Dan, Kelly Long settling in at MorningStar Cafe

    Food has always been an important part of life for Dan and Kelly Long.
    As the new owners of MorningStar Cafe at 140 East 12th Street in Imperial, they are right in the midst of food service six days a week.
    The Longs purchased the restaurant from Jeff and Cindy Castor. The sale was finalized Oct. 17.
    The couple said the transition is going well.
    “The people here have been so wonderful,” Kelly said.
    “Thank you to the community and city for backing us in our little adventure,” she said.
    Last month, the couple received an LB840 loan from the city’s sales tax fund for economic development.
    Dan said business has been good and they are staying busy.
    They are anticipating an even busier weekend with the opening of Nebraska’s pheasant season on Saturday.
    The couple, both native Coloradoans, moved from Eaton, Colorado because of family—Jarred and Katy Long live north of Imperial.
    The Longs first lived in Ogallala after selling their home in Eaton, and hoped to buy an RV park in that community.
    When that didn’t materialize, Dan said they did some traveling in their motor home, before parking the RV in Enders earlier this year. When his son and wife moved north of town, they were able to acquire their rental in Imperial, he said.
    A contractor in the past, Dan said he, his son and Kelly did some roof work after being contacted by Sherri Buffington, who works at MorningStar.
    That led to meeting the Castors, and the restaurant purchase is now history.
    “It was divine intervention or something,” Kelly said.
    The Longs had previously operated a food truck and had considered starting one here, she said. Then they learned MorningStar was for sale.
    Coming from a large family—he’s one of six siblings—Dan said he’s cooked his whole life.
    “As kids, we were given a choice of cooking or cleaning. I picked cooking,” he said.
    The large family dinners he enjoyed as a child have continued into his adult years, he said. Kelly said their children’s friends were always welcome at their table.
    Dan is one of the cooks and back end manager, while Kelly is a server and front end manager.
    They’ve added daily specials to the menu offerings. On Wednesday this week, the noon choice was pot roast.
    “And not just a sandwich, a real pot roast,” Kelly said.
    They are getting a lot of menu suggestions from the public, the couple said.
    “We love it. It gives us ideas on what the community wants,” she said.
    MorningStar is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5-9 p.m. Saturday hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.