By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – The home of ‘wings and rings’ will soon be grilling up your favorites again.
Schooners, 810 E. Grove St., in Bloomington has closed its kitchen to undergo a $150,000 renovation. Owner Bob Groetken told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin the kitchen, which included a grill that predates the restaurant opening in 1986, was long overdue for a facelift.
“Anybody familiar with the building knows it’s just an old, old building. It was just time to redo,” Groetken said. “We’ve done a lot of work. We did the bar, we did the dining room. We do a lot of things people don’t see.
“It’s like having an over 100-year old home. The upkeep is expensive.”
The restaurant is still selling cold sandwiches, soups and chili during the renovation and the bar is open. Groetken said he hopes to have the new grill ready again by Wednesday – Valentine’s Day.
Groetken said he’s sad to see the decades old grill – and it’s flavors – go.
“That is a concern, but the equipment people they season (the grill) and that’s the word, they season this, and that’s what it was,” Groetken said.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
