At the beginning of January, American Legion Post 413 was considering closing its doors and putting the lounge building up for sale. However, after “exploring possibilities,” the Legion has decided to continue operating in hopes that the economy improves.
At the beginning of January, it looked as if American Legion Post 413 might be shutting the doors of its lounge in downtown Grand Marais after 28 years of operation. A letter from the Post 413 House Committee, which oversees legion operations, went out to the Sons of the American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary on January 1, announcing that the committee had decided to list the building and its contents for sale. However, contacted this week, Post Commander Don Wilson said the lounge had received a reprieve.
In the January 1 letter, the committee said the legion was no longer financially able to sustain continued operations. The committee—Commander Wilson, Vice-Commander Bob Mattson, Roger Schoepflin and Jim Anderson—wrote, “This has been a long and painful decision that has been analyzed and procrastinated over for quite some time. But, the bottom line is that the support for our facility has slowly diminished over the years, to the point where we cannot put ourselves further in debt.”
In a phone conversation this week, Commander Wilson said since the letter was issued, the committee has been “exploring possibilities” to keep the lounge open. And, Wilson said, the committee will continue operations while enacting some cost-cutting measures. “This is kind of our fiscal cliff,” said Commander Wilson.
Wilson noted that like many other local businesses, winter is the most difficult time to stay afloat. The legion, which used to be open on Sunday and Monday, began closing on those days last fall. “In this business, you can only drink so much red ink,” said Wilson.
Hours of operation will be revisited, Wilson said, as the lounge comes under new management as of Feb. 1, 2013. Scott and Julie Puch will be stepping down as management and Laura Marxen and Rebecca Thompson will be taking over. Marxen has worked as a bartender at the legion for some time and Thompson is a chef and the owner of Alyce’s, a catering business.
There will be a two-week transition period, with the Puchs helping the new managers learn lounge operations.
Wilson said the legion officers very much appreciated the work that the Puchs had done. He said that financially things were much worse before they became managers. “They have been very, very good to us. They worked their tails off for us and helped get new people in here. We are so indebted to them,” he said.
Wilson said the new management will continue the lounge’s popular offerings— Wednesday burger night and chicken dinners on Friday, but they will also look for ways to improve operations and to increase business.
If it is hoped that the economy and the lounge’s fiscal health will improve. It does not, closure could happen. As it is, Wilson said, if someone approached the house committee with an offer to buy the building, it would be considered. However, that does not mean that there would be no American Legion Post 413. “Even if we sold the building, we would still have a Post home. We would just have to downsize,” said Wilson.
For more information about American Legion Post 413, contact Commander Don Wilson at (218) 387-1217.
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