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Renovations of the Chickasaw Town Tavern included new ceiling tiles, fresh paint, a new bar top and a foot rail.
CHICKASAW - On a warm, summer night this week, family, friends and community members shared laughs over food and drinks at a newly remodeled local gathering space.
The Chickasaw Town Tavern reopened July 24 with a new facelift, said Ben Kramer, one of the restaurant's four owners.
"Three out of the four owners, I don't know that we ever envisioned owning and trying to operate a restaurant/bar, but ultimately, it was important to us," Kramer said. "Every little community like Chickasaw, they need places like this."
Kramer, Craig Knapke, Nick and Amber Broerman, and Dr. Bill Minton all co-own the business after they bought it April 1 from longtime owners Joe and Jean Puthoff.
The couple operated the business as Joe and Jean's Town Tavern for 47 and a half years, from Labor Day weekend 1978 to 2026.
"Joe and Jean were at a point in their lives that they were kind of looking towards retirement," Kramer said. "We wanted to try to take what Joe and Jean started and basically continue it because, frankly, we think it's good for the community. The community, they like someplace close, reliable, the family-type atmosphere. Three out of the four owners, we live in Chickasaw, and we're not going anywhere. It was important to us that this place stay. The thought of it turning into anything other than what Joe and Jean started kind of scared us."
Though the couple handed the keys over, they are still involved in the business and deeply care about its success.
Jean works part-time at the tavern and Joe frequently swings by, bringing his famous chili.
"There are still little things that Joe and Jean make to help us," Kramer said. "They're still very much around."
While under the Puthoffs' ownership, the current building was constructed after a fire in 2000 decimated the original circa-1800s building.
The Chickasaw Town Tavern, located at 103 W. Franklin St., reopened last week after undergoing a facelift.
The remodel this summer added cosmetic upgrades to the building, including new black ceiling tiles, fresh paint, new bathroom tiles, an updated bar top, a foot rail and several new TVs and games, Kramer said. The floor is still original.
Despite the upgrades, one thing that hasn't changed is the food - a key part of the restaurant's identity.
"Joe and Jean are known for the food, and it was very important to us that the food, the menu, stay the same as when these guys had it," Kramer said. "The public would tell us, 'Don't change those wings, don't change those wraps,' and 'Are we still gonna get Joe's chili soup after Friday night football games?' Those were the three leading questions we got."
Indeed, those items stayed the same, including the preparation methods.
"You ain't going to find a wrap in the county made this way," Joe said.
Kramer added that the chicken wings are prepared in a specific way and fried for a precise amount of time. He said the preparation is just as important as the ingredients.
"Most places don't fry their wings enough," Joe added. "If you ever had wings somewhere, maybe bite into it (and) there's a little red? No, ack. It takes a little longer (here), but it's better."
Longtime customers of the Chickasaw Town Tavern can expect the same great, familiar food, including the eatery's famous chicken wings, wraps and chili.
The response to the reopening so far has been positive, Kramer said, though adding that the restaurant is still figuring out kinks.
"Is there going to be a little bit of change? Sure," Kramer said. "Are we going to get everything right, food-wise, like Joe? People are just going to have to be patient and hopefully over time, the stuff that we're falling short on…hopefully over time, we get it right. The good news is we've got a lot of good employees."
The restaurant has about 30 employees, including high schoolers.
"Last Sunday night, every single table in this place was full," Kramer said. "We had four high school gals in the kitchen. They didn't miss a beat. They did great."
Fan favorite specials are back too, including half-priced pizza on Tuesdays, wing night on Thursdays and a pizza, wing and salad buffet 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays.
The Chickasaw Town Tavern is located at 103 W. Franklin St. and the kitchen hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 3-8 p.m. Sunday. The bar can be open until 2:30 a.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and until midnight on Sundays, though may close earlier depending on business.
Chickasaw Town Tavern co-owner Ben Kramer expertly pours a beer for a thirsty customer.
