Owners of Kep's Place rebuilding popular bar

After 10 long months, the owners of Kep’s Place in Washington  say they are looking forward to breaking ground and rebuilding the popular bar and restaurant in a bigger and better way, and giving it a new name.

“We knew from the beginning that we wanted to rebuild,” said Brook Heider, co-owner and manager. “You should see something going up within the next two weeks.”

The establishment was nearly fully destroyed June 28 by a fire which caused about $600,000 worth of damage. It was ruled a spontaneous combustion fire started by greasy rags in the kitchen area.

“It was a tragic loss. It was hard for us, and it was hard for the community also,” said Heider. “The community was really behind us and wanted us to rebuild. We would hear it everywhere we go in town. So, we knew from the beginning that as soon as we could get it up and running, we would.”

It has been difficult settling with the insurance company Heider said, and a collapsed concrete wall in the basement delayed their rebuilding efforts even further.

“It has been a slow process, that is for sure,” said Heider. “We would have rebuilt and been done by now probably if the money would have been there.”

The site was eventually completely demolished, and the new structure is being built on a brand new slab.

The new building will be a 74,000-square-foot pole-barn-style structure with brick and aluminum siding and an aluminum roof .

It will be 18,000 square feet larger than the previous one and will include a 60-foot bar, a pool room, dance floor and large dinning room for about 130 people.

The basement was omitted for a conference room on the second level with additional seating for 60, and a bigger kitchen.

“The layout will be pretty similar, but this time we will not have a basement. We decided to add more room upstairs,” said Heider. “People liked it the way it was, and we do not believe it is in our best interest to change a bunch of things around. I think we need to keep it the way people liked it.”

Although Heider is keeping it a lot like the old Kep’s Place, he said he is making some changes, including changing the name.

“We turned it into a sports bar when we took it over from the previous owners,” said Heider. “And we are going to follow through with that a lot more this time. We are knocking this place up with TVs like crazy this time around, and the new name is going to be Kep’s Sports Bar.”

At least 15 50-inch TVs will be scattered throughout the bar and restaurant area, and patrons will be able to view one of those from wherever they are sitting, Heider said.

Kep’s Sports Bar will be back with its popular menu, which includes wings, pizza, burgers and sandwiches, and will expand on home-made items, like roast and Italian beef. The restaurant will be open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. during the week, and until 2 a.m. on the weekends.

Fundraisers were a big part of Kep’s Place in the past, and the conference room will again be available for larger groups and parties at no additional charge.

“People never have to pay for rent,” said Heider. “We let them use it whenever they want.”

Heider points out that his business is not just a bar.

“It is a very family-oriented place. People from all over town brought their kids up all the time,” said Heider. “People can bring their family in and have a good time.”

The anticipated opening date is Aug. 1, although it could get pushed back to the middle of that month, Heider said.

“We will have a back-to-back band night for sure on opening night,” said Heider. “We are expecting large crowds. We are just ready for this building to go up. We are excited to be doing it again. We had a lot of fun running it the last time. We are ready to go.”