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Deon Carriere and Sheri Moucka said buying the former Willie’s Bar on Main Avenue Hills is more than a business venture.
“It’s about the social side and giving back to the community,” Carriere said.
Earlier this year the couple purchased the building from Audrey DeSmet after discovering the “for sale” listing in the Luverne Announcer.
They discussed it one morning at their acreage located north of Steen where they’ve lived for 12 years. “Hey, want to buy a bar in Hills?” Moucka recalled asking Carriere as she read the “for sale” ad in the Luverne Announcer.
His response: “Yes, let’s buy a bar in Hills.”
They opened the door to “Brody’s” just after Memorial Day.
“Three weeks after we opened, we had Friendship Days,” Carriere said. “My goodness! What a trial by fire that was! It was packed out there.”
Neither Carriere nor Moucka previously worked or managed in a bar prior to purchasing the business from DeSmet.
Moucka’s background is in the food and beverage industry. The Colorado native currently works as a regional trainer for Krispy Krunchy Chicken.
Carriere’s background is in sales and engineering. The Minnesota native is currently executive director for an at-home business called Buyer’s Advantage.
Together they like to socialize, and after helping out at Friendship days, they’ve been “hands-off” owners.
“We both are going to keep our full-time jobs and it seems like the right thing,” Carriere said in the French-Canadian accent. “We don’t need two jobs. The bar takes a little bit of income until we get it going. We love the hours though.”
The couple rely on two full-time bartenders to operate the bar that is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 4 to 11:30 p.m., Fridays from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The bar is closed Sundays and Mondays.
They are open to change and have taken suggestions from patrons.
There’s Tractor Pull Tuesdays or TPT, where patrons watch tractor pulls on the bar’s television sets on Tuesday nights.
Starting soon will be Throwback Thursdays where various “vintage” beers will be available.
They’re considering opening on Mondays for those who want to watch the Monday Night Football games and opening at 11 a.m. on Saturdays for those who want to watch the Minnesota Gophers and other college football games.
“We want a year under our belts before we make major changes,” Carriere said. “The writing on the wall is that we have plans.”
Recently, a city building permit was granted to construct an outdoor patio, which will be finished this fall.
A grand opening is planned once the “Brody’s” sign is finished.
“Woodworking is my passion,” Carriere said. “That’s the reason the Brody’s sign is not out there yet. But as soon as I get it done in the workshop, our plan is to have a grand opening.”
“Brody’s” is named after the couple’s 2-year-old black Lab whose image is used on the business logo along with a cancer ribbon in lieu of an apostrophe.
The apostrophe is Carriere’s idea, who currently has his 2021 multiple myeloma diagnosis under control.
“It’s a subtle reminder for us this (Brody’s) was our recovery,” Moucka added.
The dog is a frequent bar visitor and conversation starter.
“It’s the building of relationships that is fun,” Moucka said.
“This town has been so supportive and so kind to us. We couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”