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STERLING – The former Bullseye bar officially changed hands this past Monday, and after some renovation work, it will reopen this Monday with a new name and vibe.
Jared Strader of Sterling bought the bar from Orrie Peterson, who had owned it since July 2008. Strader said this business venture was something he had given a great deal of thought.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Strader said. “I’ve had a lot of support in this community, and I want to give something back.”
Strader’s sister, Tanya Strader, will manage The Factory with a staff of eight to 10 employees.
The bar, at 103 W. Third St., is now The Factory Pub-N-Grub. The name and the décor pay homage to the community’s rich manufacturing history. The industrial look is accentuated by large photographs that capture operations at Northwestern Steel and Wire and other storied manufacturers in their heyday.
The theme is even carried to the menu design. Grinding gears and wrenches are featured prominently in the artwork, and industrial shots with the message “Work Hard. Play Hard.” frame the food offerings.
“Of course, I want The Factory to appeal to everyone, but I’m hoping that this becomes a place where middle-aged, working-class people feel comfortable coming in for a few drinks and great food,” Strader said.
The Factory won’t abandon its predecessor’s sports bar flavor.
“We just got our big projection-screen TV, and there will be several other TVs for games,” Strader said. “We’ll continue to run the pool and dart leagues here, too.”
The menu has been expanded from the Bullseye days. Tanya said Chris Jordan have moved here from the Quad Cities to handle cooking duties.
“He has a lot of experience in running kitchens at other successful places, so we’re happy to have him here,” Tanya said.
The kitchen won’t be ready for action, however, until the first week of April.
A separate drink menu runs the gamut from craft beers to wine and specialty drinks. One of the signature drinks will, on a daily basis, honor the memory of Strader’s wife, Jessica. A special education teacher in the Sterling school district, Jessica was only 29 when she lost her battle with breast cancer in February 2013.
“One dollar from every Pink Lady drink sold goes to the Jessica Coleman Strader Scholarship Fund,” Jared said. “The money will be donated to Sterling and Prophetstown high schools for graduating seniors who are going into the education or nursing fields.”
Several special events are already on The Factory’s calendar. Grand opening festivities with 815 Productions DJ services are planned for Friday. The party will continue March 28 and the next weekend, April 4 and 5.
Live entertainment will regularly be brought into the mix, with Gina Venier scheduled to perform April 11.
Another grand opening party with the Cal Stage Band is planned for May 2. Rock and country band Brushville will play May 29, the first night the patio opens.
THE FACTORY PUB-N-GRUB
Address: 103 W. Third St., Sterling
Owner: Jared Strader
Contact: Call The Factory at 815-548-9550, email the factorypubngrub@yahoo.com, or check out the bar's Facebook page.
Hours: Open 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Friday, dinner served from 4 to 8 p.m.; open 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, food served from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.