The Crookston Inn will reopen this week under new management, Laurie & Craig Stahlecker and Sons, beginning with a soft opening on Wednesday night from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. The soft opening will include the new menu at the renamed Scobey’s Pub and Grub, and those attending can see the remodeling that has been completed, said General Manager Laurie Stahlecker. “The soft opening is from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.,” said Stahlecker. “You can order off our new menu. You can still order your liquor through the Shanty. You can walk around, look at the new things we’ve done, get introduced to all the new people. Our new POS system, which is our point of sale, which is called toast, can now take your orders right at the table through a handheld, and you can run your credit card right at the table.”
Stahlecker said the rooms on the north side of the Inn have been painted and received other updates. “Remodeling has been done on the north side rooms,” said Stahlecker. “They all got a fresh coat of paint. All of the yellow gold lamps that were stuck to the walls are gone. There are new curtains in the rooms, and some of the rooms got new carpet. And those that didn’t get new carpet got shampooed. The lobby has been completely repainted with new rugs. The front desk had a complete overall, and the same with the waitress station in the dining room.”
The restaurant has been renamed Scobey’s, which was a nickname given to Laurie’s husband Craig, and his brothers Brent and Trent, from the family’s time in Scobey, MT. “The name Scobey’s Pub & Grub comes from Craig’s dad, Harlan,” said Stahlecker. “He was a teacher and coach in Scobey, MT. Brent (Craig’s older brother) was born there, so they started nicknaming him Scobey. In turn, all three of the kids got that nickname. So, we are having their jersey’s displayed in shadowboxes. UMC has brought out some of their jersey’s, we’ll have those displayed, and a Miracle on Ice, Neal Broten, jersey displayed. The logo for Scobey’s Pub & Grub will be brought out at a later date. I think it’s about two weeks before that comes. And all the employees that work in the bar and restaurant will be wearing baseball jersey type things with our logo on it.”
There has been one setback to opening, the State of Minnesota denied the initial liquor license for Scobey’s, so the Irishman’s Shanty will provide liquor during the soft opening Wednesday, and dart event this weekend. Stahlecker said she spoke with the state Tuesday and hopes to have a liquor license in the next couple of weeks. “Last Monday, our liquor license was approved through the city, and it was sent off to the state,” said Stahlecker. “Wednesday or Thursday, I got a call from the state stating that our liquor license was denied, and it was denied because of my husband’s job. He is a salesman for McKinnon in Grand Forks, and he has what’s called a seller’s card. The law in Minnesota states that somebody who has a direct or indirect contact with a wholesaler can not own a bar as well. So, at this point, we do not have a liquor license. The Irishman’s Shanty will be catering in the liquor and some food for the soft opening tomorrow, and they will cater in the liquor for our dart divas this weekend. I’ve spoken with the state today, and there is a way for us to get our liquor license. Hopefully, in about two weeks, we should be able to get our liquor license.”
Following the opening events this weekend, Stahlecker explained the restaurant would remain open, but they won’t be able to sell liquor until the license is approved. “The liquor part of it will shut down, beer, and wine, but people can still come to the restaurant and eat,” said Stahlecker. “We currently have gotten ten rooms that are long-term stays of individuals that are working at American Crystal. So, we will have the restaurant open because they will want to use it. Thursday night, we won’t have any liquor, but we will on Friday and Saturday. Next week there will be no liquor, but the restaurant will be open.”
Scobey’s Pub & Grub will also have another feature that wasn’t previously available. Crookston American Legion Nels T. Wold Post 20 will operate a pull tab booth to open and will add electronic gaming within the next couple of weeks.
