Peerman family regroups, relocates to new eatery space

It’s been a year full of changes for just about everyone, but for the Peerman family in Whitefish, perhaps even more than most.

Just a few months into last year, Brandi Peerman feared the COVID-19 pandemic might put an end to the family’s small business on the west side of town, where the family of six had renovated an aging home to create a dual café and bed-and-breakfast.

Farmhouse Inn and Kitchen managed to weather the storm, and, in fact, the quaint café remained so popular, Peerman realized the business had outgrown its compact footprint.

“I loved that place, but we just decided that we needed to move on and grow,” she said.

Instead of being left behind in the pandemonium brought on by the pandemic, Farmhouse Inn and Kitchen became overwhelmed by lines stretching down Lupfer Avenue and guests crowding into the tiny indoor seating area.

So in September 2020, the Peermans sold the Farmhouse Inn and Kitchen and relocated to larger space in downtown Whitefish, now known as the Peerman Farmstead.

They set up shop at 325 Central Ave. in October on a block of new developments. After pouring their effort into renovating their prior location, they found themselves wrapped up in the work of building out a brand-new space, which opened at the end of December.

At the same time, sooner than Peerman had expected, they ended up relocating their family farm to a larger property. It was a whirlwind few months.

“It worked out,” Peerman said. “It was worth it.”

Many of their staples have been carried over to the new Peerman Farmstead.

The farm-to-table experience has been preserved, with many of the restaurant’s ingredients coming fresh from the family farm just a few miles away. Meat products, burgers in particular, are the Peermans’ specialty, since the farm mostly focuses on raising livestock. They strive to source the rest of the menu from local farms, like using Kalispell Kreamery for dairy products.

“We grow everything we can on our farm,” Peerman said. “Anything we can’t get from our farm, we try really hard to support other farms in the valley.”

This community spirit has been a key ingredient in their businesses all along.

It’s apparent in their community boxes, which allow families in need to take home excess food from the farm, free of charge.

“We’ve got a lot of families that we have just taken care of,” said Peerman, who started offering the boxes soon after the onset of the pandemic.

The altruistic mindset is on display, too, on the shelves lining the walls of the new restaurant. There, the Peermans sell handmade home and body items such as soaps and lotions. What started out as Peerman’s pet project morphed into a way for people who struggled to find childcare amid the pandemic to work from home creating bath products.

Though their operations have undoubtedly changed, a lot of the Peermans’ business is still familiar.

Although they no longer own the Lupfer Avenue B&B, they now offer seasonal rentals at the cabins on their new, expanded farmland.

Their menu continues to feature fan favorite items as well, such as crepes and Czech sweet bread. But at Peerman Farmstead, they’ve also started to focus on offerings many customers might not realize are available, including beer, wine, bake-at-home meals and a small dinner menu.

Even after a year of upheaval, Peerman said they’re already looking forward to future business developments, like adding a fine dining location and event space.

“We’re definitely working on some other ventures,” Peerman promised.

But, knowing from experience not to count her chickens before they hatch, she said, “that’s enough for now.”

Peerman Farmstead is located at 325 Central Ave in Whitefish. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.