By Adam Rollins, Record Staff Writer
Brewskies Eatery and Beer Garden in downtown Warrenton is open again after half a year with its doors shut.Brewskies closed in 2016 after previous co-owner Debbie Callaway passed away. The restaurant reopened Monday, Jan. 30. There will be an official ribbon cutting Friday, Feb. 3.And before you ask: Yes, the Brewskies Special sandwich is still around.New owners Tina Horner and Jessica Motley have been working for several months to renovate the interior of Brewskies.On top of updating utilities and giving the restaurant a fresh look with a coat of paint and new carpeting, they completely replaced the building’s aging sound system, including installing a new jukebox.Motley touted a variety of modern tech features of the sound system. Customers can connect to the jukebox through their smartphones. The system is connected to the restaurant’s TVs, so Cardinals and Blues games can be broadcast on speakers in the building and outside in the Brewskies beer garden.The “Brew Crew,” as they sometimes refer to themselves, will keep making improvements while they put the restaurant’s dining area and bar into service.“We are planning on sprucing up the beer garden,” Motley said. “We still have plans to get the upstairs open for special events, hopefully sometime later this year or by next holiday season.”Once the weather warms up and customers come to enjoy the outdoor beer garden, Motley and Horner said they will start bringing in live performers. Saturday night karaoke also is on their weekly to-do list.Some old, some newHorner, a Warrenton native, said living up to Brewskies’ legacy will be big shoes to fill. It’s something that has her nervous, but hopeful.“I know the people here and how excited they are for (Brewskies) to reopen,” Horner said. “We have so many ideas that we want to do.”They’ll be listening to feedback and looking for ways to improve the restaurant while preserving everything longtime customers love, Horner said.Helping bring back the Brewskies flavor are several returning employees, who Motley said are sharing ideas about changes they had wanted to make. Much of the menu is the same, losing a few low-popularity items in favor of rotating specials.Customers will see new options in Brewskies’ selection of liquor and desserts. Motley and Horner bring knowledge of the bar business with them, and said they are working with an in-house baker to offer an ever-changing selection of sweet treats.Becoming the Brew Crew The new restaurant owners have nearly a decade of personal and professional experience together. Motley co-owned Motley’s Pub and Grub in O’Fallon (currently closed while moving to a new location). Horner was an employee for eight years.While working together, the two became close friends. They were both single mothers, and liked to travel together with their children on group vacations. Going into business together has come up in the past, but they said they never expected to purchase Brewskies when it went up for sale.“But we just kept thinking about the place. We really liked it and fell in love with its charm,” Motley said. “It ended up happening, and we bought this place together. It’s kind of a wild ride.”This is Horner’s first time owning a business.There will be challenges adjusting to running a restaurant with a high priority on food, and they expect to make fixes along the way. But Horner said she knows the community will support them, and in turn, they hope to be a fixture in the community.“We know we’re not going to get rich by any means, but we want to be here for the community,” Horner said. “We want you to feel comfortable ... be at home, like you’re going to your grandparents’ house for dinner.”Brewskies’ kitchen is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the restaurant’s bar open until midnight. Friday and Saturday the kitchen runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the bar is open until 1:30 a.m.Motley said they are working on acquiring a Sunday liquor license, and will expand their hours once they do.NEW OWNERS — Jessica Motley (left) and Tina Horner have reopened Brewskies Eatery and Beer Garden in downtown Warrenton. The two have spent several months renovating the interior of the restaurant.
Record photo/Adam Rollinsarollins@warrencountyrecord.com
BREWSKIES BAR — Guests converse in the bar area of Brewskies Restaurant in downtown Warrenton while staff prepare drinks. The local eatery reopened Monday under new ownership.
Record photo/Adam Rollinsarollins@warrencountyrecord.com
OPEN DOOR — Brewskies co-owner Tina Horner greets guests at the front counter of the newly reopened restaurant Tuesday, Jan. 31. Brewskies closed in 2016 after previous co-owner Debbie Callaway passed away.
Record photo/Adam Rollinsarollins@warrencountyrecord.com
DOWNTOWN DINING — Guests eat in the dining area of Brewskies Eatery on Tuesday, Jan. 31. New owners Jessica Motley and Tina Horner said they'll serve the menu items Brewskies' customers have always loved.
Record photo/Adam Rollinsarollins@warrencountyrecord.com
