MEET THE CREW
Steve Bryce
Steve, the guy behind the idea of opening Solar, grew up in an agricultural family in Idaho but dreamed of running a restaurant. To prepare for this venture he saved his pennies from corporate jobs in the food manufacturing business in Iowa, Kentucky and Pennsylvania and read everything he could on restaurant operations and business. In 2007, Steve got serious about cooking by taking a job as a cook at a restaurant in Marshall, MN and then signing up for classes through the Culinology® program at Southwest Minnesota State University. Since there is no education as profound as experience, Steve decided to buy a small restaurant and give it a try. He named it the Solar Drive-In because he is also interested in renewable energy options like solar energy. The drive-in was well received by customers in Springfield, MN during its first summer of operation so Steve decided he could learn a few more things by expanding to a year round operation. Steve also likes to garden so customers can expect to see some flowers blooming outside the drive-in during the summer months and more recently he has planted some produce to be used in our cooking classes and meal preparation sessions.
Luke Bryce
Prior to starting the Solar Drive-In, Luke had the most restaurant experience of anyone in the family. His first job was at a Dairy Queen, next was a fine dining establishment called The Mainland Inn north of Philadelphia, PA. While studying hotel and restaurant management at Pennsylvania State University, Luke worked in various positions at The Nittany Lion Inn. He left at the end of his sophomore year to work for the summer at his dad’s new restaurant in Springfield, MN. At the end of the summer, Luke decided to stay in Minnesota and transferred to Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) in the Fall of 2008. In addition to his interest in restaurants and cooking he is a filmmaker. Luke has combined his interest of both hospitality and filmmaking into a business called Estariol Technology Group.
Mary Jane Bryce
Mary Jane, also known as “Mom” or “Grandma”, enjoys learning about the restaurant business. Mary Jane, a hard worker, is not afraid to dig in and get dirty if the job calls for elbow grease. When Steve, her son, called and said he had purchased a restaurant she was eager to support him with his venture and came to Springfield from Iowa. She cleaned and painted the building during the dreary month of April 2008 and again through the winter and spring of 2009. Prior to assisting with this start-up she has owned and managed a livestock auction, a hog operation, and a farm in Idaho with her husband Ed. She has also worked as an office manager in an accounting practice and enjoys quilting and other crafts. Ed and Mary have traveled to Swaziland, South Africa for a short-term mission and to Finland to see their granddaughter, Francine, when she was there as a nanny.
Ed Bryce
After years of being independently employed in the livestock business as a farmer and an auctioneer, Ed, also known as “Pops” or “Grandpa”, recently retired from a financial services company where he worked as an agricultural representative for over twenty years. He advised loan officers and other lenders on the value of ag-related loans. He along with Mary Jane have supported their son Steve at getting the business up and running through some nasty Minnesota weather. Ed enjoys learning about the restaurant business by reading trade journals and suggesting new ideas for implementation at the Solar Drive-In. He has been a professional auctioneer for over 40 years. He shares his talent, whenever his schedule allows, by auctioneering for fundraisers. Ed and Mary Jane celebrated fifty years of being married in December 2010. Steve is their oldest and their daughter Debbie lives in Des Moines with her husband David and two sons Kyle and Connor.
Deanne Bryce
Deanne’s first job as a teenager was at a fast food restaurant in Boise, Idaho. She still relies on some of the good habits she learned there to work with customers and food. Since that time she married Steve in 1979 and dreamed of having a family. Together with Steve she raised two children, Francine who has taught English in China, and Luke, a recent graduate at Southwest Minnesota State University. Francine and Deanne write a blog about learning and cooking "real" local food. Deanne has studied education and worked as a teacher and then eventually began a career in corporate learning and development. Her favorite part of business is marketing, community involvement and public relations. To learn more about Deanne you can read her blog, Under the Bright Yellow Sun.
Kallie Smith
Kallie lives in Springfield with her mom, dad, and brother. She says she likes working at the Solar Drive because, “I have learned how to make different types of ice cream and I am meeting new people. I also get to show off my smile.”
Kallie enjoys swimming, tennis, fishing, sewing, drawing, and taking pictures. Kallie’s favorite menu items include our fresh baked cinnamon rolls and soft serve ice cream.