Rural Missouri - February 2025 - 45

by Sara Schafer | sschafer@ruralmissouri.coop
bout a dozen years ago, Ben Brubacher and his
family bought the former Mark Twain National
Forest ranger station in Fredericktown. Then they
started dreaming. What could this historic property
become? What did the 4,500-population town need?
" We love coffee, so we thought we'd start with a coffee
shop, " Ben says. " From there, it just kind of grew to meet
other needs. When we started this, everyone asked us,
'Why are you doing this in Fredericktown?' I answered,
'Why not?' It's a great small town; why not invest here? "
In early 2021, the Brubachers opened The Station - a
coffee house and bistro - in the original ranger station
building that was constructed in 1933. " I'm not from this
area, " says Ben, who grew up in Canada and has lived in
several states. " So, I get filled in on what it used to be and
how people remember seeing the Smokey Bear sign out
front. We've enjoyed meeting people who had relatives work
for the U.S. Department of Forestry through the years. "
The restaurant is only part of the fun. The full 6-acre
property, Sawyer's Landing, features everything from yard
games to a wedding venue to tiny homes for rent. The
Brubachers renovated and repurposed every building on
the property to be places to gather, enjoy good food and
celebrate. " Our passion is creating opportunities for people
to spend time together, " Ben says. " It's more than just the
restaurant. "
While the space features many opportunities for fun,
the restaurant is where you should begin your visit. Start
by ordering your beverage of course. " We are very picky
about our coffee, and we work with a special roaster to
source organic and primarily Central American coffee to
run through our espresso side of the house, " Ben says.
You can choose from hot or cold coffee classics - a
mocha, latte, cappuccino or Americano. The baristas are
known for adding beautiful designs to top your drink.
Beyond coffees, you can enjoy a generous line of hot and
cold flavored teas, five flavors of hot chocolate, Italian
sodas and real-fruit smoothies. Or opt for one of their
energy drinks that are made in-house with cane sugar and
natural caffeine from green coffee beans.
Once you make the difficult drink decision, move on
to the breakfast menu. " Our most famous item is our
breakfast burrito, " Ben says. " You can order it all day;
and people do. We actually had to come up with an XL
size because people were wanting two or three of them. "
The burritos feature a flour tortilla filled with bacon, egg,
potato and cheese. The rolled tortilla is grilled in a panini
press and served with salsa and sour cream.
Don't miss the chance to dig into what Ben claims are
the best biscuits and gravy you'll ever have. The fluffy
biscuits and creamy sausage gravy are both meticulously
made fresh every day by Brandon Goesmann, The Station's
head chef.
Another popular item to start your day is the Breakfast
Bagel Sandwich. The bun is a New York water bagel, which
is loaded with bacon, egg, cheese and mayo. Then it's finished
in the panini press. If you'd like a lighter option, go
for the avocado toast, yogurt parfait or fresh bakery items.
A
" We just want
to cultivate a
great experience,
whether it's serving
a great cup of
coffee or hosting a
beautiful wedding
at the venue. Our
passion is creating
opportunities for
people to spend
time together. "
- Ben Brubacher, owner,
The Station
FEBRUARY 2025 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 45
http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP
Rural Missouri - February 2025

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