Log Cabin closed, makes way / Rancher revamped

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

By Sam Petri

Log Cabin closed, makes way
The Log Cabin Saloon was forced to close its doors last Sunday, per order of its new owner, Jerry Johnson, who acquired it and the seven acres upon which it and the Wagon Wheel Village Motel sits in June.

The Wagon Wheel and Route 89 Diner, all on north Cache Street across from the Visitors Center, will ultimately close, too, probably within the next two to three years.
Bryon Elliott, the manager of the Log Cabin, claims he was given only two days notice to close the establishment and notify his employees. A total of 11 employees abruptly lost their jobs.

“I had to say, ‘Guys you’ve got no jobs,’” Elliott said. “That kind of sucks.”
However, the event has been in the cards since last June when Johnson acquired the property from the long time owner Barry Remington. According to Johnson, after he obtained the property, he leased the Log Cabin Saloon back to Remington for the summer, as Remington had the liquor license for the property. Once that short-term lease was up, Johnson closed the doors.

But an apparent lack of communication from the top down seemed to have caused a fit of fury in all those who frequented the establishment. It was rumored that the reason Johnson closed the doors was because didn’t like the clientele that hung out in the smoky saloon.

“I had no problem with anybody,” said Johnson. “For them to say that was wrong. I paid a lot of money for that property and I can do what I want with it.”

Johnson is the owner of the Best Western Lodge at Jackson Hole on West Broadway as well as Nikai sushi restaurant on North Cache, although he does not own the building Nikai resides in. Johnson also recently sold the Best Western Inn at Jackson Hole, located in Teton Village.

He plans to redevelop his newly acquired property on North Cache into a large hotel in the next two to three years.

“Ultimately, the whole property is going to get leveled,” said Johnson. Although it is too soon for Johnson to know exactly what type of hotel will be on the property after it gets scraped, he said that it will be, “what the Four Seasons is to [Teton] Village” and that it will be “something the town can be proud of.” 

In the meantime the Log Cabin Saloon will not sit vacant. “We’ve been cleaning it for days and days and days,” Johnson said, adding that it will most likely reopen this winter or next summer. Johnson noted that Route 89 Diner, which sits next door, would remain as is until redevelopment occurs. As for the laundromat and other businesses on the property, Johnson couldn’t say what his plans are in the immediate future.

Rancher revamped
This past summer, native Jackson Hole brothers Mike and Steve Mattheis bought The Rancher, the popular bar on the south side of the Town Square, from their friend, Robert Skeoch, who had owned the establishment for a decade. They then quickly set to gutting its smoke-stained interior, loved by a few, but hated by many.

“It was a shit hole,” said Mike Mattheis, “It needed a big remodel.”

Although the interior is still being worked on, the brothers expect to open their new establishment, to be called the Town Square Tavern, on the weekend of Nov. 16.
Taking a peek inside, it’s obvious the place is experiencing a complete overhaul. The red carpet is gone, the gaudy wooden molding is gone, the mirrors that once lined the walls are gone, and there wasn’t a whiff of vomit or smoke.

“It’s going to be nicer, upscale,” said Mattheis. “Ninty percent of the people will be able to go in and feel comfortable, as opposed to the 10 percent that used to go in there.”
The Town Square Tavern will have three pool tables, video games and eight to 10 TVs that will play sports when games are on, according to Mattheis.

There will be comfortable couches for seating as well as a dance floor where small bands and DJs will be able to set up. Unlike The Rancher, the Town Square Tavern will be nonsmoking.

But will the legendary Theo still cook in the back?
“I doubt it,” said Mattheis.

PERMALINK:
Log Cabin closed, makes way / Rancher revamped | Planet JH News Article: Business

Leave a Comment