After 17 years fueling travelers, cyclists and neighbors along the Soo Line Trail, Jordie's Trail Side Cafe in Bowlus will not reopen this spring, the family has confirmed. The cozy, family-run main street stop, known for its homemade soups, pies and leafy garden seating, has been a local anchor for nearly two decades, so the news is hitting regulars right in the nostalgia.
In a farewell note posted on its website, Jordie's Trail Side Cafe shared that owners Jordie and Sonya have "decided not to reopen" and that Jordie is retiring, while thanking customers for 17 years of support. The message signed off with a characteristically quirky goodbye, "Toodles noodles, and thanks for the memories," and emphasized that much of the cafe's charm came from family recipes and that tucked-away garden dining. The post framed the closure as simply the next chapter after a long run on the trail.
As reported by WJON, Sonya has already started working with Cura of Minnesota to help residents get to appointments, while Jordie plans to spend retirement in her gardens and enjoying time with family and pets. According to WJON, the future of the building is still up in the air as the family steps back from day-to-day operations.
Three Generations Behind The Counter
The cafe was powered by three generations, grandma, mom and daughter, and that rhythm of family labor shaped the way the place felt to everyone who walked in. As the owners wrote on their site, "We needed each other like PB & J to make Jordie's, Jordie's," a line that neatly sums up how the business depended on the trio working together. Jordie's Trail Side Cafe credited its regulars and Soo Line Trail visitors with keeping the doors open for 17 years.
What’s Next For Main Street
For now, no one is saying what comes next for the building. In their goodbye, the owners urged locals to keep backing other neighborhood staples, including Bowlus Liquor and Rahn's Gas and Grocery. WJON shared the community note and the cafe's farewell as part of its coverage of the Bowlus business shuffle.
For longtime patrons, spots like Jordie's double as the town living room, a place where bikers, neighbors and families cross paths over coffee and pie. As the owners step away, Bowlus keeps the memories and the recipes, and that familiar stretch of Main Street will look and feel a little different when spring rolls in.
