Support Women Owned Community Bistro (Plant-Based)

Dini Pederson-Opsahl is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hello! My name is Dini and I am looking to raise money to start a special bistro that helps support local animal rescues and low-income students.

The Front Porch is a cozy bistro with a funky, art driven atmosphere that provides fresh and nourishing, affordable meals and beverages. Situated inside an old garden center, the beautiful garden grounds are the perfect place to enjoy local wine while listening to the beautiful music our locals have to offer. The menu will be influenced by fresh, local ingredients and embody all the full flavors plant-based foods have to offer.

Cruelty-free breakfasts, lunches, dinners, coffees, and teas (season varies).

Dessert varieties from our local bakery, Peney Cakes.

Beer and wine from our local breweries and wineries.

Beautiful outdoor garden seating with a fire pit and small stage for our local musicians creates a safe, community space for our locals, families, and large lake summer crowds.

Cozy, vibrant indoor space to appreciate local art with a coffee or fresh sangria, while the aroma of house baked bread fills the room.

Winter days offer homemade morning and lunch meals for our students, parents, and school staff. (Drop off meal availability to our local school)

Homemade grab and go deli and drive-up pickup options all year around for our fast-paced, blue-collar locals and commuters.

High quality, cruelty-free meals with prices that rival the local gas station junk food.

Supports local farmers, artists, artisans, musicians, and animal rescue through décor, events, and fundraisers.

Helps support our rural school lunch program by providing free summer meals through grant funding.

Brings revenue and much needed employment to the rural town of Underwood, Minnesota.

Our Mission

To inspire communities through advocacy and sharing delicious plant-based food.

The Leadership

Partnership by Dini Pederson-Opsahl and Mark Opsahl, a husband-and-wife duo who co-founded the non-profit Anna Lake Animal Sanctuary.

The Overall Industry

The rising awareness of our health choices, environmental changes, and cruel farming practices shows the plant-based market at least doubling by 2030 according to Forbes.

The Financial Status

We are currently looking to own the location with a cash offer below the current asking price of $95,000; we’re seeking funding through grants and donations of approximately $100,000.

Future Plans

We would like to keep our location quaint while continuing to provide an immensely vital service and haven to our community.

The Organization Leadership

Dini Pederson-Opsahl

Owner & Executive Chef

I am currently the executive director of the nonprofit Anna Lake Animal Sanctuary in Underwood, MN. Within the nonprofit I founded, I have run multiple successful festivals to showcase the small businesses and artists in our area. I have run multiple catering ventures within my nonprofit to provide delicious, cruelty-free meals to families during the holidays. I created and run an online vegan cookbook with over 500 recipes, many of which were shared in our local newspapers. I work within my advocacy to help businesses and people create a better life for ourselves, the animals, and the planet.

I worked in banking, business banking, and the business insurance system for over five years. Within my business banking and regional manager insurance career I was responsible for helping dozens of local businesses, primarily resturaunts, thrive within our community. I have won multiple awards within my almost ten-year sales career such as making a company over five million in profit and for my outstanding customer service and leadership skills.

I am also involved in our local arts, working in Catwalk Party shows, a progressive art performance group. I currently run a successful weekly podcast where I focus on expressing art through storytelling.

I am a mother, member of the LGBTQ+ community, member of multiple plant-based advocacy groups, and a tribal member of the White Earth reservation; I support all through my careers and years of advocacy.

My qualifications show my determination and ability to build, create, sell, market, and support our local community.

Mark Opsahl

Owner

I co-founded the small non-profit Anna Lake Animal Sanctuary. I am the primary maintenance executive and financial backer within the non-profit. I am also currently the general operations and maintenance specialist at a non-profit community organization that provides much-needed services to our community and its educators. I manage day-to-day maintenance operations for multiple locations and am educated and licensed in the industry of building codes and safety. I have worked within our blue-collar, maintenance industry for going on 20 years.

I am a father, a son of a multi-generational farmer, and native to the community of Underwood. I am familiar with farming practices and the importance of our food providers. I grew up in the farming community with meat and potatoes, which are flavors I still enjoy. I educated myself on ethical farming and animal welfare and became vegan over 7 years ago while my partner was experimenting on how to make good tasting, plant-based foods even a farm boy like I could enjoy. I still eat my Swedish meatballs and gravy…now they are just cruelty-free and still as delicious. I understand the importance of our farmers and how real food, that's good for our environment and all the lives on it, can bring our community together.

I enjoy spending time in our communities and watching them grow. With my management skills, maintenance abilities, farming familiarity, community connections, and happily being my partner's food and beer taster, I have the abilities to bring something that is much needed to our growing town.

What We Do Right

We bring the fresh, new concept that our community has been asking for.

We cater to the entire community from our blue-collar locals, our wealthier travelers, our school community, our minorities, and our hip young summer crowds. There's no discrimination.

The food choices, decor, and pricing will be popular across all price brackets. Comparable prices for similar items to our local competitor, but with fresher ingredients. All homemade fare unlike anything Underwood, Minnesota has seen.

We have the same conveniences our community appreciates from our competitors, but updated through mobile ordering, delivery, and in-car pick-up.

Market Analysis

Summer Hours

Otter Tail County, Minnesota is a popular summer destination for travelers to our lake community. Our weekends are extremely popular for those visiting their summer homes or renting out our beautiful lake resorts and cabins.

Underwood, located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, has minimal resources for those traveling and looking for a meal past gas station burgers and fried chicken. Because of this, our town's growth is limited while other rural destination spots around our location have had massive growth in the summers due to the influx of wealthier guests looking for great food, outdoor seating, live music, and an all-around summer vibe. We would be available to meet the needs of that market while keeping prices affordable to our local patrons.

We are also in communication with our local council about meeting the needs of our local students and families that depend on school lunches daily. We will focus on helping meet that need of our local families for free.

Winter Hours

Underwood Community School District (Pre K – Grade 12) is located less than one block from the property at 209 Cleveland Avenue West, Underwood, Minnesota, 56586.

Students, school staff, and parents will be the prime market during the weekdays. In the mornings, parents, students, and school staff grab morning breakfast and lunches at the local gas stations. This bistro would create a primary source in our community for delicious, healthy, homemade food with morning breakfasts, grab and go deli options, and lunch deliveries to the school at a low price. This is not currently available within a comfortable driving distance of our community.

With Underwood being in a blue-collar community within a white-collar county, winter weekday hours provide an easy place for our hard-working locals to enjoy a coffee and celebrate our local artists and farmers, while also having a fresh dinner to take home that night.

Our Impact in Numbers

We want to be known for delicious food and a great time, all while supporting animal rescue and our community.

It takes small, grassroots efforts to make the world change and this bistro is the start of something special.

What if the restaurant does not work out?

We are realistic, that can happen! If it does, you can donate your donation to Anna Lake Animal Sanctuary, or we would happily return your donation.