around the county. Most of which - like the New Life Bar and old Ekalaka Bible Church - have been torn down.

Oscar Dahl made the move to 102 Short Street without missing a single issue of the Eagle, and up until July of 2014, every issue of the local paper was published from there.

In 2014, Eric Lovec bought the Eagle and moved operations to an office in Summit National Bank.

Late in 2014 the building was sold to Sandi Bartlett. Bartlett made plans to renovate the building and move her business, Rambling Rose, there. Bartlett opened Rambling Rose in the structure in February, 2016. She spent about a year restoring and renovating the structure prior to opening. Most notably the roof was redone, and new plumbing and electrical was completed. However, Bartlett kept much of the charm and original parts of the building intact.

Rambling Rose closed in December of 2019 when Bartlett retired.

O'Connor said that she had always loved the old structure and didn't want to see the local landmark disappear. One evening early this summer she made up her mind that she wanted to purchase the building and told her husband that night when she got home.

At first, the couple was unsure what they would do with it.

"It was Ty who came up with the idea for a Mexican restaurant," she told the Eagle. Three months later, TSO Cantina officially opened in Ekalaka.

O'Connors also completed renovations to the inside of the building. They added some Mexican themed items inside and maintained the old charm of the building on the outside.

"Once we had the idea of a Mexican restaurant, we rolled with it," O'Connor said.

Teri Jump, a good friend of O'Connor's since the second grade, moved to Ekalaka from Colorado to manage the business. Jump said that they are also in the process of getting a beer and wine license and hope to have it soon.

In addition to Jump's help, O'Connor describes the business as a "family deal."

"It's good for the kids," she said. "They can learn how to count money and all about running a business."

The couples youngest son, Cash, was even helping by entertaining customers on Tuesday.

TSO Cantina is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 6:30 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m. They also do take out orders over the phone (406-775-6265).

The Cantina will be serving street tacos (steak, avocado and cheese) to-go from 5 to 8 p.m. this Friday during the community Christmas tree lighting on Main Street. The full menu includes items like burritos, tacos, chimichangas, super nachos, quesadillas, salads and more.