MADGE LAKE — Jared and Nicky Ruf, the owners of In Good Taste, the Togo-based food processing and catering business, will be opening The Sweet Spot at Madge Lake.
At the beginning of April, the Rufs, who for the past five years have lived at Madge Lake, took over the business, formerly known as Waves, the mini-golf, convenience store and gasoline outlet that had been operated by former Canora residents Mark and Candice Ochitwa, who have a cabin at Madge Lake.
The Rufs, who have been operating In Good Taste for 18 years, said they plan to open The Sweet Spot on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until mid-June, and then will be open daily until Labour Day.
“A lot of our staff will be students,” said Nicky, who for the past four years has worked as a teacher at Victoria School in Kamsack.
She estimates the business will be employing about 18 students on a part-time basis during the summer, including the Rufs’ two children: Ella, a Grade 11 student, and Flynn, Grade 7.
The business is a convenience store that will carry soft drinks, confectionery items, fishing supplies and camping essentials, in addition to specializing in ice cream.
“We will be carrying many flavours of Foothills hard ice cream, which has a reputation for being the best hard ice cream on the market,” Jared explained.
The business has an 18-hole miniature golf course, which last year celebrated its 40th anniversary, he said. “We also will be selling gasoline and propane, and in July, the business will include a food trailer that will be parked at Ministik Beach.
Enjoying a round of golf on the mini-golf course at The Sweet Spot business at Madge Lake recently were Ella, left, and Flynn Ruf, the children of Nicky and Jared Ruf, who purchased the business on April 1. | Photo by William Koreluik
Although they intend to operate the business much as it has been, with the couple’s background in food service, they plan to use that experience in their new business.
“We ran the Border Mountain House restaurant at the Madge Lake recreation hall on weekends during the winters of 2021-22 and 2022-23,” Jared said, adding that The Sweet Spot will carry Border Mountain House pizzas, as well as a selection of In Good Taste products.
“We have a big capacity ice-making machine, so we will be able to sell bulk ice,” he said. “With our background in barbecues, we will be selling sauces, spices and rubs that customers will enjoy when cooking their own barbecue meals.”
“We plan to feature special events during the season,” Nicky said. “We expect to have events like a kids’ golf tournament and some special adult social evenings.”
The Rufs will observe their having taken over the business with a grand opening celebration on Saturday, May 17, when they will be offering brisket-on-a-bun and pizza specials from 3 to 6 p.m, “or until the food runs out.” During the day, every paid round of golf will entitle the customer to a free regular hard ice cream.
