Jeremy L. Berg

The title of this piece sounds a bit like a song I might perform at this upcoming event, “Me and Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson who just passed on recently. That song was made famous when recorded by Janis Joplin and released after her death, making it one of just two #1 billboard hits released posthumously (alongside Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”).

The song tells the story of two drifters who hitch a ride together, cross the country in the American south and part ways in California leaving the narrator sad and longing for a reunion. That is precisely the opposite of the story of “Me and Scotty B.” Far from wandering off far from home, me and Scotty B are two boys who have put down deep roots in one place and spent our lives serving one community. Here’s the short story of Me and Scotty B.

My earliest memories of Sundays in church are impossible to separate from my weekly encounters with Scotty B. Scotty was the manager and part owner of the local Country Kitchen in Spring Park in the 80s, a friendly face moving table to table, always ready with a joke. He then opened his own restaurant with partner Scott Price in 1989 when I was in middle school. Like so many local families, Scotty B’s Sunday buffet was a staple part of our family’s Sunday routine. Sundays boiled down to filling our soul at church, and filling our stomach afterwards at Scotty Bs (IF we behaved in church).

My earliest memories of church — the sights, sounds, smells, the counting of the arches and the lights, daydreaming as I looked at the stained glass as the sermon dragged on or the choir performed — are intertwined with my earliest memories of the sights, sounds, and smells of Country Kitchen and Scotty Bs Restaurant — a mountain of pancakes and eggs Benedict, the coloring crayons and activity sheet, those words from the host from a now bygone era “Smoking or Non-smoking section?” and Scotty B’s big smile sailing through the restaurant making sure everyone was happy.

As an adult I would get to know Scotty as a generous man of God, a devoted Christian, and local do-gooder who kept finding more and more ways to support the local community and schools with his business. As a hometown pastor, I held countless lunch meetings with parishioners and other pastors over a bowl of Scotty B’s German Sauerkraut soup, often coupled with a Reuben sandwich just to see how much sauerkraut a man could stomach. Over the years I even married and buried some of his kitchen staff and waiters.

Scotty was always ready with a joke to lighten the mood of what was sometimes a heavy ministry conversation. He was famous for his corny jokes, but many people don’t know that he had a whole separate bag of jokes reserved just for all the pastors who ate there regularly. Scotty also quietly checked in on me, asking how the church and our family was doing. Some significant leadership and ministry conversations took place inside that beloved restaurant over the years.

Scotty B’s closed in December 2022 after 32 community-nourishing years of business in downtown Mound, and you can read the full story in the local paper here. Scotty B’s was publicly recognized by the city for their impact:

“Whereas, over decades of operation, Scotty B’s dedicated essential support to Western Community Action Network (WeCAN), Westonka Historical Society (WHS), Westonka Community and Commerce (WCC), Westonka Food Shelf, and numerous activities of the Westonka School District among countless others; now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Mound, MN, officially recognize Scotty B’s for their longstanding, community-serving business that has provided home-style, family dining for generations of families.”

Well, the story of Me and Scotty B is not one of two drifters parting ways on the west coast, but one of two men who have stayed the long haul, and whose paths occasionally cross in our continued efforts to serve our beloved community. Me and Scotty B are teaming up on October 23, 2024, for a luncheon to raise funds for the Gillespie Center in Mound. Scotty B will be cooking up and serving one of his famous recipes, while I cook up some good music to entertain the good folks.

The famous refrain sung by Janis Joplin proclaims that “Freedom is just another word for nothin’ left to lose,” but the refrain for me and Scotty B might be something like “Love is just another word for giving back to others out of the riches you’ve received.” Scotty B will be offering the gift of his talent in the kitchen for the occasion, and I’ll be offering the gift of my music for the cause. For a major theme in the song that is Me and Scotty B is the theme of two boys who have committed themselves to serving one community, and the abundance of blessings we have received for doing so.

The famous refrain sung by Janis Joplin proclaims that “Freedom is just another word for nothin’ left to lose,” but the refrain for me and Scotty B might be something like “Love is just another word for giving back to others out of the riches you’ve received.”

So, join me and Scotty B on October 23 at noon by purchasing tickets by calling or walking into the Gillespie Center to reserve your table. A feast of delicious food and good music await! See poster below for details.