Sharon’s Red Apple Inn is back in business on Main Street in Gays Mills.

After two successive owners in the past four years, Jim and Sharon Chellevold are back in control of the restaurant they still own. Taking over from the owners of Two Bucks Bar and Grill, the Chellevolds have opted to hire Chas Updike as a manager.

Updike had previously worked for the owners of Two Bucks Bar and Grill. The manager will join forces with another former Two Bucks’ employee, Carolyn Swiggum, who will serve as the restaurant’s head cook.

Updike and Swiggum bring lots of experience to the job. Updike started working in food service as a teenager, while Swiggum has a degree in food service from Southwest Tech.

Swiggum has worked at more than a dozen area restaurants or bars serving food over the years.

“After 20 years (of working in food service) if you haven’t gotten a little something figured out, you’re probably in the wrong business,” Updike said.

The restaurant’s first day back in business after a hectic week of cleaning and remodeling was Monday and it was a very good day for business, according to the new manager.

Sharon’s Red Apple Inn will offer a full menu daily. The restaurant will be open for winter hours from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, offering daily specials.

The Red Apple will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Friday will feature the all-you-can-eat fish fry and Saturday will feature prime rib. However, Updike was quick to point out that on both nights a full menu including several steaks and other seafood will be available. There will also be a large salad bar on the weekends.

Another change in the restaurant’s menu will be more homemade foods. Updike plans on baking fresh breads and buns. The restaurant will also bake pies, cinnamon rolls and more. The restaurant will also offer a homemade chicken salad sandwich as a regular menu item.

Other homemade items include a homemade pancake recipe and a unique homemade beer batter recipe for the fish fry.

The regular menu will also include broasted chicken.

All meats will come fresh directly from the nearby Kickapoo Locker, owned by Jim and Sharon Chellevold.

Breakfast will remain an important feature of the menu and will be offered all day.

Chas Updike wants to put Sharon’s Red Apple Inn “on the map.” The new manager believes a restaurant offering a variety of choices of different things other restaurants are not offering could become a regional destination for people.

“I want people to drive to Gays Mills because the Red Apple Inn is their favorite place to eat,” Updike explained. “I want it to become a place you go where you’ll meet your friends.”

The new manager and head cook said they are open and ready for business and are looking forward to this Friday and Saturday evenings.