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Boreal Community Media

Warmth and Community at the New Sisu & Loyly Nordic Sauna in Grand Marais

Jun 29, 2022 10:04AM ● By Content Editor
Photo caption: Katie and Sam Usem, center, with daughter Emma, 7, and son Theo, 6, are surrounded by family, friends, and well-wishers during the recent Grand Opening of Sisu & Loyly Nordic Sauna in Grand Marais, Tuesday, June 21.  The event, held with support from the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, featured a Ribbon Cutting and Summer Solstice Happy Hour celebration to officially welcome and dedicate the new business.

From the Cook County Chamber of Commerce - June 28, 2022

The health and wellness landscape in Cook County has gained a new and exciting addition with the opening of Sisu & Loyly Nordic Sauna in Grand Marais. 

On Tuesday, June 21, owners Katie and Sam Usem and their family, joined by Cook County Chamber of Commerce director Linda Jurek, hosted a Ribbon Cutting and Summer Solstice Happy Hour to officially dedicate the new business. 

“On behalf of the Chamber, I’d like to congratulate Katie and Sam. Welcome to the Chamber         and more importantly, welcome to the community,” said director Linda Jurek. 

The late afternoon event drew more than 40 people and showcased the stunning lakeside location and impressive transformation of this historic property. Adding to the festive atmosphere were eye-popping smoked fish and charcuterie trays from local eatery The Fisherman’s Daughter.

Sisu & Loyly Nordic Sauna opened in October of 2021, after six months of renovation and construction work. 

The property, at 110 2nd Ave. East in Grand Marais, is on the waterfront overlooking Coast Guard Point and the east bay. It has three structures, including a historic home, where the Usem family lives, a large mechanic’s garage and shop, lovingly renovated into a sparkling, beautifully designed fireside lounge/changing/shower facility, and a small fish shack from the 1930’s, now transformed into two, state-of-the-art saunas overlooking Lake Superior. 

Several local contractors helped the Usems bring their vision to life, including Tom Krantz and Ian Barrett of the Red Cabin Company. Krantz and Barrett, who founded their company earlier this year, did a truly remarkable job converting the old fish shack, managing to preserve the historic look and feel, while giving the old structure new life as the symbol and heart of Sisu & Loyly.

To learn more about Sisu & Loyly Nordic Sauna in Grand Marais, please visit their website at www.sisuandloyly.com. All sauna sessions are by appointment only. Private and shared sessions available.

To learn more about the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, visit www.cookcountychamber.org. In addition to helping highlight new businesses in Cook County with ribbon cutting events, the Chamber sponsors bi-monthly networking events called Chamber Connect. The next event is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 2 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Clearview General Store in Lutsen. Everyone is welcome. Please call the Cook County Chamber of Commerce for more information at 218-387-2788 ext. 101, or email [email protected]


About the Cook County Chamber of Commerce: The mission of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce is to be the representative voice of county for-profit and non-profit businesses in working to improve the county economy and to address pressing county socioeconomic issues. 


Cook County Chamber of Commerce     

P.O. Box 805     

Grand Marais, MN 55604      

[email protected]     


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