Today we’d like to introduce you to Micks Office Palmer.
Hi Micks Office, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Mick’s Office first opened its doors in 1969, founded by Jerry Mickley with a vision of creating a laid-back gathering place where college students, blue-collar workers, and neighbors could feel equally at home. The bar’s original location at Center Avenue and Fourth Street eventually gave way to the Moorhead Center Mall, but Mick’s found a new home in 1973 when Moorhead’s urban renewal efforts prompted a move to 10 8th Street South, alongside the Burlington Northern rail line.
A decade later, in 1983, ownership passed to Tim, Ruth, and Steve Palmer, who carried the tradition forward for the next two decades. In 2003, the Palmers stepped away from daily operations, leasing out the business as it cycled through different hands. Over time, Tim, Ruth, and Steve passed on, but their connection to Mick’s endured.
In November 2024, the next generation of the Palmer family returned to the bar’s helm. Daughters of Tim and Ruth—Christina Palmer, Ranae Schmidt, and Rachael Henning—stepped in with a shared goal: to run Mick’s Office with the same warmth and community spirit their parents and uncle had fostered, keeping alive a legacy that has been part of Moorhead for more than half a century.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running Mick’s Office as three sisters hasn’t been without its challenges, especially with two of us living out of state. There was a lot about managing a bar and grill that we didn’t fully realize at first, but we were ready to take it on.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Mick’s Office has been a Fargo-Moorhead staple since opening its doors in 1969. From the beginning, it stood out as more than just a bar and grill—it became a gathering place where the community could come together over burgers, beers, and ball games.
When the Palmer family took over in 1983, they chose not to reinvent the wheel. “We didn’t change a thing,” recalled Tim Palmer. “Whatever Jerry did, we did. I give all the credit to him.” That loyalty to tradition kept the menu simple and satisfying: juicy burgers, crispy cottage fries, chicken and fish sandwiches. With 500 to 600 burgers flying off the grill each week, Mick’s quickly became a local favorite, especially on game days when MSUM Dragons and Concordia Cobbers fans packed the booths.
Part of Mick’s enduring charm comes from the traditions that grew along the way. Ceiling tiles decorated by customers hang proudly overhead, while graffiti-covered walls showcase decades of visitors leaving their mark. And of course, no visit is complete without trying the legendary Gert Burger—a classic hamburger piled with fried onions, named after longtime employee Gertrude Endahl.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Community is the most important. When you take care of those around you, it is always reciprocated. It’s an amazing feeling to be such an anchor in the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://micksoffice.com/ (events, food truck, community events)
- Instagram: Micks_office
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AqptjAVuv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
