Steinbach now has a drive-in style restaurant. Bumpers on 52 opened to the public Friday.

Murray and Debbie Hiebert (right inset) are two of the managing partners. Hiebert says the dream for the restaurant started a couple of years ago when a few men from Steinbach with a passion for classic cars, noticed a need for this style restaurant. "They started talking and saying Steinbach needs something like this. We're driving out to Morden and Selkirk and all these places and what about Steinbach we need one of these places," she says. "A year and a half later we have planned and built and changed plans and rebuilt and here we are. We're ready to go."

"To say the least it's been very, very busy," says Hiebert. She says there was so much to decide between suppliers, menus and recipes. "It's been a very, very busy, exciting, hectic time. It's consumed us really and I think it's our life right now."

Hiebert says they had a few test days before opening to the public Friday. Three different eating opportunities were held Monday and Wednesday for friends, family and trades people in order to iron out some of the early bugs. "The comment cards that we received back from the people that have been here, they say they're coming back, they're very excited about it."

Hiebert says support has been overwhelming. Even before opening people would find out the Hieberts were involved with the restaurant and share the excitement over the anticipated start. "Our website has had lots of response from people saying Steinbach needs this kind of a place and they've been waiting for something like this. So overall the response has been absolutely fantastic, overwhelmingly positive." Not only that, but Hiebert says they recieved more than 300 job applications.

What you see on site today is only phase one. Hiebert says plans for the nine acres will include gazebos, a play structure and possibly bumper cars or miniature golf. "We've got all kinds of little ideas in the background but eventually this is going to be a really fabulous, fun place to be."

Hiebert says they're anticipating a very busy weekend and asks patrons to be patient.

Donavan Friesen and Scott Rickey (right inset) showed up several hours before the official opening Friday in order for a chance to purchase the first burger at Bumpers on 52. "This burger was the best," says Friesen. "Home made and delicious."