Shyanne Belzer/MDN Denise Lindbo and her mother opened Gourmet Chef 25 years ago. It has now expanded greatly and offers a variety of cookware and local products.

Servicing the Minot area since Aug. 15 of 1993, Gourmet Chef is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018. Originally opening in a different part of the building it resides in now on Main Street, the store grew from a measly 400 square feet to 4,000 square feet.

Denise Lindbo and her mother opened the store, focusing on kitchen items. Lindbo didn’t want to move away for the current job she had and her mother was in need of something new to do once all of her children had moved out. Together they created Gourmet Chef.

“My friend took me to Creative Kitchen in Fargo because she knew I kinda liked that. So mom started doing research at the library and found a company out of Dallas, Texas, that helped set up gourmet stores,” Lindbo explained. “We met with them and the rest is history.”

As they grew and expanded, Lindbo said they began teaching classes starting in 1997 and started to focus on local through selling North Dakota-based products. Lindbo has worked hard to find the best products by going to Pride of Dakota, speaking with vendors online, taking recommendations from customers, making a yearly trip to Chicago and attending other trade shows.

When it comes to classes, Gourmet Chef works hard to offer classes at least two times a week if not more, along with private events such as bridal showers or birthday parties. The store offers classes for all ages, from kids to adults. Classes can accommodate up to 20 people.

“Six is the minimum just to make it fun for the people there and make it worthwhile for the chef to do it,” Lindbo said.

She brings in different chefs who specialize in different culinary areas to ensure the best for the students attending. Classes are listed on the Gourmet Chef website, where those interested in attending can also sign up.

Gourmet Chef held a celebration of its anniversary in May over Mother’s Day weekend but that isn’t all that is planned to celebrate. Over the year, Lindbo said, they will have different things going on and different sales.

When asked if she ever thought she would make it to 25 years, Lindbo said, “You know, I didn’t really even think about it. It just kind of happened. When I started it, who would have thought I would be doing it 25 years later, but I love it.”

Lindbo loves what she does and loves those she works with. She works to make the experience more personal and relaxing as customers can go, look around and even talk to her, the owner.

“All the businesses down here are like mine, where they are locally owned and family owned,” she said. “And with my staff, who’s absolutely amazing and they’ve been with me for a long time, people get to know them. We all become family with each other.”

Reaching year 25, Lindbo plans to continue on as people start coming down to the downtown area again and see not only what the area is about but also what Gourmet Chef and other stores are about too.