Kasson loses a cornerstone – Daniel’s

Last Friday evening as most folks were heading home for the weekend and happened to pass Daniel’s Restaurant on South Mantorville Ave., they may have been surprised with the large number of cars that had jammed the parking lot at Daniel’s.
It was saying goodbye to the Daniels family, owners for 42 years of the breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant.
Many folks wanted to have one more Friday night fish fry (with chips on the side) and bid farewell to the family members on hand to serve their faithful patrons one more time.
Even the third generation Daniel family members were serving customers, taking orders and payment. It was normal for the family, but not for the line of customers wanting one more serving of fish and chips.
It wasn’t surprising. No, since the pandemic, every Friday afternoon there was a line up of fish lovers waiting to pick up an order of battered fish.
From the first day I started work at the DCI I experienced Daniel’s for lunch. I noticed, what I assumed were regulars being served the American cuisine. But later learned that is was a regular hangout for men and women who enjoyed getting together for morning coffee. One could not escape the pegboard rack next to the kitchen entrance on which regular coffee goers hung their mugs. A name on each cup identified the frequent caffeine consumers. It was a sign of home for those regulars, who will have to find a different spot to hang their mug.
When the closure of Daniel’s was made public, there were those who were deeply saddened by the loss. Even the local Hardware Hank offered a thank you to the Daniel’s family on its electronic billboard.
The Daniel’s family will be missed.
However, the loss of the Daniel’s family eating establishment does not mean that we’ve lost another business in Kasson. It means that the restaurant was sold to a Mexican restaurant chain with locations in Winona and Austin.
By now, everyone knows that the restaurant replacing Daniel’s is El Patron Mexican Grill.  El Patron’s website states: El Patron Mexican Grill & Cantina was founded by Esteban Lopez, of Guadalajara. His goal is “to bring the finest Mexican cuisine and most invigorating selection of tequilas to the people of Kasson.”
Welcome Señor Lopez!