"TOBIE" LACKNER & THE ORIGINAL TOBIE'S
Located on the corner of Main Street and Old Highway 61 in downtown Hinckley, the café and bus stop began serving its doughnuts and coffee in 1920 with Mr. & Mrs. Isodore Wendt as proprietors for the next 27 years. Then on April 1, 1947, Mr. & Mrs. "Tobie" Lackner took over the restaurant, changing the name to "Tobie's Eat Shop & Bus Stop". The Lackners, having moved to Hinckley from Cotton, Minnesota, made extensive changes in the restaurant and the reputation grew as tourists, fishermen, hunters, businessmen, townsfolk and traveling high school athletic teams frequented the horseshoe counter that served up tantalizing bakery goods and fresh coffee. In a single day between 200 and 300 dozen doughnuts, 100 dozen rolls and 50 - 60 pies were pulled hot from the ovens in the tiny bake shop. Tobie himself served as the café's best public relations man. The former graduate chemist, coach and teacher from the iron range became well known and well liked throughout the area.
Young men who had stopped at Tobie's as kids in high school would bring their own families to visit Tobie and sink their teeth into the tasty Tobie's pastries. In 1966, after 19 memorable years as owners, Tobie and Ann decided to retire from the restaurant business. This decision was influenced by the new freeway coming through, which would mean relocation and starting over. Mr. & Mrs. John Schrade grasped the opportunity to move this thriving eatery to its freeway location in 1966. Today our second and third generation family maintain the same friendly atmosphere everyone has come to know. As the I-35 corridor has grown and changed, so have we. As always though, we cater to the needs of the traveler and offer a 24 hour welcome. Our famous bakery and fine menu makes Tobies' a coast-to-coast landmark and memory-making location to area residents and travelers. We hope you find everything to your satisfaction, and if there is anything we can do for you, just ask.
Think of us as family, because we are!