Trapper Pete's to reopen under new name, ownership
Feb. 28—SCANLON — After 15 years in business, longtime Scanlon favorite Trapper Pete's Steakhouse and Saloon shut its doors and has been sold. But with new ownership comes new opportunities, and what was the site of Trapper Pete's will soon be known as Hank's Sports Bar and Grill.
The restaurant was purchased by husband and wife Bob and Shelly Huffman, who will operate it as business partners. The newly rebranded establishment has a tentative opening date of March 11.
"We just really thought this would be a cool place. We liked the location," Shelly said.
Hank's Sports Bar and Grill will put a strong emphasis on the "sports" in its name, as it aims to be a community hub for local sports enthusiasts to watch games. Shelly is currently planning on lining the restaurant's walls with anywhere from 15 to 20 televisions that will constantly be playing sports games.
"We've always had a vision of a sports-themed bar and restaurant," Shelly said.
The restaurant aims to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere where just about anyone can pull up a stool and feel like they are surrounded by community. The menu is designed to be approachable while maintaining an emphasis on quality. It will serve classic American fare like burgers, wraps, sandwiches and salads.
"We really want to give people a good experience. When they come in there, we want good service, good food, of course, and good atmosphere," Bob said.
Shelly has an extensive background in owning and operating restaurants. Her father opened the iconic
Buffalo House restaurant outside of Duluth,
where she grew up working. She went on to own the business with her brother for 30 years before parting ways. For the past three and a half years, she managed Rendezvous Sports Bar & Grill in Cloquet.
The name comes from Shelly's childhood nickname, Hank, which was given to her by her brother. Though it was originally meant to annoy her, the name stuck, and Shelly has come to embrace it, even having it featured on her license plate.
Shelly started talking to Cindy and Gary Peterson, the previous owners of Trapper Pete's, in mid-August about possibly purchasing the restaurant. They signed the purchase agreement in December, and the sale was finalized on Feb. 19.
Though equal owners, this will be Bob's first time owning a restaurant. He has spent his career working in construction — which is proving to be convenient know-how as the Huffmans tear down walls, paint and install new flooring as they prepare for opening day.
When the Huffmans say this is a family-owned business, they really mean it. In fact, family is a core component of their business plan, as they plan on running the restaurant's day-to-day operations alongside their children.
Though the name may imply their business is fairly straightforward, the Huffmans don't want to limit Hank's Sports Bar and Grill to being just a sports bar. Over time, they plan to use the banquet room as well as a rental unit on the top floor as an Airbnb short-term rental.
Overall, though, the Huffmans hope to bring that feeling of family to the whole community when they stop by Hank's.
"We'll just try to make the best experience for people coming in as possible," Bob said.
