Staff photo by Fritz Busch Herb Knutson bought the Kaiserhoff restaurant June 20. He said he plans to reopen the K bar to the public, add a patio behind it this summer and return to earlier Ray's Salad ingredients.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch
Herb Knutson bought the Kaiserhoff restaurant June 20. He said he plans to reopen the K bar to the public, add a patio behind it this summer and return to earlier Ray’s Salad ingredients.

Knutson originally bought the Kaiserhoff April 1, 2022 from Jan Veigel. He sold it to Collin Gieseke of rural New Ulm April 1, 2024 and bought it back from Gieseke June 20.

He said one of the first things he plans to do at the Kaiserhoff is return to some of the older food recipes.

“We’re doing back to earlier dressing recipes for Ray’s Salad,” Knutson said. “We also plan to open up the K Bar (on the south end of the Kaiserhoff) for public use instead of just private parties,” he said.

Knutson said the Kaiserhoff will continue to be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

“We appreciate all our customers. We plan to continue having promotions and are planning to open a patio behind the K Bar this summer. We also plan on bringing in live music,” said Knutson.

He said Jill Sellner, who has been at the Kaiserhoff for 22 years, will continue to manage the Kaiserhoff. She said a number of restaurant employees have been there for a long time.

“We’re happy to have Herb back. Everybody is happy to have him back,” she said.

He operated a bar and restaurant in Isanti, sold it and retired until buying the Lamplighter in New Ulm and moving here in 2019. He bought the 209 Pub and Grill a few doors south of the Kaiserhoff a few years later.

“I got bored in retirement,” Knutson said. “I’m excited to be back at the Kaiserhoff. It’s a landmark in town. Right now, finding enough help is challenging.”

The Kaiserhoff dates back to 1871 when the building at 217 North Minnesota St. was built by Meinrad Epple. George Jacobs built the structure at 221 North Minnesota with American Artstone and brick from New Ulm Brick & Tile Co.