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March 27, 2000
Spectator'sBar and Grillis open in SearlesBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer SEARLES -- Roxy's Bar and Grill, which has been an institution in this community for many years, recently received not only a face lift, but a new name, courtesy of two local residents. Although Brian Pfeiffer and John Fruhwirth didn't officially become the owners of the bar, now known as Spectator's Bar and Grill, until Feb. 1, they started moving things around in November. "We spent a lot of time painting the inside and will begin painting the outside once the weather warms up," Fruhwirth said. "We want to expand, but don't know if that'll happen this year or not." Since taking over ownership of the bar, they have picked up a few new customers, but they still get a lot of support from the local community, who are happy the bar has remained open, he said. The hardest part of taking over ownership was trying to decide on a name, and at one time nearly 300 names were considered, Pfeiffer said. "We wanted a sporty name for the bar," he said. "In the Minneapolis Tribune sports section is a part that contains programs. At the bottom it says spectator sports. That is where the name came from." One thing that has changed, besides the name, is that the inside of the bar, which used to be orange, is now painted midnight blue, and the bar is now open seven days a week. It is also open for noon lunches, which has been a boost for business, Pfeiffer said. Other new items include a big-screen television, a ceiling fan and bar stools with backs. They also have an off-sale license, a Sunday liquor license and sell hard liquor. They want to try offering German cuisine, submarine sandwiches, and barbecue. "We still have the same menu, but are hoping to add some more items this summer," he said. "The kitchen is really too small to do much, though." Plans include adding a game room, having local bands perform live, and instituting karaoke nights. "The main thing as getting things up and running," Pfeiffer said. "We had to get our feet on the ground before doing too much." Pfeiffer also works at the Searles Post Office. Fruhwirth lives in a small apartment behind the bar and considers the bar his full-time job. "We didn't buy the bar to make a million dollars," Fruhwirth said. "If we make money, we make money. Sales-wise, we are doing better than when we first opened." New neon signs are planned with the intention of drawing business from Highway 15 travelers. "We are taking things one step at a time because we don't want to get ahead of ourselves," Pfeiffer said. "We want to keep everyone happy without scaring off our regular customers." On the wall is the only fallow deer head in Brown County, which Pfeiffer raises on his property near Searles. Pfeiffer admits, for those who believe in such things, that the bar is haunted by the ghost of Esther. She is the woman who ran a grocery store and grill at the site around 1911, when the building was built. "She's a friendly ghost," he said. "I have one full-time and one part-time bartender who both swear they have seen her on the stairs or in the doorway near the restrooms." Fruhwirth has been awakened at night by footsteps in his bedroom. There have been times when Pfeiffer has been in the bar after hours and got that eery feeling that Esther may be present.
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