From farmer to cafe owner

ADAMS, Minn. — Raised on a dairy farm and later marrying a dairy farmer, Janet Heller — known in the community as “Bubbles” — found her way to cafe ownership after working several off-farm jobs early in her married life. Today, Bubbles Cafe serves a menu filled with dairy goods and homemade treats and surrounds customers with an environment of cow-themed decorations gifted by locals.

“This is my happy place,” Heller said. “We work hard at making the food, and when we have a chance, we can laugh among ourselves.”

Heller grew up on a dairy farm south of Adams, where home-cooked meals were a daily staple. Those early experiences shaped her approach in the kitchen long before she entered the cafe business. After marrying dairy farmer Lester, she spent several years working as a waitress, often holding three jobs at a time, in settings ranging from country clubs to local restaurants. It was during that time she earned the nickname, a nod to her cheerful personality.

Eventually, Heller began working at the cafe she would later purchase, spending a decade there before taking ownership and making it her own.

“A high point (for me) this year was a bouquet of flowers that I got from my sister and brothers for years, and it said, ‘20 years of blood, sweat and tears,’” Heller said. “It’s really neat.”

Each morning, Heller prepares pies from scratch using butter, cream and other dairy products, including half-and-half, cream cheese, milk and whipped cream. Seasonal favorites such as rhubarb, peach and berry pies are especially popular, along with a variety of cream pies that have become a staple for regular customers.

“Every pie gets a shot of whipped cream,” Heller said. “It’s the good stuff.”

Family has long been central to the cafe’s success. In its early days, Heller’s sister helped as a waitress, a cousin baked cookies, and her husband peeled potatoes. Today, a team of employees helps keep the cafe running smoothly, each contributing to the welcoming atmosphere customers can expect.

“I enjoy making the pies; I like waiting on the people, meeting new friends,” Heller said. “The whole atmosphere about the restaurant — working with my help and joking around with customers.”

Her passion for dairy extends beyond the kitchen. While her husband and their son, Steve, farmed at Triple H Farm, Heller served on the American Dairy Association Board of Directors, now known as the Midwest Dairy Association. She embraced the role, participating in parades dressed in black and white as the “Holstein Lady,” handing out cheese and promoting the dairy industry she loves.

“People knew that I was a farmer’s daughter,” Heller said. “People knew that we milk cows, and I suppose doing parades as the ‘Holstein Lady’ led people to bring me cow stuff.”

Over time, those gifts turned into a large collection of decorations that she rotates throughout the cafe. Signs and paintings line the walls, and many cow figurines can be seen on the counter.

Heller said she often draws inspiration from those around her.

“I get some of the neatest ideas from people,” she said.

That strong connection to the farming community, in a town of approximately 800 residents, continues to keep the cafe going, especially as the only cafe in town. Regulars fill the seats each morning, with breakfast starting at 7 a.m., while Heller starts her day even earlier, preparing the pies. The cafe stays busy through early afternoon, and on Friday nights, it hosts a popular fish fry that draws more than 100 guests.

“I have people come all over from Rochester to eat dinner, and especially have pie,” Heller said. “I have a lot of people who drive here because they’re looking for small, hometown restaurants, and they tell me those are becoming a thing of the past.”

The cafe’s longevity is rooted in that loyal customer base, something Heller deeply appreciates.

“The people here are a big part of why we’re still going,” she said.

Despite the long hours, Heller’s enthusiasm for her work has not faded.

“I really like what I do; I really do,” Heller said.

From farm life to cafe ownership, Heller has blended hard work, tradition and community into a business that reflects both her roots and the people she serves.