“It was meant to be,” Cheryl Walimaa says of her new endeavor, with husband Ed, as proprietors of the Harbor Light Supper Club and Bar. The couple met at the Harbor Light and were married there.

Cheryl has been in the restaurant business industry for more than 20 years. She has been a waitress, bartender, assistant manager and manager.

“I had my first waitressing job when I was 15 down at the Harbor Inn, and I’ve been in the business ever since. I love it!” she says.

When she was younger, Cheryl took computer classes to learn how to make proper menus. She then used her experience to design coupons and flyers for her job at a Domino’s Pizza in Duluth. “I’ve tried to learn every aspect of every job I’ve worked at; I’m always learning.”

Operating a restaurant instead of working for one “feels the same, it’s still work, except now I’m taking care of everything,” she said.

While the restaurant and bar may look the same, the Walimaas have put a lot of time and effort into creating a true supper-club feel, with hand-crafted, homemade meals. The main entrée menu includes prime rib, ribeye, shrimp, walleye and more. The dessert menu offers cheesecake, a triple-layer carrot cake, a decadent pumpkin cake and ice cream sundaes.

The Walimaas also have been working on the atmosphere, trying to draw in customers both young and old. Cheryl already has booked a dueling piano group called the River Rats to perform over Labor Day weekend and is planning once-a-month performances by a comedian. There’s also accoustic blues every Sunday with Brett Berka, aka Brother Love, from 4-7 p.m. Cheryl has many more ideas including a frequent diner program, a discount for military personnel, a comedian competition, dinner theater and more.

She also hopes to introduce a designated driver program during big events. A designated driver would wear a wrist band, which would be cut off if an alcoholic drink is ordered. If the wristband is still on at the end of the evening, the driver would be rewarded with a gift card.

The Harbor Light Supper Club and Bar is open from 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m. Friday-Sunday. Call 387-1142 with questions or to make reservations.