Gurnee landmark Poor Richard's torn down

GURNEE – In its heyday, Poor Richard’s Pub, located on the east side of Gurnee at 4610 Grand Ave., was known as one of the most popular bars in Lake County to gather for drinking, dancing and socializing.

The Gurnee landmark, which closed in 2011 following several changes in ownership, was demolished Sept. 15.

The tear down brought back memories for “Poor” Richard Diesterheft, who owned the bar from 1975 to 1998. The site was formerly known as Gurley’s, which operated for about 30 years.

Poor Richard’s, Diesterheft said, “became the spot to go to in Lake County,” and held one of the largest Miller beer accounts around.

The business really began to take off after Six Flags opened in May of 1976. Diesterheft said he and his marketing team would have regular meetings to come up specials and event ideas to keep customers coming back.

“For our Halloween parties, we’d have a line out the door," Diesterheft added.

Historical connection

Needing more space, Diesterheft had the bar completely rebuilt in 1980. For some of the siding, the contractor used old wood from a barn that was once located on the nearby Mother Rudd property on Kilbourne Road, which has a unique history.

The Mother Rudd Home was built in 1844 as a stage coach stop and also served as town hall, post office and dance hall, according to the Warren Township Historical Society, which operates the home as a museum and meeting space. Behind the house was a barn that sheltered the stage coach horses.

Although the barn is believed to have been a station of the Underground Railroad, which provided safe passage for freedom-seeking slaves, “there has never been anything proven,” said Trish Wendt, one of the historical society’s directors.

The original barn blew down in the mid-70s and was never rebuilt, though the historical society re-mortared the foundation. Plaques donated by Sears, located within the barn foundation’s garden, tell the story of the Underground Railroad.

Diesterheft said he was disappointed to see some of the old barn wood thrown in a dumpster during the bar’s demolition, but he was able to salvage several pieces, including a few pieces for Bob and Melody Bode, owners of Salutos Italian restaurant in Gurnee, who first met at Poor Richard’s in 1984, when they were in their 20s.

“It was the place everybody went to,” said Melody Bode, who was out for a night of dancing with a girlfriend when she met her future husband.

“He came over and we started talking," Melody Bode said. "He asked me to dance. He wanted my phone number, but I told him I didn’t give my number out to people I just met.”

After confirming from her friend that Bob was indeed a nice guy, having already known him, Melody relented.

“He was very nice, polite and cute,” Melody Bode said.

The two dated for four years before getting married. They made sure to stop in at Poor Richard’s the night of their wedding rehearsal, and often visited “for old time’s sake,” said Melody Bode.

The Bodes didn’t get to know Diesterheft until after they opened Salutos in Dec. 1990.

“Richard was a good customer, and we told him our story," Melody Bode said.

As a keepsake of their meeting, Diesterheft gave the Bodes several pieces of the barn wood from Poor Richard’s. Melody Bode said they plan to have their names and the date they met carved into the wood and hang it on the wall.

Village plans

Poor Richard’s had several owners after Diesterheft sold it in 1998, but it was purchased by the Village of Gurnee earlier this year at a final price of $86,000, according to Erik Jensen, assistant to the village administrator. The village ultimately paid about $8,000 less for the building due to a credit for some taxes that were payable.

“The site was purchased as part of a larger program to remove properties from the Des Plaines River floodplain. It will be reverted back to green space,” Jensen said.

Other floodplain properties demolished over the years include the former police station on Old Grand Avenue and Gurnee Grade School on O’Plaine Road.

Do you have memories to share of Poor Richard’s Pub? Email editorial@lakecountysuburbanlife.com.