06/11/2026
Pinz Family,
I know many of you have been waiting patiently for an update.
The last seven days have been some of the hardest of my life, but they've also given me more clarity than I've had in a long time. When you go from never taking a full weekend off over four years to suddenly not knowing when you'll cook another meal, check in another birthday party, host another event, or help create another special memory, you start asking yourself some difficult questions.
For me, the biggest question was purpose.
I've spent a lot of time reflecting on what Pinz meant to me and my family, but more importantly, what it has meant to all of your families. I've questioned why this happened, what comes next, and what purpose I was being left with.
Through an overwhelming amount of love, prayers, support, and faith that God has a plan bigger than any of us can see, I finally have an update.
All levels of investigators at the local, state, and federal level, including the ATF, have completed their investigation. While I'd love to entertain the rumors, speculation, and theories I've heard over the last several days, I'm simply not going to do that.
Instead, I'll put it as plainly as I can: We have a clear path forward.
The investigators are all on the same page as to what happened, the insurance company has the information it needed, and the rebuilding process is moving forward. What lies ahead is a renewed investment in our community and downtown, creating a new place filled with laughter, crashing pins, sizzling bacon, birthday parties, first dates, celebrations, and memories for generations to come.
The same questions many of you have are the same questions I had. Those answers have now been provided to the people who needed them in order for us to move forward.
I've also been incredibly fortunate to work alongside some amazing people who have stepped up during this process. BX and Dells Dig have already been phenomenal local resources as we begin navigating what comes next. I'm grateful for everyone working behind the scenes to help move this forward.
When tragedy struck on Thursday, I felt defeated in a way I have never experienced before. But with every text, phone call, donation, hug, prayer, and word of encouragement, that feeling slowly turned into acceptance, hope, and healing.
I kept asking God, "Why me? Why my family?" The answer I keep coming back to is simple: God never promised life would be easy. He simply promised we wouldn't face it alone.
And we haven't.
One thing this week that has been made abundantly clear, is how fortunate we are that no one was hurt. Had circumstances been even slightly different, the outcome could have been far worse. That reality is something I will never take for granted.
By the grace of God and the efforts of so many firefighters and first responders, Lisa's building was left virtually untouched and sustained no smoke damage. Some would say it even smells like a fresh perm in there.
While her family and I continue working through the steps needed to fully reopen The Hairline, our priority remains making sure everyone stays safe. Hopefully she'll be back serving her customers very soon at the hairline. In the meantime she is taking appointments out of Orchard Hills.
🚨 One huge ask of you: Please stay out of and away from the property.
It remains an extremely dangerous area with significant structural hazards and environmental concerns. The Sheriff's Office is actively monitoring the property, and no souvenir, photo, keepsake, or quick look is worth risking your safety. Please leave the site to the professionals as we begin the cleanup process.
What I learned this week is that Pinz was never really the building. It was the people, the families, the friendships, and the memories.
Those things didn't burn.
The fire took a building. It took equipment. It took recipes, keepsakes, family heirlooms, and yes, even my entire knife set.
Pictured below is what's left of my knives. That ribbed slicing knife has been with me since 2005 when I was cooking at CJ's Bar and Grill in Minneota, Minnesota. While it's finally done for, I still carry the scars on both my thumbs from slicing them open with that thing over the years.
What I'm trying to say is this: the fire took a lot, but it didn't take my ability to work. It didn't take my passion for feeding people. It didn't take my love for Dell Rapids, and it sure as hell didn't take my belief that great things can still come from difficult circumstances.
For nearly four years, Pinz has challenged me, humbled me, tested me, grown me, and shaped me into someone who simply doesn't know how to quit.
I am rebuilding.
Not hoping to rebuild.
Not thinking about rebuilding.
Rebuilding.
As Father Stevens often says, "Forward. Always forward."
So that's exactly where we're headed.
I'll feed you again, Pinz Fam.
You can count on that.
