03/09/2024
PHIL and LARRY’S SALOON
A Business Highlight
We want to bring each of our tenants up front and tell their story, because with out them we wouldn’t have a complex.
This one is about Phil and Larry’s Saloon.
They are a very iconic long standing place where people, young and old can come, have a cold one (or two), visit with friends, play some pool, watch a game and just unwind after a long days work or any occasion for that matter. They are the Walnut Center’s longest standing tenant to date of over 32 years.
Upon talking with the owner, Larry Richards and his wife, Jeanine, it has been a long ride. Years ago Larry and one of his best friends always wanted to open a restaurant or bar. So they actually came to the Walnut Center to look at a restaurant there to see about opening it, but while they were there, the realtor said they also have a bar next door that had been closed for several years that was also available. So they looked at it and Larry said as soon as he saw it, he was convinced this was the place he wanted.
The space started out as the Butcher Block, then that was sold to a couple who loved cats, thus they named the bar JL Cats. They were open for about 3 years before they also closed up. So back in 1992, Larry Richards and his good friend Phil Geisler decided to pool what money they had and opened Phil and Larry’s Saloon.
Larry said it was really tough in the beginning, thankfully Larry’s wife Jeanine and Phil’s wife Debbie each had full time jobs to pay their day to day expenses. They couldn’t afford to pay anyone to run the bar, so they each had to run it themselves and they were open from 11:00a.m. to 2:00a.m., 365 days a year. In fact Larry said they have maybe only been closed a couple days for over 32 years, because they got so much snow they couldn’t get to the bar to open it.
Three years later, they bought another bar named Fricks. Phil went to run that bar and Larry stayed to run Phil and Larry’s. Eventually Larry bought out his partner and sadly Larry’s good friend Phil Geisler passed away in 2011 at the young age of 54.
Today Phil and Larry’s Saloon is run by Larry and his wife Jeanine with the help of a great group of people. It is still a staple of the Walnut Center and is still open 365 days a year, but they no longer open at 11:00a.m., but open for business every day at 3:00p.m. and are still open until 2:00a.m.
They do allow outside food and have a nice outdoor seating area. They also have as many may know a great 2nd floor party room that they rent out for all kinds of special occasions, and offer beer specials with the rented room. So give them a call to inquire about dates available, rental rates, beer specials with the room and all the rules for renting the space at: 563-386-5991.
Also join them Monday through Friday for Happy Hour from 3:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. for domestic bottles for $2.75 and $3.00 well drinks.
Also make sure to join Phil and Larry’s page to get all their special events, parties and drink specials.