Restaurant dream coming true for couple

Sometimes you just have to follow your dreams. After driving by the closed Thompson Grill restaurant almost daily, Todd and Ronda Wakefield of Thompson Falls decided to make Ronda's dream of owning a restaurant come true. Ronda said she has wanted to own a restaurant since she first started working in the business when she was 13. The Wakefields recently purchased the property from Thompson Grill owner Judson Shively and plan to open Two Rivers Grille and Catering next month.

The Wakefields have been working to update the interior of the building and planning their menu, aiming for a mid-May opening. Ronda describes Two Rivers Grille as a "Montana restaurant. We'll have steaks, prime rib, chicken fried steak. It's not just a cafe, it's more," Ronda said. The restaurant will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

"I've always thought about opening a restaurant here," Ronda said. She and Todd, who grew up in Thompson Falls and graduated from Thompson Falls High School in 1981, moved back to Thompson Falls about a year ago after living in Kalispell. Ronda said when they lived in Kalispell and would come visit Thompson Falls, she would drive by the building and dream of what could be. This spring, after looking at the building several times, they decided to take the plunge. "Judson (Shively, the previous building owner) has been fabulous to work with," Ronda said, noting that he shared some of his late wife Phyllis's recipes with her and Todd. "People talk so highly of what Phyllis did and they really had a passion for this business." The Wakefields are hoping to bring the same passion to their restaurant.

Along with dinner entrees such as salmon and steaks, the Two Rivers menu will offer burgers, salads, soups and wraps. The couple said all of the recipes will be from scratch, and they will have options for those with vegetarian and gluten-free diets. They will feature prime rib dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. Ronda also said they will offer an "adult grilled cheese" with three different kinds of cheese. Beer and wine will be served as well.

Ronda said they have been enjoying developing the menu, and their response from the community ahead of the opening has been positive. Two Rivers will feature a Taco Tuesday special, but Ronda promises "they aren't just your run-of-the-mill tacos."

Todd and Ronda have six grown children between the two of them, and their tenth grandchild is due this June. They said their family has been stepping in to help get the restaurant ready for the May opening.

Two Rivers Grille will also have homemade pastries, from scones to brownies to cupcakes, for sale. The other part of the business will be their catering service. Ronda and Todd said they are already getting catering orders, and will provide food for events and business luncheons.

Customer service is a top priority for the Wakefields, and they are still taking applications to join the Two Rivers team. "We hope people come and have a great experience and want to come back. A great meal experience with great customer service," Ronda said.

Two Rivers Grille will open next month and is located at the corner of Broad and Main streets in Thompson Falls. For information or for catering, call (406) 827-2287.