Elsa and Gene Wilson stand outside their new business, the Flip-n-Shake in Winnebago, which they recently opened in April.

Ownership of a dormant Winnebago restaurant recently ‘flipped’ with Gene and Elsa Wilson’s arrival on the Faribault County business scene.

Though Winnebago’s Flip-n-Shake has been on hiatus for several years, its new co-owners plan to bring it back to life with a little elbow grease and a lot of expertise.

“Elsa has years of experience,” Gene says. “She’s worked in school cafeterias and restaurants. It’s what she knows.” 

“I like to cook, but I’ve always worked in the restaurant business,” Elsa adds.

In fact, she has operated several of her own restaurants.

The Wilsons previously made their home, and careers, in Colorado. Elsa owned a restaurant in Colorado Springs with her brothers in 2009, and she also owned a restaurant in Fountain, Colorado, in 2017.

An increase in area crime and expense led the couple to relocate. Eventually, their search for a new home brought them to Blue Earth.

The Wilsons have now been Faribault County residents for just over two years. It was early this year that they also became Faribault County entrepreneurs.

“Originally, when we moved here, it was not our plan,” Elsa laughs, admitting she and Gene had anticipated a quiet retirement after they left Colorado.

“We just fell into it, I guess,” Gene says.

Or, more accurately, the couple was nudged into business ownership by Winnebago mayor Scott Robertson.

Robertson and his family have long had an attachment to the building which houses Flip-n-Shake.

Though Robertson himself christened the Flip-n-Shake in 2018, his family set up shop in the same building long before the start of the 21st century.

In 1965, the Robertson family owned and operated a Dairy Queen in the distinctive red-roofed building.

Robertson urged the Wilsons to combine the building’s potential with their expertise in the restaurant business.

Since their April 11 opening date, the Wilsons have been hard at work putting their know-how into action.

“Our goal is to serve fresh food, not fast food,” Gene notes.

“Fresh is better,” Elsa agrees.

The dishes which the Wilsons cook fresh daily include popular favorites such as burgers, sandwiches and grilled chicken.

“Anything you would find at a hamburger restaurant,” Elsa summarizes.

The restaurant also offers ice cream, sundaes and shakes.

The couple eventually hopes to take on other ventures as well.

Elsa, who has taken classes in cake decorating, would some day like to offer cakes and pastries at Flip-n-Shake.

Gene would also like to offer family dinners on Friday and Saturday nights.

Just weeks after their opening date, however, the couple is focusing on perfecting the basics.

For example, apart from serving fresh food, the Wilsons also value punctuality. They stick closely to their hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

“We’re very punctual people – we always open at 11 a.m.,” Elsa says. “He (Gene) is military. He knows punctuality.” 

Gene is indeed very familiar with the military world. He is originally from Marshall, but spent much of his childhood growing up on army bases.

Meanwhile, Elsa grew up in Mexico.

The couple’s paths merged in El Paso, Texas, where they went on their first date 29 years ago.

Through the ups and downs of life and business, Gene and Elsa still enjoy spending time together nearly three decades later.

When asked what her favorite thing about running a restaurant is, Elsa answers, “Working with my husband.” 

The restaurant business has brought the Wilsons closer to some of their other family members as well.

Elsa’s brother, Carlos Compan, has recently opened another restaurant in Winnebago: Jalapenos. He and Elsa are co-business partners, while Gene serves as a general manager of the restaurant.

The Wilsons also have several children. However, the younger generation has branched out from the restaurant business into other career paths.

The Wilsons’ oldest son lives in Colorado, where he works as an aesthetician. Meanwhile, their daughter is studying to become a teacher in Cleveland, Ohio. Their third son is a lawyer in Illinois.

The couple’s youngest son, who lives closest to them, works in the Faribault County area for Schwan’s.

Wherever they live, the Wilsons strive to provide the best service they can for their community.

“We don’t want to make millions of dollars,” Elsa says. “It’s a job, and we’re here to work. We’re happy to serve Blue Earth and Winnebago.”