Cattleman's Diner co-owner Jacob Schaeffer stands ready to help customers Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Wallowa.

WALLOWA — Capitalizing on the beef Wallowa County is known for, Cattleman’s Diner is a new restaurant serving top-notch burgers in a familiar location in downtown Wallowa.

Opened in early May by Hannah Hanson and Jacob Ryan Schaeffer, the diner is located from a site where previous eateries have fed Wallowans, most recently the Brick restaurant, which followed the Main Street Grill.

Something different

Hanson and Schaeffer plan to serve their special hamburgers with “different flavor combinations,” Hanson said — along with pizza and specials like chicken and dumplings or country-fried steak — to all comers.

“We’ll just be here serving hamburgers,” Schaeffer said. “We’ll stay open with smiles on our faces.”

Hanson said the burgers offer special seasonings, sauces and other add-ons.

“The habanero-bacon people really like on the cattleman’s burger that’s one of our favorites,” she said.

Schaeffer said they like to capitalize on locally grown beef.

“The nice thing about the burgers is we get them from local ranchers in Wallowa and Union counties,” he said.

Hanson agreed.

“We buy as much local stuff as we can,” she said.

They have plans to expand their menu in the future, such as with house-smoked meats. They aren’t using bison or elk in their burgers, yet, she said, as she’s still looking into the prices.

But the diner does offer milkshakes, pies and “deep-fried Oreos.”

“You don’t come here to eat healthy,” Hanson said.

“You come here to get full,” Schaeffer added.

Right now, the diner is open four days a week for breakfast and has “Taco Tuesday” one day a week. The tacos are filled with smoked steak strips, Hanson said.

She said they hope to expand their hours and already have plans to remain open all year long.

“We’re just doing what we can now,” she said.

The owners also plan to add offering beer, wine and hard cider once they get through the long, complicated process of obtaining a liquor license.

But they don’t plan on hard liquor at the diner.

“I get asked quite often, but that’s not my thing,” Hanson said.

Local connections

The couple have long local ties, they said.

“We have ties to the county pretty much since the county started,” Schaeffer said.

The couple have two children, ages 4 and 5.

Hanson said opening the diner is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

“My dream was always to have a restaurant,” she said. “When I first started drawing, I drew menus.”

And they’re making use of local people for employees.

Their main cook, Terri Skillings, is known for her skill in the kitchen, Hanson said: “She’s a cooking legend around here.”

Waitress/cook Lacie Hearing also helps out, though when school starts she’ll cut back to working just weekends.

Additional ventures

Although Schaeffer helps out with the diner, he’s also heavily involved in two other ventures. He has owned and operated Jake’s Custom Automotive down the street for about three years and rents out three apartments above the diner. He recognizes the apartments are something Wallowa desperately needs.

He said renters usually sign a lease for a year or two at $575-$775 a month, depending on the size of the apartment they rent. The smallest is a two-bedroom.

“I’d like to see every single building have (rentable apartments),” he said. “It’s providing something that’s needed. (Restaurant and apartments) are killing two birds with one stone.”