EGAN — Twelve years ago, Shari and Kevin Hammer’s life changed when a chance conversation turned into the ownership of a popular Egan eatery.
“I’m not sure how this happened,” Shari laughed in recalling their life-changing career choice. “I was staying home with my kids — then 14-year-old Sydney, 6-year-old Addy and 2-years-younger Tate.” Kevin was working at what is now called J&B Group in Pipestone when, after a restless night, they entered the world of small community cooking.
Twelve years later, BlueJays in Egan is a community standard. Paraphernalia from the former high school adorns the walls. A smallish bar breaks up the kitchen and dining room attached to a convenience store — providing for neighbors who do not need to trek to larger communities.
“I guess it all worked out,” she laughed, holding a plaque that designated BlueJays as the winner of this year’s “Brookings Area Burger Clash” competition.
Entering for only the second time, the Hammers cooked up a double quarter-pounder sweet heat burger. The patties are covered with Canadian bacon, pepper jack cheese and drizzled with a sweet chili sauce and was, according to the chef, an instant hit.
“I was trying to think what we could make using ingredients we already had in-house,” Shari said. “I made it for a girlfriend of mine, and it was a one and done,” she laughed.
According to Shane Anderson, creator of the social media site and founder of the event, the burgers are judged on customer service, creativity and taste. Twenty-eight area restaurants participated, coming from as far south as Egan, west to De Smet, north to Castlewood and east to Elkton.
“We started with eight or nine in 2021,” Anderson explained, noting it was a way to build dining traffic amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is our sixth year, and it was competitive.”
Anderson compiles the votes and averages everything up on a scale of one to five. The overall best average wins, he said.
BlueJays joins past winners The Merc in Flandreau; Pints and Quarts – a two-time winner; Rub N’ Tug; and the Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge, all three in Brookings.
Twelve years later, and now the winners of a walnut plaque denoting their success, the Hammer family is now looking to move on from BlueJays.
“Our kids were little when we bought it and it’s been a great experience,” Shari said. “It’s been kind of a hangout for our kids and others in the community” but with a now-26-year-old daughter (Sydney) and Addy and Tate turning 18 and 16, new challenges await, the Flandreau natives said.
BlueJays is open seven days a week, with the convenience store opening at 8 a.m. and the restaurant closing at 10 p.m. They offer breakfast one Sunday a month and boast a holiday buffet all, according to them, because of a loyal and supportive staff.
The double quarter-pound “Sweet Heat Hawaiian” burger is not yet on the menu, Shari said, but she urges customers to request one.
“As soon as we get new menus printed, it will be there,” she promised.
— Contact Brian Bloom at [email protected].
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