Food & Beer
LET'S EAT! By Nell Musolf
southern mn style Mike Sweetman is the owner of Extra Innings in St. Peter. They specialize in paninos.
Another Inning(s) St. Peter’s Extra Innings is the second for young restaurateur Photos by Pat Christman
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lmost 20 years ago, Mike Sweetman was working as a bartender at Applebee’s when he took another job at the Extra Innings in Marshall as then owner Nate Wanzak’s first employee. Within a year, Sweetman made an offer on the business and moved up from employee to restaurant owner at the tender age of 26. “It was a big leap for me, but I believed in the product and the business. It probably helped that I was so young at the time.” Since then, Sweetman has 34 • DECEMBER 2021 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
watched his independently owned business grow to the point where he was able to open a second Extra Innings in St. Peter in December of 2019 at 220 South Minnesota Ave. Before choosing St. Peter, Sweetman did his research. Because the first Extra Innings was in a college town, he knew from experience what college students like — good food at an affordable price — so he began searching for another town with a college in it. “I was paying attention to Mankato and St. Peter for a few years. I always wanted to check out
college towns since I was familiar with Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall.” In the end, he opted for St. Peter. “I really liked the feel of St. Peter. It’s a beautiful town, it has Gustavus Adolphus and it was what I was looking for.” Sweetman describes his restaurant as “casual, almost fastfood casual” with counter service as well as tables. The restaurant serves tap beer, craft beers and wine. “Our goal was to make the restaurant fun and upbeat.” Opening a few months before
