One Year of Home-Cooked Comfort: Sabin Family Marks Milestone at Family Table

DECORAH — The Decorah Area Chamber hosted a ribbon cutting event for Sabin Family Table to celebrate one year of ownership for Amanda and Corey Sabin. The Sabins purchased the long-time Decorah restaurant from Stacey and Scott Gossling in November of 2023. The location on the corner of Decorah's Mechanic Street and Sanford Street has been host to a restaurant for more than 65 years. What started as a root beer stand was followed by an A&W franchise. Eventually the franchise was dropped, and it became the Family Table. Gosslings owned the establishment from 1993 to 2023 — clocking in three decades of comfort food and one robust remodel. When it came time to sell, Scott and Stacey were hopeful to find people who could carry on the successful business model and embrace a "good ole comfort food" menu. "When we bought the restaurant back in 1993 we were young and it was a big deal for us," says Stacey Gossling. "Family Table has been such a big part of our lives and our children's lives. We are so happy that the next chapter for this business is with Corey and Amanda Sabin. They are the perfect people to carry on the tradition of this local diner and in many ways, we see a story similar to ours — a young, local, hardworking family welcoming their neighbors and visitors everyday with home cooking and smiles." The Sabins bring years of experience in food service having worked for T-Bocks Sports Bar and Grill, Luther College, and at Family Table under Gosslings. Both Corey and Amanda are quick to express appreciation for all that they have learned in the chapters that preceded the purchase of the restaurant. Corey is motivated to add home-cooked elements for a variety of dishes and is having fun with some new specials, including a Monday night spaghetti, Thursday night pork cutlet meal, and a new turkey dinner special that he started crafting while still training with Scott. "I love working in the kitchen," Corey says. "It allows me to improve the product buying, try new things, and do more complicated food prep that ultimately improves the customer experience. I enjoy making food for people that is clean label and still affordable, something I would be proud to serve my own family." In this first year of ownership, Amanda designed a new business logo, and an updated menu was released that featured all the favorites as well as more detail for those with dietary restrictions. A new refrigerated pie case was just installed a few weeks ago and remains home to the same pie recipes used for decades. The couple remains dedicated to serving tradition and are generous in their appreciation of their team. Breakfast is still served all day, and the early bird coffee drinkers can still be found gathered around tables before the sun comes up.