Highway 83 Diner was a restaurant located at 1307 Interchange Avenue beginning in about 1999. It closed in November 2003, shortly after assuming new ownership in June.
Originating in the building was a Country Kitchen location, from 1973-1980. The Conlin family was a principal owner. It was one of two Country Kitchens to locate in Bismarck, the first at 1201 E Main Avenue from 1971-1979.
Country Kitchen originated in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1939. At the time of Bismarck’s first location there were 56 restaurants in total. Carlson Group of Minnesota acquired the company in 1977, who expanded the chain to a peak of about 340 units. Carlson Group later established the similarly-named Country Suites hotel chain, with the intention of locating Country Kitchens at each, although this model wasn’t fully rolled out and Carlson divested the restaurant chain in 1997 to a major franchisee. Facings stiff competition from the likes of Perkins, Baker’s Square, and Village Inn, the chain has slowly shrank over the years. Their website currently lists 20 locations, including the only remaining one in North Dakota in Dickinson.
It re-opens as the Homestead Family Restaurant on January 26, 1981.
It later housed Cary’s Kitchen between about 1982-1996.
The building was consumed by fire, determined to be accidental, in November 2005. Today, the site is home to O’Reilly Auto Parts.
