Sitting off Highway 14 near Scout’s Sweetland Wind Farm in St. Lawrence, South Dakota, Willie’s Bar and Grill offers comfort food, cold drinks, and the kind of atmosphere that feels like home. Serving everything from breaded mushrooms to jalapeño corn nuggets to prime rib, Willie’s is a local staple that became a regular spot for Sweetland workers during development and construction and continues to be a favorite through operations. As part of our Scout on the Ground series, we spoke to Willie’s owner Kori Blake to learn more about the restaurant’s story and its special relationship with Sweetland.
From Employee to Owner
Willie’s Bar and Grill underwent several changes to become the restaurant it is today. In 2012, Hand County local Kori Blake bought the restaurant, then called Sportsman’s Bar, and renamed it to honor the orignial founder, Willie Kramer. As a previous employee of the bar and grill, Blake saw the potential in the local spot and decided to make a “spur of the moment purchase” that changed the trajectory of her life.
After purchasing the restaurant, Blake decided to open right away, drawing in locals from around the county. Business immediately took off, and as word spread, Willie’s quickly went from making an average of 40 meals per night to over 120.
“When I opened this business, the first couple of weeks it was nuts how busy it was because there were so many people from the surrounding areas who knew me and came to support us and check us out,” she said. “We’d be so busy that people would just jump up and start waiting on people, getting drinks. People the cook didn’t even know would bring orders into the kitchen. It was a blessing to be in that small town because of the people who know you and help you. It was like we were all in it together.”
Over time, the restaurant has become a staple for locals and seasonal visitors alike. Each hunting season, as pheasant hunters begin to move into the St. Lawrence area, Willie’s has become a must-stop along the way.
A New Wind (Farm) Blows In
In 2016, a new kind of clientele walked in the door when Scout began developing its 200 MW Sweetland Wind Farm.
Scout’s development team quickly became regulars at Willie’s leading up to construction, and Willie’s became a favorite for the hundreds of construction workers that would soon be moving in. As construction began, Willie’s saw business take off, with Blake remarking it was like “a never-ending hunting season.” The strong relationship already formed between Scout and the Willie’s staff helped ease the flow of so many new patrons.
“It felt comfortable when they started to move in and people came in. And I knew the face behind the name, and they were good people. I felt like a partner.”
From catering breakfast at the wind farm to hosting meetings for the workers, the restaurant thrived.
“Everyone benefitted from Sweetland at Willie’s. Tips were more, hours were more, and I could hire more people,” Blake said. “It was just nice to help our community while I was being helped, too.”
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Two years have passed since Sweetland started operating, and Willie’s continues to grow and thrive.
If you ever find yourself driving through St. Lawrence, South Dakota, be sure to stop by Willie’s, where quality food and a wonderful community are on full display. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, be sure to ask Kori about the ghost of Willie, who may or may not make appearances from time to time.
To learn more about Willie’s, visit Willie’s Bar and Grill online at williesbarandgrillsd.com and on Facebook @WilliesBar&Grill.
Kori in front of Willie’s, 2025