Jonah Pirsig credits the staff at Average Jo’s for much of the success of the business. Restaurant manager Amy Bussinger, left, and long-time employee Autumn Marlatt, right, take time to pose with Pirsig before customers start filing in for a noon meal. Bussinger took the position of restaurant manager in August of 2022.

Back in 2020, two Blue Earth Area graduates were sitting in the office of Nielson Blacktopping in Kasota and they started talking about an idea.

The two BEA grads were Jonah Pirsig and Joe Franta. Their idea was to buy the Double Play Bar and Grill in downtown Blue Earth, which had been for sale for a long time.

The purchase was made and the duo opened Average Jo’s Sports Bar and Grill in April of 2021.

Now, Average Jo’s (as it is commonly referred to) has been awarded the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce Rising Star Award for 2022.

The award is presented each year to a Blue Earth business that is less than two years old, is committed to promoting the community, shows stability and a future-oriented attitude.

“We (Joe and I) thought that Blue Earth needed a sports bar and that it could be successful,” Pirsig, who became the sole owner of Average Jo’s in July of 2022, says.

Pirsig shares his love of cooking was a big factor in his desire to purchase the restaurant.

“I had always loved to cook, going back to my days in high school,” he explains. “I loved to cook for my family and friends but I had never been a line cook at a restaurant before.”

Pirsig graduated from BEA in 2012. He was recruited to play football at the University of Minnesota and ended up being a 3-year starter on the offensive line for the Gophers. He graduated from the U in 2016.

“I majored in elementary education but I never did my student teaching,” he notes. “I decided to go in a different direction.”

Pirsig says he and Franta looked at Double Play in April of 2020 and worked with Kara Drake of O/NE Realty in Blue Earth, Mary Kennedy and Amy Schaefer from the Blue Earth Economic Development Authority and Cory Milbrandt at First Bank Blue Earth, to complete the deal.

“We closed in February of 2021,” Pirsig comments.

Then, the work began.

“We wanted to put our own touches on the place so it did not look like Double Play,” Pirsig mentions. “But, we were mindful of the fact that Double Play had been successful so we did not want to totally redo everything.”

What Pirsig and Franta did do was add a private room, revamp the bar and do a lot of painting.

“We also decided to open up the outside section more so people did not feel so secluded,” Pirsig says. “We also changed our days of operation so that we are open on Sundays and closed on Mondays. It gives people a place to come to and watch the Vikes.”

Recalling the first couple months of operation of their new business, Pirsig shares they were some of the hardest months he has ever gone through.

“I am just thankful people who started with us stuck with us,” he comments. “I am talking about both employees and customers.”

Pirsig adds he is also thankful for Joe’s boss at Nielson.

“He is a part owner in several restaurants in the Mankato area,” Pirsig says. “He put us in contact with vendors and told us things we needed to do.”

He also had help from people who had worked at Double Play.

“It was a challenge learning how to run a restaurant,” Pirsig states. “I relied on Amy Bussinger, Janet Maloney, Travis (Doc) Armstrong, Daniel Peterson, Taelib Taube and Kristina Meyers, who all worked at Double Play. Another important person who has been with us almost from the start is Autumn Marlatt.”

Bussinger became the full-time manager of Average Jo’s last August and Pirsig immediately left for a week-long vacation.

“I was ready for a break,” he says.

Pirsig explains that any special event in town, whether it is Giant Days, the Holiday Sampler, sports tournaments or garage sales, leads to an increase in business at the restaurant.

“We start at 11 a.m. each day we are open,” he explains. “We stay open until 11 p.m. Tuesday- Thursday and close at 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. On Sunday we stay open until 4 p.m.”

He notes the summer months are generally slower in terms of business because people want to be outside and Blue Earth does not have a lake to bring people to town.

“We are considering having more bands play during the spring and summer months,” Pirsig comments.

However, no matter what time of the year it is, he says there is one constant that makes owning Average Jo’s special for him.

“It is the people. It is interesting to hear stories from the customers but the people who work here really make it special,” Pirsig says. “We are very fortunate to have a lot of high school kids who want to work. People enjoy coming to the restaurant and seeing the young people working and then having a chance to connect with them. It really makes it fun.”