Discover Hi-Ho’s Story

For more than 70 years, we’ve been serving the best food and drinks in the friendliest atmosphere around. Learn about our humble beginnings with Glenn Tollefson.

IN THE BEGINNING

Back in the 1940s, Glenn Tollefson’s idea for a new restaurant was simple: Serve good old-fashioned burgers and fries, nothing pretentious, that everyone would enjoy. But the real trick to making any great idea take off is to give it a good name, and here, Glenn was stumped. The entrepreneur sat down to think a while, and in his thought, naturally reached for his favorite snack — a box of (now defunct) Sunshine’s Hi Ho crackers.

NO, WE’RE NOT CRACKERS

We don’t know exactly what made Glenn piece two and two together. Maybe he liked the connection the crackers had to the Seven Dwarfs’ catchy tune. Maybe he liked that the crackers’ tagline back then was “for finer flavor!” Maybe he just wanted to pay homage to his favorite snack — and if that’s the case, we’re lucky old Glenn didn’t prefer Beardsley’s Shredded Codfish Cakes. Whatever his exact reason for choosing the name might have been, Glenn was all set to open up the original Hi-Ho Burgers & Brews in Dilworth, MN in 1947.

HONEST FOOD AT AN HONEST PRICE SINCE 1947

Glenn’s simple approach to dining made Hi-Ho an instant hit. By serving only fresh beef, never frozen, and pattied right on the spot, along with fresh local buns, he was able to foster a loyal following for his cheerful and upbeat burger joint. Glenn would eventually hang up his tongs so Earl and Edith Cariveau could take over Hi-Ho in 1960, and they themselves handed the place over to Rick and Cathy Cariveau in 1977. Rick and Cathy have proudly run Hi-Ho at its original, and newer Fargo location, ever since.

DON’T MESS WITH WHAT IS KNOWN TO WORK

Today, we still stick to Glenn’s straightforward approach to making the perfect burger. Bite into one, and it’s like you’re going back in time to when Hi-Ho first opened. Accompany your burger and fries at Hi-Ho with a cool and refreshing 1919 Draft Root Beer, and you’re all set to enjoy a meal you’ll remember for a lifetime!