Vikings at Minnesota State: Weggy's On Campus

Hello MavBlog readers!

Anybody care for some pancakes?

If so, you've found the right place. Today we are going to highlight one of the best places in Mankato to go for a delicious plate of pancakes, bacon and eggs (according to Adrian Peterson).

The Vikings coming down is a huge impact on the Mankato community and brings in a lot of revenue for neighboring businesses every summer. One such business, Weggy’s, is a Maverick favorite. Weggy’s On Campus has been around four years, and is located in U-Square right across from campus. The owner, Steve Wegman, originally owned Weggy’s in Lake Crystal, but said the city was pretty stagnant and he wanted to make a change. He had been doing some work at U-Square one year, when he found an opportunity to purchase a space for it and decided to purchase it and make it his new Weggy’s. He thought it would bring in more revenue, more exposure, and would give them more opportunity to grow. So four years ago, Weggy’s Bar and Grill in Lake Crystal became Weggy’s Bar and Grill On Campus.

Today I got the opportunity to sit down with Steve Wegman and talk to two of his employees, Evan and Jill. I asked Steve how they handle training camp every year, if it’s stressful or exciting. For them he said, it's basically raining camp, too. Once summer hits, employees leave, and knowing that the Vikings are coming, it forces them to hire more staff and get everybody trained in, not only for training camp, but for the rest of the year. He said, “it’s kind of a cycle, we’ll have the school year, then summer break, then Vikings training camp, which is our time to start getting our act in to gear for the school year. We stop taking so much time off, have more staff on, we're more prepared, do more prep work. We hit it straight and just keep going until the next break, which would be Christmas break."

Wegman said that getting ready during the Vikings' time in Mankato is also different. “We have to stock up on ingredients. We do more prep work, have more people on and staff up. We don’t over staff, but it seems like it works out just great. If it’s busy, we can just call someone and have them come in. They’re all college students, so they want the money."

The Vikings themselves have also been in to visit. “We have our new favorite I think, Adrian Peterson. He comes in, and he’s been in the past five days in a row now. Pancakes every time. Even when he comes it at 6:00 at night.” Evan, coworker at Weggy’s chimed in chuckling, “Yeah, it really is always pancakes. Pancakes, bacon and eggs.” They said every time he comes in, an entourage follows him. Today when he came in, he was taking food to go, but there was a group of fans peering and watching from the doorway, so Steve told Adrian he could hide in the kitchen if he wanted, or go to their upstairs level. He chose the upstairs level. They said that he also told his last server, “These are some of the best pancakes I’ve ever had!”

Weggy’s has also had visits this year from Chad Greenway, Jarius Wright, and former Maverick Adam Theilen. “Theilen has always come in and brought other players. It’ll be 6:00 at night and he’ll bring in twelve players, so we must be doing something right.”

You just never know who might come in or what might happen during this time of year. "Matt Kalil (Vikings offensive tackle) would come in everyday and eat five or six sandwiches in one sitting. Everyday. And another time Channel 9 Fox News came in and did a show live from inside, which was kind of special," he said. “Training camp here is just fun in general. I’m a Vikings fan too, so it’s kind of like Christmas time. You get that fourteen-day window of hustle and bustle. You get to see everyone wearing purple. It’s fun.”

Evan said, “It’s just a lot more exciting. The people are way more fun. The fans that come in are always really excited. It’s a whole different environment when they’re around and everyone’s in that mindset. Everybody’s ready for more exciting things to happen.”

Jill agreed, “My favorite part is seeing the festive and spirited fans that come in. And of course, Adrian Peterson.”