I asked Andy if he knew he was buying one of Eden Valley’s oldest buildings when he bought what was to become Andy’s Hometown Tavern. I don’t know when it first went up on the building, but if you are looking for Andy’s, you will know you have arrived because the “Hamm’s Beer” sign is still mounted on the side of the building, as it has been for many years.
It’s hard for a lot of locals to think of this location as anything but the “Corner Bar,” but on May 27, 2021, the Eden Valley Area Chamber held a ribbon cutting at Andy’s, welcoming them as new Chamber members, and celebrating this new adventure with owner Andy Fitzgerald and his family. I remember it being all-hands-on-deck for their family prior to opening, including his wife Brandy and their four children.
Andy comes with years of experience, having started bar bussing at age 16. Though this is his first time owning a bar/restaurant, it’s not his first time owning a business. He owned and operated a company that dealt with laying underground fiber optics. While they used to live in the “big city” (Fridley and Coon Rapids), they tired of city living and moved to Rockville. After that move, Andy spent time working at Eddie’s on Grand in Cold Spring, the Hayloft Bar & Grill in St. Augusta, and Zaffiro’s Pizzeria in Waite Park before deciding to venture out on his own. It had to be a brave move to make, buying any business, especially a bar with food while a pandemic was still going on and in a small community to boot. That has to say something for the strength and ambition of this family (with maybe a little crazy mixed in).
I know the entire family spent probably more hours than they’d like to remember scrubbing, cleaning, re-arranging, ordering, and preparing to serve the public. Can you imagine how hectic that was, on top of normal family life. Raising four children (at the fun ages of 11-16), and Brandy working full-time with her career. She is an educator for the Medical Progressive Care Unit (MPCU) at the St. Cloud Hospital. The MPCU provides specialized care for specific patients. They’ve worked out a bit of a routine now, with Brandy handling her job and many home decisions, and Andy running the tavern full-time-plus.
I’m sure, when they made the decision to move forward with this purchase, they considered the challenges they would be facing (did I mention there also was a pandemic?). With Andy’s experience in the industry, he was aware of most of the issues he would face, some of the biggest issues are shared with businesses everywhere: staffing and rising food costs. Another big challenge is one most of us face during our working years: achieving that elusive work-life balance. According to Andy, figuring out “when to be here,” setting business hours when starting up a bar/restaurant that had been closed for some time is a true guessing game. It’s taken some time, but looks like he’s found a working schedule that fits the community. At the current time, Andy’s Hometown Tavern is closed on Mondays, and open Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-1 a.m. There will probably be adjustments coming for summer hours.
Speaking of upcoming updates, Andy has some exciting plans in the works for the future. So, here we go: planning changes for the patio includes the possibility of a stage, a bar, and more seating. He is also looking into creating an updated handicap entrance. He’s already implemented a number of menu changes and is planning even more, including more choices for wraps, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers.
It’s a really busy place to be these days, with so many fun things happening: $2 Tuesdays, Wing and Whiskey Wednesdays, $5 Burger Thursdays, Free Beer Friday’s w/Horseraces, live music or DJs on weekends, Karaoke, and every day after school students can get $5 burger or tender baskets. Looking for some fun? I think you’ve found it. Need a venue for a special event like a birthday party for that certain someone? Check with Andy. He can even create a buffet if you choose, and can accommodate up to 100 guests in the lower level.
One thing I suggest you do on your next visit to Andy’s Hometown Tavern is to stop and take a good look around. Take a minute to appreciate that you are in one of the oldest buildings in Eden Valley (1892 according to documents), and enjoy being part of that history. Check out the original ceiling (which is amazing), the very cool walls, and then the actual mahogany bar. From what I can find, the bar is actually older than the building. According to stories in the Valley of Eden, before Eden Valley even existed, a gentleman named Mathew Hontheim built a saloon in Logering called Wirtshouse & Saloon (Wirtshouse means Inn). When Eden Valley was formed in 1886 and started to grow rapidly because of the railroad coming, Hontheim sold his saloon in Logering to Philip Rome who tore it down and built a new saloon and home on the main street in Eden Valley. I struggled to determine the early occupants of Andy’s building, but I believe it was originally a hardware store owned by the Malerich family. In 1910 Peter Molitor owned what had been Mathew Hontheim’s saloon on main street. In 1918, when Meeker County voted to not sell liquor, Molitor moved his bar (The White Bear Saloon) to the Stearns County side of town and the current location of Andy’s. Molitor went into business with two partners, Peter Weber and John Mehr. This location was being used as a hardware store when they bought it. The three operated the saloon until the U.S. went into Prohibition in 1920. Sometime in the late 1920s, it became the Alex Ludwig’s Sanitary Meat Market. Here’s the fun part: according to Peter Molitor, the actual mahogany bar that still lives at Andy’s Hometown Tavern today, originally came from Mathew Hontheim’s Wirtshouse & Saloon in Logering, had been moved to White Bear Saloon on Main, and from there to its current home. While Eden Valley is currently 137 years old, that beautiful bar is 141 years old.
While at Andy’s, don’t forget to check out the original cash register, and the Cold Spring Beer signs from the 1930s. Sadly, you will no longer see the well-used tables that sat inside the front door where one could “always” find card players on site. One thing you probably won’t get to see on a normal visit, but is still very cool, will be the original stone walls in the basement.
There have been a lot of owners through the years, and it sounds like it has been a bar for most of its life. I pick up the thread again in 1936; owner William Driver operated it for two years, then sold to Al Meyer and Roman Rossmeisl. The Rossmeisl family took it over in 1939. Roman passed in 1975 and his son Gene took it over and started serving his famous hot beef sandwiches. He added a new kitchen in 1981 and began serving breakfast and lunch. Gene was probably the most famous owner, and you can find someone on just about any street corner in Eden Valley that has a story about the Corner Bar and Gene Rossmeisl (and even his dog). He ran the Corner Bar until he passed in 2005, and was beloved by many. His daughter Jane ran it for a while after Gene’s passing, then she sold it to Les Loff who remodeled the kitchen and backroom, ran it for a few years, then sold to Bruce Larson; then it was Deedee’s for a while, then Fat Eddie’s for a while, and now it is Andy’s Hometown Tavern, a whole new adventure. Boy, those are some big shoes to walk in, Andy.
Something special that Andy has added to the business is the “Hero Wall.” Andy’s is showing respect for all military branches and first responders. In addition to being invited to place their signatures on the wall, Heroes receive a 10% discount.
Andy has a quiet way of supporting this community that may go unnoticed by some. During Valley Daze, Andy’s doesn’t sell burgers so people will support the vendors on main street. He doesn’t do Friday fish fry’s on the days the church does theirs; and this year, he donated 10 meals for the fish fry at the Assumption Church.
A newer addition to the décor at Andy’s is the ever-growing collection of gnomes (something to do with that “Fitzgerald” name I’m guessing). He’s not bought a single one; they are all gifts.
Some of his favorite memories have been the craziness of Valley Daze and other successful events like the Alumni Tournament and, go figure, St. Patty’s Day. Andy enjoys his job every day, though not all days have been easy ones. He loves the relationships he’s built through his business, and says Eden Valley is a great town with great people.
If you want to be part of this fun atmosphere, stop in during business hours to apply for employment.
Andy’s Hometown Tavern
106 Stearns Ave. W., Eden Valley
(320) 453-3330
Facebook: Andy’s Hometown Tavern