Feb. 2, 2022

A legendary South Dakota traveler’s stop has a new owner.

RF Buche, CEO and president of G.F. Buche Co., has purchased the historic Al’s Oasis in Oacoma, located along I-90 west of Chamberlain on the banks of the Missouri River.

G.F. Buche currently operates a Buche Foods grocery store inside the Oacoma complex.

“Al’s Oasis is one the most iconic destinations in the state, so it was an easy decision,” Buche said in a statement. “The fact that we have family in Chamberlain and owned a store there from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s factored in too.”

Buche bought the business from The Ramkota Companies, which purchased it about a decade ago as part of a broader deal that included the nearby Arrowwood Cedar Shore Resort & Conference Center.

“It was a very tough decision because it’s an iconic stop in the state of South Dakota. It’s a property we were very proud to be part of and to say we owned, but at the end of the day in the context of the rest of our business, we’re a hotel company,” president and CEO Josh Schmaltz said.

“Operating a grocery store and full-service restaurant and gift shop as a stand-alone business is a little out of our wheelhouse, and the deal was part a broader investment that included Cedar Shore, which we continue to own.”

For Buche and his wife, Tammi, Al’s Oasis holds a lot of memories.

“The place was a favorite stop for Tammi’s dad to get his favorite dessert, sour cream raisin pie, on their way to and from the Black Hills several times per year when she was growing up — and it’s still a favorite family stop today,” he said.

The business dates back to 1919, when a German immigrant and former Army officer Albert Mueller opened a grocery store in what was then the bustling cattle town of Oacoma.

The business prospered, and eventually the store was enlarged, adding clothing and other items in demand by travelers on their way to the Black Hills. The lunch counter grew from 10 stools into a full-scale restaurant, and the menu grew from sandwiches and pie to steaks and prime rib.

Over the years, the business has grown and expanded several times as travelers continue to stop at Al’s Oasis — where the coffee is still 5 cents.

Moving forward, Buche said he and his team plan to continue the Al’s Oasis tradition of customer service excellence.

“I want people to know our passion is supporting local communities by winning at retail,” Buche said. “When I look back on the history of Al and the Mueller family, strong values and a passion for service come to mind.”

While Buche has already completed a massive update to the grocery store side of Al’s Oasis, he said he looks forward to other improvements as well. The plan includes new bathrooms and a remodel of the restaurant and gift store to include South Dakota-made products, an old-fashioned candy and fudge shop, and even hunting and fishing merchandise.

“Customers can expect an incredible experience,” Buche said. “Customer experiences will include great food, an Old West shooting range for the kids, one of the state’s best taxidermy scenes and a chance to interact with some of the best people in South Dakota.”

Buche’s track record suggests he’ll get it done, Schmaltz said.

“RF did a phenomenal job in that grocery store. It’s like night and day when you walk into it,” he said. “RF does great things for a lot of communities, and he’s going to be a good steward to that property and to the city of Oacoma.”

Restaurant gains new operator

The Al’s Oasis restaurant will be managed by Sky Dine Inc., a family-owned Sioux Falls company. Sky Dine operates a variety of food service entities throughout South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana, including Marlin’s Family Restaurants, fuel and travel centers, bars and lounges, casinos, airport concessions and other franchised operations, including Subway and Cinnabon, as well as partnerships with Culver’s Restaurants.

“It’s all about good service and quality products at reasonable prices,” Dustin Sejnoha, co-owner and managing partner of Sky Dine, said in a statement.

“Today, there are many employees with over 40 years of history and employment at Al’s. We look forward to continuing the fantastic service and products that loyal customers have come to expect.”

Sejnoha said the plan is to restore the restaurant’s hours to include breakfast again in the near future and prominently feature the Al’s Oasis legendary pie lineup.

“It’s a tradition with more than a century of history and such an incredible family story,” he said. “We are excited and humbled to be part of it.”