Rockin' away

The Rock N’ Roll Café in Ellsworth’s west business district is changing ownership effective this Friday. Siblings Josh Hudek and Bonnie Brown are taking over the eatery from Kerry and Cheryl Johnson, who opened it in January of 2011 after spending five months on its renovation. Cheryl Johnson said Thursday the 1950s-‘60s theme has proven to be a hit, with people coming in from all over the U.S., plus classic car clubs stopping by and the like. She will now retire (“my family misses me,” she said), and her husband will continue working for Sylvander Heating in Red Wing. She understood Hudiak and Brown plan to rename the premises Pop’s Malt Shop. For a finale, the Johnsons are offering a hamburger-fries-and-pop special this Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. From left to right are: Johnathon Cook of the wait staff, Cheryl Johnson and Jeff Rowe, cook.