A new honky-tonk bar is nearing its opening in downtown Council Grove, bringing a country-western atmosphere, bar food, draft beer and a locally connected business concept to 200 W. Main St.
Frankie Greco, owner of the new Cut & Chute Bar, said the business is expected to hold its grand opening Friday, May 29.
The bar is expected to be open Tuesday through Sunday, though Greco said the exact hours may vary as the business gets started. The current plan is to be open during the evening on weekdays, with lunch service planned for Saturday and Sunday.
“We’re kind of building the airplane in the sky,” Greco said, explaining that some details may change as the business begins operating.
Cut & Chute Bar is designed as a honky-tonk-style business with a 1940s and 1950s western feel. Greco said the decor, signage and atmosphere are intended to reflect Council Grove’s western heritage and the kind of experience many visitors are looking for when they come to the Flint Hills.
“One thing I’ve noticed is when people come to Council Grove, they want a country or western environment,” Greco said. “They’re from Kansas City, Wichita or Manhattan, and they want to come down and play cowboy for the weekend.”
The business will include three 70inch televisions for sporting events, including Kansas City Chiefs games and Royals games. When sports are not on, Greco said he plans to show black-and-white westerns to add to the atmosphere.
The bar also includes electronic games, a pool table, an ATM and a bill changer. The interior features cowboy retro art and western wall murals, including a couple inspired by Greco.
Cut & Chute Bar will offer a limited menu of items available on site, including hamburgers, chicken- fried steak sandwiches, chicken strips, fried mushrooms, pickles and pig feet. Greco also mentioned his grandmother’s homemade cheese recipe as one of the menu items.
Greco said Randy Dickson has been helping design the food offerings for the new business.
The bar will also have a connection to the Hays House, with Greco describing a plan that would allow customers to order certain food items through a QR code system. Those orders could then be prepared at the Hays House and brought to Cut & Chute Bar.
“It’s kind of like two restaurants with one kitchen,” Greco said.
The drink menu is expected to include draft beer, bottled beer, canned beer, wine, liquor, frozen margaritas and frozen wine slushies. Greco said the business also plans to offer non-alcoholic options, including non-alcoholic beer and a non-alcoholic cocktail.
Greco said he hopes the new business will appeal to both locals and visitors. While the Hays House draws a large number of travelers, he said Cut & Chute may provide a more casual place for local residents to gather.
The building has undergone extensive work in preparation for the opening. Greco said he and Jet Rankin have done much of the carpentry work themselves. A 16-foot custom bar built by Rankin is among the central features of the space. It took 14 men to carry the bar into the building.
Greco credited Rankin with helping move the project forward, saying many parts of the project would not have happened without his help. He also said Measha Pool, who has worked for Greco for six years, has been instrumental in helping get the bar open.
Greco also expressed appreciation to Jon Wadick, who helped design the Cut & Chute logo, as well as Services Unlimited and Lakeside Realty for their help during the process.
Greco said he had previously considered other possibilities for the space, including a meat market. However, he said the manpower needed for that type of business made it difficult to pursue.
The project has come together over about three months, though Greco said he had originally hoped to open earlier. Delays came from construction, business demands and the realities of managing multiple responsibilities.
He said the building itself has a long history in downtown Council Grove. At one time, the space housed a city hall. Greco said he has now remodeled the building twice.
“I told Gary Smith (the former building’s owner), ‘I love this building so much I remodeled it the second time,’” Greco said.
Greco said he wants Cut & Chute Bar to be a business that adds to the downtown experience, supports nearby businesses and gives both residents and visitors another option in Council Grove.
He said the business may also complement activity at neighboring downtown locations, including Jonny V’s BBQ, and help bring more attention to the area.
“I just want people to enjoy a good drink and a twist on some Midwest classic bar food,” Greco said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the community responds.”
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