Lunch Ladies
Subs on bread baked that morning, hot dogs, tacos, salads and a school-cafeteria snack cart.
Photos: Lunch Ladies, from the restaurant's public Facebook page.
The story
Melissa Bolton spent eight years as a lunch lady at the elementary school in Wanamingo and finished as its head cook. When Kenyon-Wanamingo consolidated into Kenyon and the building closed in 2025, she saw that Barney Nesseth had put Fresh Bites, the sandwich shop at 701 2nd Street, up for sale. She bought it.
The name chose itself. "I went through a bunch of names," she told the Kenyon Leader. "Then I would say 'Lunch ladies' to people, and they're like, 'That's who you have to be,' because I'd go somewhere, and the kids are like, 'Mom, that's my lunch lady.'"
Everybody in town is excited about the hot dogs. That's all I hear about is the hot dogs.
Melissa Bolton, to the Kenyon Leader
The doors opened on October 14, 2025. Before that, by her own count, she turned away about 70 people who saw the sign go up and came in hungry. Her daughters Karlee and Olivia work the counter with her, along with Talya and Missy, who served school lunch beside her in Wanamingo. The coloring pages students gave her over the years came along too.
As reported by the Kenyon Leader, Oct. 15, 2025 and Kenyon Messenger, Oct. 23, 2025.
What it is known for
Bread baked every morning
White or wheat, with seasoning on top, baked in the shop before opening. Meats are sliced by hand each day.
The hot dogs
Chicago dogs, street dogs, chili dogs and footlongs: the item the town asked for before the doors opened.
The snack cart
A cafeteria idea carried over: cheese bread with sauce, cookies, elote, giant pickles, floats and ice cream.
If it fits in the oven
Rotating specials run from baked potato bars and rice bowls to soups, chili, hot dishes and goulash. Requests are welcome.
Quick in, quick out
Kenyon has no fast food chain. The owner built the counter for construction crews and people driving through who need to get in and out.
Kids know the cook
A TV with cartoons, a coloring wall, a kids deal on the menu, and a stop for teams after games.
Hours
| Monday | 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Thursday | 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Friday | 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Sunday | Closed |
Google profile, September 2026. A family business: the owner has said hours can shift around family and school events, and that she stays open later after home games. Day-of changes and specials go on the Facebook page.
Latest special posted
September 17, 2026 · Facebook Baked potato bar today! Let's see what you put on your spuds. Fajita rice bowl. See today's on Facebook
Getting there
Lunch Ladies is on 2nd Street, Kenyon's main street, in a two-story brick storefront with a ramp up to the door. Street parking runs along 2nd Street. The Kenyon Muni is a few doors down at 645 2nd Street, and the Rose Fest pancake feed sets up between the two each August.
Around town
Details
- Address
- 701 2nd Street, Kenyon, MN 55946
- Phone
- 507-623-0259
- Online ordering
- Toast, pickup only
- Specials and hours (475 followers, Sept. 2026)
- Profile and reviews
- Owner
- Melissa Bolton
- Opened
- October 14, 2025
- Serves
- Sandwiches, Hot dogs, Salads, Tacos, Bagels
- Service
- Dine in, takeout, online pickup orders
- Website
- None; this page and the links above
Questions
What are the hours at Lunch Ladies in Kenyon?
Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday, per the restaurant's Google profile in September 2026. It is a family business and hours can shift; the Facebook page carries day-of changes.
Where is Lunch Ladies?
701 2nd Street, Kenyon, MN 55946, on the main street downtown, in the former Fresh Bites storefront next to the Kenyon Muni.
What is on the menu?
Subs on bread baked in the shop each morning, hot dogs, salads, rice and burrito bowls, tacos, bagels, soup and chili, plus a snack cart of cheese bread, cookies, elote and ice cream. Half subs started at $6.99 and full subs at $8.99 when the online menu was checked on September 18, 2026; items and prices are tentative and can change.
How much is a sub?
Half subs ran $6.99 to $10.00 and full subs $8.99 to $13.99 on the online menu as of September 18, 2026. Those prices are tentative; confirm at the counter or by phone.
Can I order online?
Yes. Lunch Ladies takes pickup orders through Toast. Online orders ask for about 30 minutes of lead time. There is no delivery.
Who owns Lunch Ladies?
Melissa Bolton, who cooked school lunch at the Wanamingo elementary school for eight years and was its head cook. Her daughters Karlee and Olivia work with her.
When did Lunch Ladies open?
October 14, 2025, in the space that had been Fresh Bites.
Is there a kids meal?
The menu lists a kids deal at $6.50 (tentative, as of September 18, 2026), along with juice boxes, milk and ice cream. The dining room has a TV with cartoons and a coloring wall.
Does Lunch Ladies cater?
The online menu has listed catering-size potato salad, and the owner has said she will try most requests that fit in the oven. Call 507-623-0259 to ask.
What is the phone number?
507-623-0259.
Does Lunch Ladies have a website?
No. The restaurant posts specials and hours on its Facebook page, Lunch ladies, and takes online orders through Toast.
Are there daily specials?
Yes. Recent ones posted on Facebook include a baked potato bar and a fajita rice bowl. Soups, chili, hot dishes and sloppy joes rotate in colder months.
Compiled from public sources and not yet confirmed by the owner: menu and prices from the restaurant's online ordering page (September 18, 2026), tentative and subject to change; hours, rating and phone from its Google profile (September 2026); the story from the newspaper articles linked above; photos from the restaurant's public Facebook page. This site has no business relationship with Lunch Ladies. If you run Lunch Ladies and want something changed, added or removed, email team@kenyonminnesota.com.