Town Pump serves good dose of history

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By ELIZABETH HOCHSTEDLER elizabeth.hochstedler@lee.net
Thursday, March 6, 2008 10:51 AM CST

Walking into the Town Pump is like stepping into the past.

The place is full of memorabilia from floor to ceiling. A vintage Leinie’s Maple Brown tap hangs among various other taps from the top of the bar; old Budweiser, Miller and Leinenkugel’s signs grace the walls, and various steins sit upon a shelf.

Paul Peters’ Town Pump, located in downtown Chippewa Falls at 616 N. Bridge St., reeks of history.

The original back bar from the late 1880s sits alongside newer video game machines.

Old friends sit among new friends, and the bar still has the charm of an age long ago.

“To the best of our knowledge, this has been a bar since 1889,” Peters said.

And on one wall hangs a photo of Millard Fillmore, the 13th president, who Peters claims owned the building in the 1850s.

The Town Pump hasn’t changed much over the years, especially in the past quarter century that Peters and his wife Shari have owned it.

“If I make a change, it has to be a little one,” Peters said. “People don’t like change.”

But the ambiance of the Town Pump isn’t the only thing that’s lasted through the years.

Friendships made

Friendships are an important part of life at the bar.

“There’s kind of an extended family feel to it,” said Roger Dombroske, a regular at the Town Pump. “It’s kind of like ‘Cheers’ (the 1980s TV series) — you know the people that are here.”

Dombroske, who originally stopped at the Town Pump because it was close to his home, could name almost everyone sitting at the bar last Friday night.

He compared the bar to a British pub and said he enjoys the atmosphere and the conversations there.

The regulars come so often, he said, that its almost like they have assigned seats. Everyone sits at the same place every time they come in, so that their friends know where to find them.

But Dombroske said they also like meeting new people.

“It’s like a big living room,” he said, except that the customers don’t have to clean up at night, and they don’t have to worry about the beer supply running low.

Peters said many people come to the Town Pump to see old friends, have good conversation and order a Leinie’s — the bar’s most popular drink.

“I would describe it as friendly, warm,” he said.

Its location not too far from the Chippewa County Courthouse lends itself to a variety of clientele. Peters sees regulars from a diverse range of professions. They come in to discuss the days’ headlines, current events and life in general.

“It’s quite a fun exchange,” he said. “(It’s an) excellent interaction of people versus bands, karaoke.”

Dombroske even brought a book to peruse while talking to friends across the bar.

“There’s never a dull moment at the (Town) Pump,” said Tiffany Miller, who has bartended there for about a year.

She’s gotten to know the stories of most of the people she serves, and enjoys their company.

“It’s really old style, very chill,” she said. “It’s a hometown bar.”

Miller said the Town Pump is inviting, especially for female customers.

“They feel very safe, and that’s part of the image we want to project,” Peters said.

A family bar

Many of the customers have gotten to know Peters and his family well over the past 25 years. He and Shari have put in most of the work themselves, employing a rotation of four to five bartenders.

“You got to come in and keep Paul straight,” said Bernard Johnson, who lives near the Town Pump. He even shovels the steps and sidewalk outside the bar for Peters.

“Shari and Paul are always so nice and friendly,” said Micki Christensen. She doesn’t go to the bar often, but she likes to celebrate her birthday there.

“The bar is so charming here. It’s got so much character,” she said.

Most of that character comes from the people, the decor and the friendly atmosphere. And Peters said that’s one of his favorite things about the bar.

He’s met many people through the years — from regulars who live in Chippewa Falls to tourists from across the country.

“I think they like the old taverns,” he said.

People who first stopped in during the 1980s or ‘90s have returned consistently, he said, and he’s gotten to know many of them personally.

“Next thing you know it, the years have gone by, and they’re bartending for me,” he said.

Even his two children, Lori and Alex, have bartended for him at one time.

Nightlife in Chippewa Falls

Peters is proud to be part of Chippewa Falls’ nightlife scene. He’s noticed over the years that people are being more conscious of their alcohol consumption and don’t just go out to get drunk.

“People do get out,” he said. “They seem to want to get out and interact with other people.”

People like Dombroske, Johnson and especially Peters, who are what make the Town Pump unique.

Time to say goodbye

It was more than 25 years ago that Paul Peters first set his sights on purchasing the Town Pump in Chippewa Falls.

He was looking to run a tavern, and he had fallen in love with Chippewa Falls. When he walked into the Town Pump, he knew he had to have it.

“I came; I liked it and asked the owner if he wanted to sell it,” Peters said. “It wasn’t even for sale.”

The owner considered Peters’ offer, and took it. Peters and his wife Shari have been running the place ever since.

But this spring, the couple expects to say goodbye to the life they’ve known for the past quarter century.

“(I’m) probably going to be putting the property up for sale this spring,” Paul Peters said.

“I’m going to miss it a lot,” he said. “I’m going to miss the people.”

He said the hardest part about leaving will be not seeing his regulars every day and missing the tourists that frequent the bar.

“I almost wish I was 30 years younger and able to do it again,” he said.

But he’s not, and Peters knows the time has come for him to retire.

“Throughout all the years, I’ve been happy with the business,” he said.

With a new owner at the bar, he knows some things may change, but he’s OK with that.

“I think the new owners are going to come in with fresh ideas, and that’s good,” he said. “I think there’s a good future for downtown Chippewa Falls.”

But what will Peters do with all his memorabilia? He’s hoping to leave it where it is and offer it as part of the sale.

Click here to view a complete photo gallery to accompany this story. Photos also available for reprint.