From Sam's Tavern to Seasons Tavern
Brad Rebers has moved back home…sort of. The 41-year-old Somerset native is the new owner of Seasons Tavern, formerly Northpoint Bar and Grill in North Hudson.By: Jon Echternacht, Hudson Star-Observer
- Seasons Tavern opened for business late last month
- Brad Rebers, new owner of Seasons Tavern in North Hudson
- Former owners Sam Ricci, left, and Bob Dabruzzi in 1981
Brad Rebers has moved back home…sort of.
At least he has relocated across the river and is doing business in his home state. The 41-year-old Somerset native is the new owner of Seasons Tavern, formerly Northpoint Bar and Grill in North Hudson.
“I passed up the opportunity to buy this place five or six years ago,” he said during a recent conversation in the lower portion of his establishment last week. “I wasn’t going to pass on it this time.”
Rebers served for 17 years at Tavern on Grand in St. Paul, working his way up to manager. He made an effort to buy that restaurant but, “they wanted more than I was advised to pay for it,” he said.
Rebers officially opened the doors to Seasons on Feb. 24 and is happy with the response so far. “The place was packed the first weekend,” he said.
The historic village watering hole had been closed since Aug. 17 and it appeared the local citizenry was more than ready for its reopening.
Like Tavern on Grand, he is promoting walleye pike as the signature dish but isn’t forsaking traditional fare.
“We have all the nuts and bolts menu items, steaks and burgers. We strive for good food and good service,” he said, “and we really promote walleye.”
Rebers brought his chef Mike Burgos from Tavern on Grand along to this new endeavor. He figures they have the preparation of walleye filets down pretty well after serving the same fish for nearly 20 years at the St. Paul business where they averaged 1,000 pounds of walleye a week.
“This is a scratch kitchen,” he said. “We make everything from scratch, even hand make the hamburger patties and cut our own French fries,” he said.
Probably the best walleye deal in the house is the lunch special appropriately enough called “shore lunch.” It features a filet grilled, blackened or deep fried with boiled baby red potatoes and salad or coleslaw for $9.95.
Rebers said the Friday night fish fry will continue to be a regular feature with more than walleye on the menu.
Rebers hasn’t made any big changes to the décor. The whole place has the warm feel of a north woods resort lodge.
The downstairs bar and lounge portion features six high definition TV sets with a bar, fireplace in the middle, booths and tables. Rebers admittedly is a Packer fan and will concentrate on NFC games at the bar.
The upstairs portion continues the log wall theme in a more well-lit area. There is also a patio by the main entrance that is expected to get substantial use in fair weather.
Rebers, who graduated from Somerset High School in 1987, is familiar with the history of the tavern.
“I remember driving by here when it was the Brass Track and later the Log Cabin,” he said.
Rebers is a front of the house guy who enjoys the neighborhood pub atmosphere and commiserating with the patrons, regulars as well as first-timers.
“That’s what I like about this place,“ he said. “People around here, the neighbors, have been coming for years. I’d like to be a part of that history.”
Rebers and his wife, Kym, currently live in St. Paul. His mother, Carol, who lives in Somerset, applied for the liquor license because the law requires a Wisconsin resident to make the application.
“My mother and father have been a big help,” he said.
Rebers said he and his wife, who is working on an advance nursing degree, will relocate to Wisconsin.
Tags: north hudson, business, retail, food
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