100 YEARS OLD
CENTENNIAL 1855-1955

One of the greatest downfalls of our small towns in the 80’s and 90’s is the fact that people no longer have confidence to establish and build businesses in them. Everyone believes they have to build a business in a large town for it to succeed. 

Darlene Meints is an example of one person who has proven that to be a false premise. 

In May of 1978, Darlene Meints, purchased the Green Door Restaurant from Stan and Sherry Caldwell. 

Warren and Kate Booth had remodeled the former drug store building into a restaurant, The Green Door. 

They operated the business for one year and sold it to Stan and Sherry Caldwell, and they operated it for two-anda-half years. 

Darlene recalled some of the changes that she made in the business over its 21 years of her ownership. “In 1980, I purchased a walk-in cooler. Before the walk-in I had 6 refrigerators in the basement, and every night we had to carry up salads, the dressings and etc. and at the end of the evening they all had to be carried down again.” 

“We also had an old pop bottle cooler in the restaurant that had to be refilled every night. An automatic pop dispenser later replaced that. I had an ice cream chest for out hand dipped cones and sundaes, but later bought a Taylor soft ice cream machine, for around $4,000.” 

In 1991, Darlene, purchased the building on the west side of the Green Door that had been built after the 1926 fire and had served as post office, doctor’s office, school classrooms, plumbing and heating store, American Legion hall, and the grocery store of John and Harriet Burns. Darlene continued, “I purchased it and made it into a dining room putting 2 doors from the original Green Door to the newly acquired building.” 

“Lots of changes have taken place. When I purchased the business beer was 35 cents a glass…now it’s $2 a bottle.” 

Darlene finds her restaurant business rewarding and enjoys serving all of Hardin county and many of the surrounding counties. It proves that a small town can have successful and profitable businesses. 

She was so confident in her ability and in what kind of business Steamboat Rock can produce, that in 1991 when Pronto decided to build a convenience store in Steamboat Rock, Darlene became involved with the project. Burn’s grocery had closed, and there wasn’t anywhere in town to buy even a loaf of bread or gallon of milk. 

The store was built at the 4 way stop on land that had been owned by John Frerichs Sr. and his wife Emily. The house had been built originally by banker A.A. Noyse in the 1870’s it later housed the family of L.G. Johnson, and John and Emily Frerichs in their retirement years. 

The Pronto was built and Darlene was able to purchase the franchise and run the business. After three years Darlene dropped the franchise and renamed it “The Rock Stop.” 

Once again Darlene built a very successful business that depends not only on the community of Steamboat, but serves many campers, truckers, businessmen, and travelers of all types. Two RAGBRI bike rides have come through giving the business a real boost. 

With so many businesses closed in Steamboat, the towns people can be grateful to people like Darlene who have had the foresight to see the potential and count on their own ability. It is much like the early pioneers who came and produced something out of nothing. 

Darlene sold the Green Door, and several tried unsuccessfully to maintain it’s success. 

The Rock Stop is now for sale as Darlene would like to retire. It is hoped that it’s success can continue, because without the Rock Stop Steamboat would be without a grocery, gas station.