ABOUT
Nokomis was named for the daughter of the moon, grandmother of Hiawatha as described in Longfellow’s poem Song of Hiawatha. She had her wigwam on the shore of Gitchee Gumee (Lake Superior).
The restaurant looks across to the south shore at about the mouth of the Brule River. The distance across the lake at this point is approximately 20 miles. As you move your eyes east along the shoreline, you come to Port Wing, Wisconsin and Cornucopia, Wisconsin. When atmospheric conditions are just right, we can see some of the Apostle Islands.
Moon rises over the lake are spectacular. Book a window table on full moon nights, and plan ahead to watch the next lunar eclipse from Nokomis.
MEET THE OWNERS
The four owners of Nokomis bring a shared passion but separate talents to Nokomis.
Sean Lewis, Chef
The heart and soul of a restaurant is in its Chef. Sean received his culinary and hospitality management degrees from the 3 year program at Opryland Culinary Institute in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduation he moved to Chicago where his experience included working for Chef Jean Joho at The Everest Room, opening the Naperville Grill for other owners, opening The Big Downtown for the Palmer House Hilton, and duties as a Food and Beverage manager for a major hotel chain. Chicago is a great food town, but when it came time to raise his family, Sean and Jennifer preferred Duluth. Now they are close to other family, and to the great outdoors and lake that they love so much.
Jennifer Lewis, Interior Design
Jennifer was working in Interior Design for Opryland when she met Sean, and, as they say, “the rest is history”. In addition to being Mom to their two daughters, Jennifer uses her professional credentials in Interior Design for a local Duluth company as well as for us at Nokomis. Thanks to her for our look and feel!
Sandy Lewis, Building and Grounds and, most important, Sage Advice
Sandy is retired from a local community bank, and uses the skills built over a life time to advise the business of Nokomis. He also tends to the many duties of maintaining the building and the grounds. He relishes this chance to work side by side with his grandson and granddaughter-in-law and also with his wife, Rondi.
Rondi Erickson, Sommelier and Business Manager
After building and selling several small businesses, Rondi has found pleasure and challenge in learning the restaurant business. From event planning and restaurant marketing to bookkeeping, she doesn’t have time to get bored. One of the great pleasures has been completing wine school and earning the right to call herself a sommelier.
Making Nokomis your first choice for dining has been our passion since October, 2005.
