The MBLCA is proud to announce our new vendor for the 2024 season. Please join us in welcoming Mike Popham and Desi with the opening of Gramma Jo’s Shoreside Bar and Eatery!
Mike is originally from the North Platte, NB area and moved to ND in 2013 to work in the oilfield in Welding. He is currently employed in the Maintenance Dept on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds.
Desi is originally from Watford City and has been a resident of Minot since 1993. She has 3 sons, Dylan (26), Brandon (25), and Jackson (18), 1 grandson, Kieran and family in the Minot area. She is a former radio DJ and has been performing on stage as Shania Too doing a live musical tribute to Shania Twain for the past 20+ years. She is currently employed at Trinity Health in Minot.
Together, Mike and Desi own D&D Karaoke/DJ Service and in 2020, became owners of Gramma Jo’s Eatery (original location) in Sawyer.The Sawyer location holds a special place in their hearts as it was named after Desi’s mom (She passed in 2021), a woman who brought sweetness, love and laughter to the world and to the restaurant whenever she was there. They are so excited to be opening another location in her name.
Paula Kraft, will be acting as their on site manager in Brush Lake. She is currently the kitchen supervisor at the Sawyer school but will take over full management duties at the Pavilion this summer. She also works part time for Mike and Desi as a cook and bartender in Sawyer. She is a previous manager for the Benedict bar, bringing lots of business and social experience with her.