Relighting the Stoplight

Downtown Hartley is looking significantly different these days.

Renovations are underway at the former Crispy's Stoplight Lounge. Ryan "Stitch" Brehmer purchased the property from former owner Rachel Crist this year, and he didn't waste time getting to work.

So far, the interior has been gutted and the vinyl siding has been removed to reveal the building's brick exterior. Brehmer is planning to turn it back into a bar and restaurant.

"I've always wanted to have a bar," he said. "It's overwhelming and exciting – every emotion out there. It's gonna be a great thing for the community when it's done, but it's going to be a long ways to get there."

Brehmer and his wife, Ashley, plan to pay homage to the building's heritage and call the business Stitch & Ashley's Stoplight Lounge. Brehmer himself used to work at the bar, and he's looking forward to eventually shifting gears from his construction business, Brehmer Renovations, LLC.

"My brother is going to take the reigns there, but I'll still own it," he said. "I've been getting a little burnt out."

Brehmer said the bar and lounge will feature daily lunch specials and focus on food during the evenings, specifically broasted chicken.

"We're going to call it Crispy's Original Chicken," he said.

The Stoplight Lounge closed in February 2020. Crist, whose father Roger "Crispy" Crist started the business in 1972 with John Korenberg, moved on to a career in nursing last year.

The building sat empty ever since, and Brehmer had the itch to make it a bar again. To complement the interior and exterior renovations, he plans to add an 18x24 foot addition to the east.

"That's where the pool table will be, whereas the original portion of the building will be focused on the restaurant and bar," he explained.

Brehmer was originally hoping to open the business this year during Hartley's Summer Celebration, but building material shortages have pushed the ribbon cutting back to Halloween.

He's planning to investigate historical grants to re-install arch windows on the south side and return the building back to its original look as close as possible. Brehmer said the bill would be too expensive without assistance, so vinyl windows and panels are planned in the meantime.

The building was constructed in 1880, according to online property records. Before it became a bar, it served as Hartley's post office and library.

"This is probably one of the oldest buildings left in town I would think," Brehmer said. "We're pretty excited about everything."