Looking Back: 'Take all you want, but eat all you take' was a mantra at Walt and Mary's

Walt & Mary’s Restaurant was a favorite eating spot for many in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. Walt and Mary themselves were fondly recalled — Walt would often hold young children for parents while they filled up their trays at their East 10th Street smorgasbord. Mary would cook and welcome guests, advising that if customers didn’t clean their plates, there would be no ice cream. Take all you want, but eat all you take was the motto at Walt & Marys.

Walter Bierman was born February 17, 1907 in Hubbard, Iowa, where he was educated. He came to Sioux Falls where he worked at the Dairyland Creamery and eventually at the Hamburger Shop. That’s where he met Mary Dahmen. Mary was born in Hartford on November 27, 1909. She moved to Sioux Falls and found work washing dishes at the Cataract Hotel. She later worked at a bakery. It was at this time that she met Walt. They fell in love and were married November 9, 1933. Walter served in the Army during World War II and was stationed in Hawaii.

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After after his return, he and Mary bought the Sunnyside Dairy at 334 S. Main, across from Washington High School. The space was remodeled, and a portion of it converted to a dining space. This space opened on March 22, 1947 as Mary’s, an ice cream and lunch store. The remaining portion was used for dairy work, which Walt had some experience with. In 1948, they bought the Bell Creamery, an ice cream manufacturing company with space for dining, across from what is now the Old Courthouse Museum. Mary would continue running Mary’s, while Walt worked to remodel the Bell Creamery, expanding seating space.

In July of 1952, they opened the Tip Top Coffee Shop at 1107 S. Minnesota. This was often called Walt & Mary’s Tip Top Cafe. This was a small space near the Dixie Bake Shop and had only 10 stools and one booth. They moved their business to 316 S. First Avenue in May of 1954, where they enjoyed a larger dining area, and, for the first time, called their business Walt & Mary’s. Here they had room for 36 customers. They announced the opening of a new space at 129 S. Main in January 1962. Here there was room for 65 people, but after their short lease was up, they were unable to renew. In August of 1963 the pair saw an opportunity to open in a business with great visibility attached to the new east side bowling alley, Eastway Bowl.

The new Walt & Mary’s was able to accommodate 230 customers and had enough space to serve a smorgasbord; a buffet-style dining hall where large groups were able to have meetings, parties and other get-togethers. Walt & Mary’s became instantly popular and before long there were lines out the door.

In 1965, they expanded their building, adding 7,660 more feet to the space. This provided space for 260 more customers. There were three party rooms added for groups of 55, 80 and 125. The new space was decked in oak paneling and trim with colorful drapes to add some pop. The exterior was clad in glaze-faced brick in blue, black, yellow and red. The re-design was spearheaded by Harold Spitznagel & Associates, who were well equipped to manage these mid-century masterpieces.

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Walt and Mary continued in this location for decades. Though they never had children, they accumulated a vast number of regulars and employees whom they considered family. Their policy of “take all you want, but eat all you take. Clean your plate or no dessert” was on a sign in their restaurant. If you wasted food, you’d likely have Mary shooting eye daggers at you and have no ice cream to top things off. They enforced only that simple rule and their customers respected them for it.

Walt died in May 1987. Shortly after his death, Mary sold the business to the building’s owner, Tom Thomas, but continued working. She called it a career on February 29, 1988. Mary left behind people she loved, but after serving the public for 67 years, wanted to put her feet up. She died in April 1996.

Eric Renshaw of Sioux Falls has written the book "Forgotten Sioux Falls" and gives a historical perspective on his website GreetingsFromSiouxFalls.com.