STAR TANNERY — There have been loads of instances when The Corners Bar and Grill house owners Katie Garcha and Mike Johnson might have thrown within the towel on the enterprise.

However then the door opens at 1429 S. Pifer Highway and in walks a smiling buyer. Chances are high, that very same buyer was there the day earlier than. And chances are high, they are going to be there the following day, too.

It’s that sort of loyalty that has helped The Corners survive the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant house owners stated.

“We’re actually happy with what it is turn out to be and the way effectively we have achieved, contemplating every thing we’ve gone by way of. This neighborhood has given us a lot help,” Garcha stated, with tears welling up in her eyes as she sat in a sales space within the restaurant on Thursday. “You form of surprise about giving up and transferring on after which you consider, ‘What is the glue?’ There’s simply a lot loyalty. All of our buddies are right here. You set your coronary heart and soul into one thing after which get such nice constructive suggestions, regardless that it may be gradual, it makes you not need to stroll away from it.”

The institution within the small, rural neighborhood of Star Tannery dates to 1941, when it was merely often known as 4 Corners. It carried a rowdy fame through the years, however when Garcha purchased the enterprise together with her late husband in 2006, the aim was to alter that. It’s been an extended journey to make it occur, although.

Garcha’s husband handed away in 2015, and the bar and grill was later closed. Quickly after, Garcha determined to place the enterprise in the marketplace, however she couldn’t deliver herself to promote it.

Someplace within the midst of overcoming grief and deciding to hold on to what might have been a misplaced trigger enterprise, Garcha and Johnson, an in depth household good friend and restaurant worker, fell in love and received married.

They determined collectively they needed to reopen the restaurant, making it family-friendly.

Plans to reopen in 2018 have been thwarted by bureaucratic purple tape, however the bar and grill ultimately reopened in Could of 2019

The concepts of these days are coming to fruition now.

Johnson has been onerous at work with renovations which have introduced a Child’s Nook to life, an concept that was developed by his granddaughter a couple of years again. The Child’s Nook offers mother and father an area to let their kids go play on a mini pool desk, a mini foosball desk, toys, books and different video games, with many of the objects donated by neighbors and neighborhood members. Ice pops and Yoohoo drinks are usually on faucet for the youngsters, as effectively.

However then the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of 2020.

Regardless of making use of for governmental help, Garcha stated The Corners “fell by way of the cracks.”

“We didn’t get any. We utilized for presidency help, however in speaking with my financial institution and accountant attempting to get a response they stated that there is probably tens of millions of venues which have slipped by way of the cracks or simply didn’t get a name again or didn’t get funding,” she stated. “Now, it’s such as you simply need to fend for your self.”

And that’s what they’ve achieved.

The couple has needed to promote a few of their private possessions to get by way of the brunt of COVID, however the neighborhood stepped as much as the plate, Garcha stated.

“What saved us alive was the fervent help from our neighborhood. In the course of the worst months of 2020, I offered extra to-go orders than ever earlier than. It was kindness,” she stated. “Late in 2020, issues began to select up a bit of bit. I suppose individuals have been sick of being cooped up. Issues have been nonetheless not precisely at 100% — we couldn’t have karaoke, we couldn’t have dwell music or something like that. When 2021 got here round, we had an excellent inflow of consumers coming again in.”

In flip, the house owners stated they’ve tried to point out gratitude towards the neighborhood. This has come within the type of usually permitting the barroom for use for events or advantages, freed from cost, so long as different clients can nonetheless come inside. The couple additionally stated they’re large on serving to native fundraising efforts.

“If somebody wanted my final greenback, I’d give it to them. If any individual was broke down on the facet of the highway, I’d assist them,” Johnson stated. “That is what’s in my coronary heart.”

“The underside line is we’re a enterprise and need to generate profits. However that is not what it is all the time about,” Garcha added. “For balancing our books, yeah. However we’re all human, we’re all struggling. Out right here, we attempt to discover any manner we will to assist somebody.”

Modifications have been made, certain. However the house owners labored to maintain the great vibes flowing.

The bar and grill was once often known as a “band place,” Garcha stated, however that has since modified attributable to COVID. Karaoke continues to be held “religiously” each Friday evening, although, and a few bands nonetheless play within the venue.

“We have labored onerous to get away from that previous persona, however nonetheless have the identical loyalty. We don’t have fights in right here anymore. However we’ve got the identical individuals coming again,” Johnson stated. “It is a large change. It is what we’ve strived for. The neighborhood likes to deliver their children down right here.”

Whether or not it is the household environment, the willpower to outlive or the institution’s lengthy historical past, Garcha and Johnson stated they’re ceaselessly grateful for the neighborhood’s help.

“To our neighborhood, to our devoted clients in addition to the myriad of newcomers that respect our undertaking, thanks to your generosity and believing in us as a lot as we’ve got put our religion in you,” Garcha stated. “With out your help, we might not have survived these troublesome instances. Whereas nonetheless difficult, your patronage and loyalty present us the hope wanted to hold on.”

Garcha and Johnson agreed there’s instances that each enterprise proprietor thinks about strolling away, however they stated they are not contemplating that proper now.

“We may be treading water,” Johnson stated, “however we’re nonetheless right here.”