Two New Prague businesses are under new ownership with one receiving a new name in the process.
Under new ownership are the Corner Bar and Pioneer Saloon, which has been renamed Outlaw Saloon.
Outlaw Saloon On Friday, Sept. 1, Rob Krautkramer and his partner, Dione Bast, became the new owners and operators of the Outlaw Saloon, 103 Main St. W. As the Pioneer Saloon, it was owned and managed by Mark Michel for 24 years.
“I kind of wanted to buy a bar, have a place where people can go and have a good time, listen to music and watch the Vikings or the Wild,” said Krautkramer, who also owns The Car Lot on the west end of Main Street.
It was at the used car lot Krautkramer found out Michel was looking to sell the liquor establishment. Krautkramer said he went to the Pioneer Saloon and thought, “I could make this into something.” Krautkramer talked to Bast and she looked over the numbers and the couple decided to buy the business.
The process to buy the establishment began between late May and early June with the couple closing on the business Thursday, Aug. 31, the 24th anniversary of Michel owning the business.
“We did a lot of cleaning and organizing,” said Krautkramer. Other work includes renovating the restrooms and plans to add a patio to the back of the bar by next spring.
Krautkramer said Sunday, Sept. 3, was different. “It was the first Sunday this business has ever been open on a Sunday,” he said. “My mom was our first customer.” His mom, Glad Kraukramer Busch, 95, ordered a ginger ale. He said about business that day, “We were packed.”
“We’ve been busy every single day,” said Krautkramer about the first week of ownership.
Krautkramer and Bast will also be featuring live music at the bar. As for the name change, Krautkramer said, “I wanted to keep it old-school.”
Corner Bar Ireland Hurley is the new owner at Corner Bar, taking over for Marion Nelson, who owned and operated the business at 100 Main St. W for more than 40 years.
“Both sides of my family have been involved in the restaurant business for three generations. It’s in my blood,” said Hurley. She started helping at age 12 and was hosting at 16. She worked for Captain Black’s Bar & Grill in Elko New Market and liked the small town feel of it where people came in to celebrate events and talk about life accomplishments. Hurley knew she wanted to own a place like that.
She said it was kind of haphazard how she became the owner of Corner Bar. Hurley and her boyfriend, Caleb Krusemark, were visiting Chris Davis of New Prague. Davis knew she wanted to own a bar and suggested she stop by Corner Bar.
“I fell in love with the place,” said Hurley. She got to know Marion. “I understand why she did so well,” Hurley said.
By the end of June, they had taken care of the paperwork and Friday, Sept. 8, were running the bar.
“I’m excited,” said Hurley. “Things aren’t going to change drastically.”
She’s planning only three changes, expanding the stage and having more live music. She also hopes to have a kitchen by winter to serve farm to table burgers.
“I’m looking forward to meeting more people from town,” said Hurley.
