By Robert Willams

Editor

A good setup bar is hard to find, but not in Vergas.

Brady Sirjord, Lonnie and Vickie Ludwig, along with partner Brad Olek, have revamped the pub at the former Heislers’ RV and Campground.

The group purchased the campground and the pub in late September of last year and have spent the past few months cleaning and turning it into a sports bar. There was no advertising, no grand opening, but simple word-of-mouth has already gained the pub a consistent customer base.

“Nobody knew about it and nobody came because they were only open from 3-7 p.m.,” Lonnie Ludwig said.

The new pub is now open from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week. They also open at noon on weekends to accommodate particular sporting events.

“It was pretty crazy with the Vikings’ games,” said Sirjord.

“It would get so packed in here on Sundays,” said Ludwig. “We’ve been drawing a heck of a crowd lately.”

Much of the conversation about the new establishment is its complementary nature to all the other dining and drinking establishments in and around Vergas.

“That’s what everybody has been saying,” said Ludwig. “The whole area needed something like this – a sports bar where they can go have some appetizers and munchies and not have to sit down and have a full meal.”

The current appetizer menu at Loonies is still in a fluid state, but customers can expect the usual bar apps. 

A new fryer arrived this week and plans for actual meal nights are in the works for the near future. The pub currently serves pizzas and sandwiches and typical fried foods.

“We’ll be doing a lot of the bar appetizers like onion rings, ham and cheese balls, cheese curds, that type of thing,” said Sirjord.

“Gizzards too, we’ll have everything; any type of appetizer you can think of,” said Ludwig.

The building was formerly a community center years ago and still has the remnants of a hot tub and multiple shower area in a 20×20-foot room off the main bar area. That space and the available plumbing will allow a future kitchen to be installed.

That will allow for more food options.

“We’re talking about maybe doing a prime rib night Friday, Saturday and fish on Friday,” said Ludwig.

While the owners get their feet under them and the pub attracts new customers, more plans for the future are in the works.

“We’re thinking about a summer kickoff party with some live music, but we’ve got some things to work out and look into before then,” Sirjord said.

The new pub took a year of planning working with former owners Marv and Sandie Heisler. That plan started at Swanie’s Resort & Campground on Middle Cormorant Lake. Swanies operates under the same format – a campground and a setup bar.

“I was camped at Swanies for 25 years and then we bought property right outside of Swanies so we’re right next door and I worked there forever,” said Ludwig.

Sirjord and Ludwig met at Swanie’s, along with Olek.

“We’d always bump into each other when I was working out there and he kind of told us about this place,” said Sirjord. “We went and checked it out the next day and three days later we were here with checks.”

Lonnie had been working with the Heislers since late spring of 2022 on the purchase after trying to buy Swanies.

“We were looking at buying Swanies but then Brad came in and bought it,” he said. “We got to talking and became friends and then Brady came in and the next thing you know – here we are,” said Ludwig. “It worked out great.”

Setup bars are far less common than they used to be.

“There are very few left,” Ludwig said.

“I didn’t even know about them and I’ve been telling my buddies about it and they loved it,” said Sirjord.

The group acquired a beer and wine license from Candor Township that was approved by Otter Tail County.

The pub is currently cash-only for the $2 setups and $3.50 beers stocked on site. Credit card payments might be taken in the future. There is an ATM in the pub.

“It’s not your average $6 drink here,” said Sirjord. “You can bring your bottle in and it’s two bucks.”

“We’re cheap on beer too,” said Ludwig.

One of the biggest and most popular upgrades are likely the most comfortable barstools in the area.

“We’ve gotten the most compliments on the barstools,” said Sirjord. “They’re so comfortable we’ve had people fall asleep in them and it’s not from drinking.”

The pub has already attracted a group of regulars.

“We’ve got our regular guys every day, same drink, same chair, every time,” said Sirjord.

“You can set your clock by them,” said Ludwig.

A welcoming post from the Vergas Community Club instantly added to their customer base.

“We’ve got a Facebook page and after we got on the Vergas Community Club page it took off a little more,” said Sirjord. 

The pub also offers pull tabs, e-gaming, a pool table, jukebox, multiple 75-inch televisions, pool league every Tuesday and open mic night every other Monday, along two outdoor patios and bonfires that have been very popular with early visitors.

“I think we’ll have a lot of fun this summer,” said Ludwig. “Where can you go to the bar and have a bonfire? Loonies.”

The pub and campground are located at 31870 County Highway 13, just outside of Vergas. Call (218) 342-2233 or email Looniespub@gmail.com for more information or search Loonies Pub & Campground on Facebook.