KEARNEY — The Lodge Restaurant announced that they will be relocating to the former Skeeter Barnes location.
Their current plan is to continue to host diners at their current location until Sunday, Sept. 29 and transition to the former Skeeter Barnes location on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
“We are certain this location will meet both our and your needs. A larger dining room, no steps, an outdoor space and eventually a rock wall. We would also like to invite the former Skeeter Barnes employees to join our family – stop down and complete an application. We are excited for begin the next chapter of Kearney’s oldest family-owned, full-service restaurant,” The Lodge posted on social media.
The Lodge is having to relocate because Buffalo County has agreed to purchase the Western Inn-Midtown and intends to demolish the location and hold the property for future county use.
The property also includes The Lodge, which opened in 1971 and is the community’s oldest continuously operating restaurant.
The Lodge has been owned and operated since 2014 by Cindy Houlden and brother Robert James. The space has been leased from Rod and Lonna Rasmussen, who own the Western Inn-Midtown property.
Houlden and James took over the restaurant located at 1401 Second Ave. from Nick and Claire Longly who started the business.
The Lodge had initially planned to relocate to University Village, until the Skeeter Barnes location became available.
