VALENTINE, Neb. - One of the most popular restaurants in the Sandhills is closing its doors, but the family behind Peppermill isn’t saying goodbye to the restaurant industry, and the building now has new owners.

Mi Toro Supremo, a restaurant group with several locations, including a popular Mexican restaurant in Winner, South Dakota, is buying the property.

“They’re everywhere from Chamberlain to Belle Fourche, South Dakota. They have several locations, and they’re always run well by family, and it’s a concept that isn’t fully developed here in Valentine right now, so people will have real choice when they go out to dine,” said Peppermill Owner Robert Joseph.

Robert's family doesn't just enjoy good food, but it's in their blood.

“My grandfather bought a condemned hotel in downtown Valentine in 1986. My grandpa sold to my dad in 1996. I’ve been somewhat involved since 1999, anywhere from a summer job in college to day-to-day operations to ownership Lacey and I have now,” said Robert.

For three generations, the Joseph family has owned Peppermill, one of the most popular restaurants in the Nebraska Sandhills.

“No family that I’ve ever met in cattle country has raised it all the way from the hoof to the plate like this,” said Robert.

Robert and Lacey’s children are the sixth generation to own beef cattle in Cherry County.

“It’s legendary. It’s what makes Valentine such a special community,” said customer Laura Bryan.

The family has been cooking up big business in the small town for decades. The restaurant dishes out hundreds of meals every day, but even a well-seasoned operation faces difficulties in this tight labor market.

“After COVID, we’ve had very robust and hard-working staff, and it’s not that the people have changed. There’s just less of them. That’s what you’ve seen up and down Highway 20,” said Robert.

This month the couple decided their life menu included a big change. After almost four decades, Peppermill will close its doors next month.

“So many memories- so many celebrations here from wedding receptions to birthday parties to even funerals,” said Lacey.

While Peppermill is closing, it’s not the end of the restaurant industry for the Joseph family. They’ve purchased a historic building in downtown Valentine and are currently in the process of remodeling it. News Channel Nebraska caught up with the Josephs as they started working on the William R. Fraternal Hall project, a mixed-use space, featuring retail, lodging and a smaller restaurant.

“It’s going to be a different name, different concept, and we’re really excited about it,” said Lacey.

New ideas to serve up more unique experiences around the table.

“That’s my vision for Valentine is that we go from one or two places that look very similar in the way they conduct business and the meals they serve, to right where it used to be - six to eight places creating their own mark and giving people faith that they can go out several times a week and have something different,” said Robert.

Peppermill will serve its final meals on Feb. 28, 2025. The Josephs hope to have their new restaurant open in around a year.