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Wayne Neubarth

Victoria 952-443-1910

Tom O’Connell, CPA

Income Tax Preparation. 952-474-6509

CORNERSTONE Insurance Agency

David Barsness * 952-448-5028

Sebenaler Chiropractic Center

Chaska * 952-448-9908

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Just south of Victoria * 952-443-2993

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Victoria * 952-443-2740

942-448-3434

952-442-4411

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Then Lois reflected, “When we bought it, it was our ten-year plan. We figured that was enough time to own a bar. We thought we’d be too old after that but I guess we’re not.”

Lois spoke of their first “construction” project related to the bar. “We put on a new front door with a screen so we could get the air going through here,” she said. “We still marvel and laugh and enjoy how everybody walked in for the next few weeks and said, ‘Nice screen door, Rick.’”

One might say that you can take the guy away from the hammer and nails, but you can’t take the tape measure out of his pocket.

***

After the new screen door came a four-season porch and then “The North Addition” in 2001. This addition included a small kitchen prep area to increase the bar menu, back room storage and cooler, and new rest rooms, as well as a large new room to accommodate the overflow of a growing customer base. Live music contributed to the popularity of Floyd’s Bar, and so did the new nonsmoking regulations which cleared the air for a larger cross section of patrons.

Said Lois, “In the beginning we’d seek out bands and musicians. Now they seek us out. Mostly it’s rock ‘n roll, and also a mix of blues and country.”

Rick and Lois have also seen changes in sales over the years. “Wine sales are big now, and we sell more beer and less spirits,” said Lois. “It’s partly related to cost and also that beer isn’t so strong as hard liquor. People can have fun longer.”

In the summer of 2001, the entire place received new siding, new windows, new sign, and a stone facade to class up the front entrance. In 2003 they added a seasonal grill outdoors and invited customers to join them on the new patio. The outdoor grill was an immediate summertime hit.

Now in 2009 there will be bigger and better kitchen facilities and a larger menu. Any hints at the new food fare? “Well,” said Lois with some hesitation. “you could say we’ll be having burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pizza.”

Prodded for more details, she said, slowly, “We’ll have three or four salads, and one of them is Nutzy’s Chicken Salad. It’s very good.”

Anything else? “We’ll be serving four to five breakfast sandwiches at 10 a.m.,” she said. “Does that sound good? We think it’ll be a hit with my homemade potato soup -- my recipe. If you try it, you’ll be back.”

“Our chicken sandwiches will stand up to any restaurant around,” continued Lois. “And we’ll have old fashioned hand-pattied and fried burgers. Also rib baskets and sausage baskets. It’s all planned to be ready for the public in May along with the outdoor patio and bar.”

***

Rick was born to Floyd and Leanore Plocher of Victoria, one of seven siblings. At the age of 7, Rick and his family moved from Lake Zumbra to Waconia. “My dad was a tool and die maker. My mother worked as a dietician at the Waconia hospital.”

Rick’s grandparents, Walter and Ida Plocher, lived on Plocher’s Lake, just south of Victoria. Readers may recall from last month’s Gazette, that the Plocher farm out there became part of the Marsh Lake Hunting Preserve.

Lois was born to Arnold and Lillian Ische, one of four siblings. Her parents farmed at Cologne. “I was a country girl,” she said.

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