George Ranks = Closed?

// March 1st, 2007 // General, Springfield

Any confirmations out there? I saw this in the Illinois Times.

“WHAT DID I DO WRONG CITY COUNCIL?”

Today I closed my bar. The rush of nonsmokers into clean-air bars never happened, as suggested by some City Council members. Some said that only bars in bad locations would close, but my bar has been on South Sixth Street for more than 35 years under many successful owners. Some said that bad food would cause bars to close, but I have sold more than 150,000 chicken wings in the last 14 months — from a high of 360 pounds a week down to only 160 pounds per week since October. Some said that bad management would close lots of bars, but my bar manager of two years, Chris Krofchick, has more than 20 years of bar and restaurant management experience (not to mention my 30 years).

 

 

I have advertised. I have marketed. I have had fundraisers for sick children. I have collected more than $25,000 in sales taxes for the city and state. I have purchased more than $150,000 in wholesale goods from local food and beverage distribors. Now a nice chunk of my live savings is gone. And two great fulltime employees and several parttimers are unemployed.

So tell me, City Council, what did I do wrong?

David Irvin

Owner, George Ranks

Springfield

If so, I’m glad I went there… once. We always used to say “when I turn 21 I am going to go to that round, orange bar.” One night Jen, Chad, Kaley, and I went there and had a few drinks and played some pool before heading downtown. It was an interesting experience to say the least.

I never did get there for the lunch special fried bologna, though.

 


3 Responses to “George Ranks = Closed?”

  1. Dave Irvin says:
    June 29, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    I’m glad you made it to my bar. But we never had a bologna sandwich special. That’s at Knuckleheads on Peoria Road. Our big special was the 20 Buffalo Wings for 5 Bucks.

    And thanks for reprinting my letter to the editor.

    Dave Irvin

  2. nathan says:
    December 10, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    Nice blog btw

  3. Anonymous says:
    December 24, 2009 at 1:13 am

    Owner of George Ranks? Not likely, leased.

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