KEARNEY — Following the uncertainty of a building being sold, Kearney’s oldest operating restaurant is making its final preparations to move into a new location on the south side of the community.
The Lodge 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, where the Lodge was also located.
Houlden and James took over the restaurant located at 1401 Second Ave. from Nick and Claire Longly, who started the business.
However, the situation was about to change when on Dec. 29, the Buffalo County Commissioners approved the purchase of the Western Inn-Midtown property.
Board chairman Ivan Klein said the commissioners are securing the property for future use by the county. He noted the Buffalo County courthouse is landlocked with no means for expansion.
Klein said that the courthouse has little extra space and with potential new requirements coming, they moved on the purchase agreement when the county was approached about acquiring the property.
He noted that if the county doesn’t move on securing property today, the price could increase substantially if they waited to purchase ground in the future.
The plan is to demolish the Western Inn-Midtown, which includes The Lodge restaurant. After the demolition, the property will be held by the county for future development, Klein said.
When asked what her reaction to the property being sold, Houlden said that she felt every single emotion from disbelief, anger, fear, grief, etc.
Houlden said she learned the news on New Years Day and said it was not how she wanted to start out her 2024. The owner’s thoughts then turned to, “what now?”
Co-owner and cook, Robert, “Bob” James, said he was shocked when he heard the news about the sale. Having been with The Lodge for 20 years, James said he focused on the memories and experiences he had at the restaurant over the years.
The owners didn’t want to see The Lodge close, but they considered it. Houlden said that like many restaurants, they came out of the COVID-19 pandemic cash poor, and it was clear moving any place would involve a substantial cash investment.
Houlden said the owners sat down with the staff to talk over the situation and they came do the decision that they would attempt to relocate.
Rather than focus on the loss of a building they have occupied for decades, Houlden said they asked the staff what they would like to see change or things they wouldn’t miss about the former location.
One thing was clear, Houlden said, wherever they moved, they wanted to find a space that they would be comfortable serving their clientele.
In the spring, The Lodge thought they had found their now home.
It was announced in April that Kearney’s oldest eatery would be relocating to Element 30, the new housing project in University Village.
But as they continued to go over the numbers, The Lodge’s owners began to have concerns if they could make a profit while renting at the location.
With the future still in flux, yet another development would take place within the sphere of Kearney’s restaurants.
On Aug. 23, after 22 years of service, Skeeter Barnes announced that the location would be closing permanently.
“We have had a devastating loss of an absolutely key member of our team, and we just don’t see any way to carry on in the current environment,” Skeeter Barnes posted on social media.
Houlden said they were saddened to see the closure of a local restaurant within Kearney, but the building coming up for sale proved to be fortune for The Lodge. She said the situation happened faster than they could have expected.
“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.
Houlden said they offered jobs to all of the Skeeter Barnes employees and six took positions in various capacities with The Lodge.
Since they acquired the building, The Lodge owners have been working to make the space their own. Houlden said that they took out some of the booths in the center of the dining rooms and added more tables to create more open space.
In addition to new paint and other changes, many items from The Lodge are making the trip south. Houlden said they wanted to make the space seem familiar, not only to their patrons, but for themselves.
Houlden said The Lodge’s quintessential fireplace and rock wall will be added in the future.
Reflecting on the change, Houlden said that so many people have memories tied to The Lodge and that they couldn’t see that legacy ended. She said they plan to create new memories in their new space.
Both Houlden and James agreed that the way the situation turned out had to come down to Providence. “It shows that we are not the ones in control,” James said.
Houlden said it has been easy to fall into the “poor me,” attitude during this tumultuous time period, but she said they are taking things one day at a time and have been thankful for the support from their regulars and the community.
James said that it has been their regulars who have helped see them through this time. Houlden echoed the thought and said they have been through the ups and downs right alongside the owners and staff.
The grand opening for The Lodge’s new location is Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 a.m.
After looking back on the year and all the changes that have occurred with The Lodge, James said that life, “had given us a giant bag of lemons, but we are ready to make a giant pitcher of lemonade for Kearney.”
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
