Century-old Branson restaurant reopens under new ownership

A century-old restaurant reopened in Branson under new ownership after a brief closure.

Sandra Ferdig, Brandi Beebe and Beebe’s grandmother, Mary Meadows, purchased Branson Cafe and reopened it March 1, according to a news release issued this week. The previous ownership, the Roten family, decided to retire and closed the eatery at the end of 2021.

Branson Cafe, which opened in 1910, is considered to be the city's oldest restaurant, according to the owners. The financial terms of the restaurant purchase and startup costs were undisclosed.

“When we found out that the restaurant was for sale, we jumped right on the opportunity to be part of this historical cafe,” Beebe said in the release. “Sandra, my grandma and I have always wanted to own a restaurant, and what better one to own than the first cafe in Branson?”

The new owners have at least 20 years of restaurant experience apiece. At Branson Cafe, they're serving up a menu that includes made-from-scratch meatloaf, fried chicken and cinnamon rolls.

"We will be making updates to modernize the cafe, while keeping the history alive with pictures or memorabilia of Branson over the years the cafe has been open," Ferdig said in the release.