Location: Veterans Memorial Park
Interviewer: Brian McKinney

Brian: Stef, thanks for the time. Let’s dive right in. I want to start with something I saw on your website's About page. Can you take me back to the winter storm of 2021? Almost the moment if you could. What inspired you to step up for the community during the Big Freeze in such a big way?

Stef: Honestly, we were enjoying that time immensely as a family.

We were well-prepared, so we were out building snowmen, melting water on our cabin stove, and just counting our blessings.

My wife and I, along with Tim and Charlotte Swenson, started the Grow Elgin project, which has grown into something much bigger.

When we found out that the water deliveries weren’t coming, my son Declan had a truck that could handle the icy roads. We tapped into our network and found someone with well water. Using IBC containers, we transported non-potable water to the community for three straight days.

The whole thing was thrown together, but the community rallied around us, improving on our setup and helping us meet the need.

That experience opened our eyes to the lack of preparedness and started a conversation that eventually led to Smash Daddies. We wanted to create something that would bring people together and establish a better infrastructure for future emergencies.

Brian: You’ve mentioned Grow Elgin. What is it?

Stef: Grow Elgin is a community-driven project that taps into local resources to address needs and create connections. It’s all about pulling together and building resilience.

Brian: That ties into your mission statement: Feed the Need and Seed the Need. I love that. Can you expand on what it means philosophically?

Stef: Sure. I’m a pretty philosophical guy. Growing up, I was raised with a strong sense of community and the idea of “not charging your brother.” With Smash Daddies, we wanted to extend the goodwill we experienced during the winter storm into something sustainable.

“Feed the Need” is literal—we’re feeding people. But it’s also about nurturing the idea that we can come together in goodwill, without worrying about profits. “Seed the Need” is planting the idea of community-driven projects, inspiring people to carry that forward. For us, food became the vehicle to share that philosophy.

Brian: Speaking of food, the burger is at the heart of your menu. Why hamburgers? Do you have a burger-related past?

Stef: Not exactly. Niko (my son) and I are food enthusiasts. During my cancer treatment before the freeze, I couldn’t eat, but I spent a lot of nights watching food videos and dreaming about meals I’d enjoy if I survived.

That led to experimenting with burger techniques on a Blackstone griddle. When my wife, Tiffany was selling her goat milk soap at the farmers' market, I pitched the idea of cooking burgers for free as a community effort. I brought the griddle, smashed some burgers, and the response was incredible. It wasn’t planned, but it took off, and people kept asking when they could have another.

Brian: For those new to Elgin who may not know about Smash Daddies, what sets your menu apart?

Stef: It’s all about precision. Niko and I are meticulous—we break things down, figure out how they work, and build them back better. With food, it’s about combining art and science to make something simple yet exceptional.

For example, an Americana greasy-spoon vibe is approachable, but we take it up a notch. It’s the small details that make a difference. When someone bites into a hot dog or burger and gives you that “what the hell?” look, you know you’ve done it right.

Brian: Smash Daddies is a family effort. Can you tell me more about the team?

Stef: It’s a mix of family and extended family. Tiffany, our oldest Nikolai, his wife Kayla, and my younger son Deklan are all involved. We also have team members like Victor, Nikki, and Leti, who are basically family.

We’ve built a “ride or die” dynamic with everyone we work with, and it’s reflected in everything we do.

Brian: When you’re not smashing burgers, what do you do for fun?

Stef: We love traveling as a family—cruises, trips to Alaska to visit Declan, and bowling in a church league. At home, we enjoy target shooting on our range.

Brian: Smash Daddies has been mobile around Elgin. Any plans for a permanent location?

Stef: That’s the dream, but we’ve faced challenges. For example, when Circle Brewing closed, it nearly took us down too.

Right now, we’re scaling back to one day a week at the Farmers' Market, which feels right. Long-term, I’d love to open a railroad car diner near the tracks in Elgin—that’s where we started, and it would be a full-circle moment.

For now, we’re focusing on staying true to our mission and exploring new opportunities, even possibly in Alaska during the summers.

Brian: Final thoughts?

Stef: Smash Daddies isn’t just about food. It’s about community, connection, and making a difference. We’re on bonus time, and I want to use it to create something meaningful.

Brian: Thanks for sharing your story, Stef. It’s been a pleasure.

https://www.smash-daddies.com