Renowned pink building now Gussies Bar and Grill

One can have an inkling that they are meant for something.

Stephanie Ineichen has toiled in bars and restaurants most of her working life. When she got a call that the Bryn Mawr was available to lease, it helped that the iconic pink building was her favorite color.

It didn't help that the building hadn't been in use for more than two years, had nothing inside except animals who had moved in and broken out windows.

But that didn't detur her. She purchased the former Bryn Mawr and renamed it Gussies Bar and Grill, changing the menu and updating the interior. The pink exterior, though, she has no plans to change that.

Ineichen opened her restaurant at the end of November 2018. Last winter was tough for everybody and it was no different for a new business that's located outside of any town, sitting on Highway 92 between Ainsworth and Columbus Junction.

It doesn't help that a bridge on Highway 92 is out of commission.

'I am crossing my fingers this winter will be better,” Ineichen said. 'Business picked up when people start talking about it. Word-of-mouth is the best advertising. People realize they can still get here even with the bridge being worked on.”

There is a lot of finger crossing when opening a new business. 'I learn lessons every day, even as long as I've been in the business,” Ineichen said.

Ineichen brings a lot of experience, though, having owned a bar in Lone Tree, and worked at the VFW as a bartender and at Four Corners.

'This is my dream,” Ineichen said. 'This is what I've always wanted, was to run my own place. I have moved on from Lone Tree. This place is more awesome. It's a lot bigger.”

She has completely redone the inside, even tearing down a wall.

'It took a month and a half of 16-hour days to get the place operational,” Ineichen said.

Everything inside is new, including the he clever signs on the wall and the artwork. The colored glass windows still remain.

There are always challenges in life but she has a good support system. 'With help from my employees, we are getting it done,” Ineichen said.

A lot of different customers have a lot of different requests but it is her goal to meet them all.

'There are multiple kinds of customers and we want to make them all happy,” Ineichen said. 'That keeps it interesting, that's for sure.”

Bartending is her background but she spends a lot of time in the kitchen now.

'It took me a little bit to figure out what everybody wanted but they want the steaks and the pork chops and we have that for them,” Ineichen said. 'I am very picky about food so it has to be of the best quality.”

To do that, she shops local every chance.

The building has always been pink and there was talk of painting it but Ineichen said, 'No, no, no. I heard people talking at a basketball game about that pink building being open, so it has worked out to keep it that color.”

The new sign she has ordered will even be pink and was odered locally.

The old owner has passed away but his wife still has the urge to work in the building.

'Ellen Hall and her granddaughter work here on Wednesdays,” Ineichen said. 'Having a familiar face is great and she gives me some good input. I really appreciate her.”

Gussies is open seven days a week so Ineichen is there seven days a week.

'I took two days off last week and all I did was stress out,” Ineichen said.

She lives in Ainsworth and graduated high school in Washington.

'I love small towns and the people that are in them.”