BY CHERYL WELLS
For this article it was so fun to interview a couple of business owners in Le Mars to share what they have been up to and to learn a lot more about them! This is a well-known family from Le Mars that owns several restaurants that you know, and love. They are opening a new concept right downtown, and they’ve done a good job of keeping people anticipating what’s coming.
I felt really privileged to be able to meet with Nathan and Clint Kass and hear their story firsthand. I loved listening to them share about their journey as a family through the years going way back to their grandfather Robert Kass who started Bob’s Drive-Inn, 75 years ago in LeMars. Their father Myles took over the family business starting in 1976 until his son Nathan took the helm in 2002. Clint had been living in Chicago and working there, but in 2003 Clint moved back to Le Mars with his family to open another Bob’s.
In a turn of events, Myles opened another Bob’s in Okoboji in 2003, it is still open today. Kevin took over the store in 2016. We love to go to Bob’s in Okoboji, and we hear often of the competition between Kevin and Nathan in the summer to see who can sell the most Bob’s Dogs! I suppose it depends on which one of them you talk to!
Clint told me about when he moved back that they were noticing all the good things happening in Le Mars – Wells’ Enterprises had opened their new corporate office in 2003. They began to dream, and they thought it was time for a new investment and a new restaurant, but not a hot dog shop. Four Brothers Bar & Grill was opened in 2007 in LeMars. Clint talked about how hard the first years were and of course the recession in 2008. I appreciated the honesty in our discussion about the struggles and the pitfalls of owning a business and for them, multiple businesses. I can tell you that Mike and I have always respected the Kass brothers and seen the hard work and the determination of this family. And there is so much more to their story. Four Brother’s Bar & Grill in Sioux City opened the end of 2015, and it is owned by Dan Hiserote. This was a franchise for the Kass boys.
In 2017, Myles Kass, their beloved father, passed away. Myles was known for loving his family and his community, as well as hard work. This really resonates in his sons and the businesses that have opened as a result of his humble beginning and work ethic.
There’s still more to talk about with these hard-working brothers. In 2018, six years ago, a Sioux Center businessman came to them and asked them to open another Four Brothers Bar & Grill. It has been a huge success for them, and Clint is the Owner/Manager to this day. He manages both Le Mars and Sioux Center, but with some very dedicated leaders in Le Mars, he spends most of his time in Sioux Center.
As we talked, I was so excited to hear the details of this new venture, I could hardly wait! The authenticity of these two brothers and their love and respect for each other was so obvious to me. They talked about being there for each other and helping when needed, but that they were very intentional to not overstep by coming in and taking over. Clint said that they are just “hometown kids” excited about what is happening right now in Le Mars. He said it is so obvious that great things are happening everywhere, but downtown has become a focus for them.
In 2022, Nathan purchased an old building right on Central Avenue in the midst of a lot of downtown renovation and they just opened Chaos on Central Burger Bar. It’s a beautiful space that seats 50-60 people. They have a small menu and will be serving signature cocktails and appetizers, as well as burgers and other specialty sandwiches. The hours are Wed/Thursday 4PM-11PM and Friday/Saturday 4PM-Midnight. Carrying on the family tradition, Nathan’s sons will be helping him with the Le Mars Bob’s Drive-Inn, so that he can manage both the Drive-Inn and his new Burger Bar downtown.
Clint and Nathan have been working on this space together over the last year and more, and we often would see each other as we exited our building next door and talk. However, now I know more and have a deeper appreciation for them as people and as entrepreneurs. I will be eating often at Chaos on Central. Hope to see you there soon, and a big thank you to the Kass brothers for the commitment and the investments that they have made in Le Mars over the years.
