A new business has also brought new life to the main street in Fountain, Minn. Beaver Bottoms Saloon is a bar, restaurant, liquor store, and hair salon all wrapped up in one.
Owners Jody Wiza and Laura Schroeder have created a fun and welcoming atmosphere in the former Bent Wrench building located at 98 Main Street.
Wiza, who owns The Hair Shack and The Shack Bar in Dover, Minn., was looking for a new venture and after learning that the building was for sale and looking at it, she and Laura decided to go into business together to create Beaver Bottoms Saloon.
They closed on the building on March 30, 2018, and with help from Laura’s husband, Chad, and Jody’s husband, Bruce, they completed some major remodeling.
“The whole ceiling was painted black,” says Schroeder, so they painted it an off-white color which made a remarkable difference in and of itself. “It was the largest changing component,” Schroeder states, adding “it totally changed it in here,” making it lighter and brighter.
The bar was moved to the opposite side of the room, the bathrooms were re-done, a separate handicapped accessible rest room was built and a hair salon was installed among other improvements.
They decided to go with a “rustic” theme for the decor which offers a relaxing and casual vibe to customers.
Beaver Bottoms Saloon opened their doors for business on June 1, 2018, after much anticipation by Fountain area residents and Fillmore County residents, as well as Wizas’ loyal customer base.
Opening Beaver Bottoms Saloon was not as intimidating for Wiza as it was for Schroeder. “I had already opened a bar from start to finish,” explains Wiza, and she has been in the restaurant business her whole life in one way or another and is knowledgeable in the field.
Wiza has also been a hairdresser for 19 years, gaining experience working at salons such as the former City Looks in Rochester, Minn., for four and a half years before opening her own salon.
Schroeder, who has been employed with Mayo Clinic in Rochester for 16 years and is currently the supervisor of the hematology lab there, was much more nervous about the process of opening a business.
Now that Beaver Bottoms Saloon has been open a few months, Schroeder is much more relaxed and is enjoying being a business owner.
“You can create it and make it as much as you want and see it through to the outcome you want,” notes Schroeder. “You drive it forward,” she says, adding, “I think that’s why I got involved — looking for that ownership and creativity” that comes with being a business owner.
Wiza thrives on being a business owner because “I am an independent person and I like to have a lot going on,” she states. “I like calling my own schedule,” says Wiza, as it gives her the opportunity to create the time she needs to be involved with her many activities and commitments including a variety of fundraisers and giving back to the community in various ways.
“I worked in a lot of settings for people and I like the gratification of seeing success,” Wiza explains saying, “it’s hard for me to stand back when I have a lot of ideas,” so owning her own business works well for her.
Schroeder and Wiza have opposite personalities for the most part as Schroeder describes herself as “quiet, calm and cool,” while Wiza says she is “the big-mouth, over-going extrovert,” although they admit that they are both workaholics.
“I have always been goal-driven and always been self-sufficient,” states Wiza. “I have a lot of goals in life and I know you don’t get them by sitting around,” she adds, explaining that her dad was a very hard worker which set an example for her.
Schroeder shared the same sentiment saying “I was taught if you wanted something you need to earn it,” which is a trait that seems to be somewhat lost these days. Schroeder, who already holds a master’s degree in business administration is currently working on her master’s of arts in leadership degree.
Both Wiza and Schroeder have children and they feel family must be prioritized. “It’s a huge balancing act but I think that’s what makes us strong and motivated,” Schroeder commented.
Beaver Bottoms Saloon offers a wide variety of food on their menu including appetizers, burgers, salads, Mexican food, pizza, wraps, Panini’s and other sandwiches.
Appetizers include pork wings, pot stickers, chicken tenders, skin on fresh cut French fries, cheese curds and more. Wraps include chicken bacon ranch, buffalo chicken, chicken caesar, turkey bacon guacamole wrap, chef wrap and club wrap.
If a burger is what you’re hungry for, try a mushroom Swiss burger or a bacon cheeseburger or you could change things up and have a delicious Panini. Beaver Bottoms Saloon also has a children’s menu offering mac n’ cheese or a quesadilla served with applesauce or a pudding cup.
Beaver Bottoms Saloon is becoming well-known for their Bloody Mary’s with their house-made Bloody Mary mix that has seven-plus ingredients and comes with a beef stick, cheese curds, olive, celery and a dill pickle spear.
Customers can also stop in to grab a bottle to go as, “not only do we have off-sale beer, but we have almost a full liquor store,” states Wiza.
And don’t forget you can also get your hair cut at Beaver Bottom’s Saloon! “The salon is open when I’m here — I take appointments by phone,” explains Wiza, saying clients can call her cell phone at (507) 259-3072 to make an appointment.
Schroeder and Wiza are overwhelmed with the support they have received from the city of Fountain and the surrounding area. “It’s been very good,” says Wiza. “We have a good following of people,” states Wiza, as they have both bicyclists and motorcyclists that frequent the business as well as many local residents who have become “regulars” at the business.
Beaver Bottoms Saloon also gets a lot of support from people from the Dover area that come to Fountain to support Wiza and Schroeder and their new venture which they appreciate very much.
Now that the business has been open a few months the owners are looking at making a few minor changes and additions. They are contemplating doing “wing nights” and providing VIP cards. They are always open to suggestions from customers as well.
Plan on attending Fountain’s “Pub”kin Crawl on Saturday, October 27, from 2-5 p.m. that Beaver Bottom Saloon is involved in. The “Pub”kin Crawl is a fundraiser for Fountain’s 150th Celebration.
Stop in to Beaver Bottoms Saloon for food, drinks, entertainment including bands, DJ’s and karoake, a hair cut or just for some good conversation with friends. For more information phone Beaver Bottoms Saloon at (507) 268-4464.
Barb Jeffers says
Hi M.A.W.
Thank you for your comment. Just to clarify – I have eaten at Beaver Bottoms Saloon. Actually, the day I went there to do the interview I ordered pot stickers and my husband ate the leftovers cold that evening. He liked them so well that he stopped there on the way home from work a few days later and got two orders of pot stickers to go.
I agree that the Old Barn is a great place to eat and I eat there quite frequently.
M.A.W. says
I think the reporter should have eaten there before reporting on it. The menu is fairly limited and the food is subpar, at best. BUT, the Bloody Mary’s are GREAT, the service has been wonderful, the decor is terrific and the atmosphere is fun! That is an honest review by someone who has been there frequently. My suggestion is to grab a bite to eat at the Old Barn and then head to Fountain. I would not recommend eating there just yet, you will end up unsatisfied and still hungry. I am hoping they improve their menu and portions but until then, I’ll still hit them up for Bloody’s and fun!