Bushwackers under new ownership

Leona Cannon thought Dan Lerum was training her to be the new manager of Bushwackers over the winter, but by March he still hadn't given her an answer. So she asked for one.

"I went to him... and asked 'are you going to make me manager? Am I wasting my time? How are we gonna do this?'" she said. "He said 'why would I make you manager?' I kind of lost it, then he said, 'when I could sell it to you?' That's what started the whole process."

Just a couple weeks ago, Leona and her husband Steve took over as the owners of Bushwackers under the name 'Miss Ona's Bushwackers'

The Cannon's actually didn't buy Lerum's business. Instead they started their own company and are leasing the building and equipment from him, with an option to buy.

"We had many conversations about it and we came to an agreement, so we're scared witless," said Steve. "It's a huge step."

Lerum, who also owns property in Washington state, will keep the home behind the bar as his primary residence and said he plans to focus on his health.

The Cannons moved to Lincoln about a year ago from Bentonville Ark., where Steve worked as computer programmer.

"I've always been in the bigger cities and the bigger metropolitan areas," he said. "We always discussed that when its time and the kids are almost out of high school, we really would like to find someplace with a slower pace of life."

They found a warm welcome here.

"Within an hour of moving here we met Doug and Debbie, our neighbors across the street. The next day they had a barbecue to introduce us to the neighborhood," he said. "In Arkansas we lived next to somebody for 15 years. I couldn't tell you their names, and I could probably count on one hand the number of times we had a conversation, because we were always on the go."

The couple has two children. Their oldest, Francis, graduated from Lincoln High last year and is at college. Their youngest, Alexis, is still in high school and Steve said she's looking forward to volleyball season this year.

In addition to a knack for analysis and detail that Steve brings to the business, Leona brings a history of working in bars, restaurants and retail to the table.

The couple don't plan to make any major changes to the business, but understanding Lincoln has a very seasonal economy, Steve said they'll start making small changes during the busy summer tourist season with an eye toward bringing in the locals that are key to sustaining the business through the slower winter months.

In a move that may seem counterintuitive for a business hoping to draw in locals, they began that effort by formally handing the "Taco Tuesday" mantle back to the Bootlegger. Lerum began hosting Taco Tuesdays at Bushwackers after the Bootlegger closed last year, but with the business re-opened and doing Taco Tuesday again, Steve said it was the right thing to do.

"Do we really need two places doing inexpensive tacos on Tuesday? It's just an opportunity to try new things," he said.

They also saw it as a way to show respect for a longstanding local tradition, and it's in keeping with the philosophy they have that looks to cooperation, as well as friendly competition, as a way to sustain a local customer base throughout the year.

"I think there's plenty of business to sustain everybody in the town if we just work together, if we cooperate," Steve said.

He keeps in mind a story of two old ladies arguing over an orange. Both ladies wanted the orange, but there was only the one left. After arguing over who should get it, they ended up cutting it in half. One lady took her half to the kitchen, peeled it, threw the fruit away and used the peel to make an orange cake. The other lady took her half to the living room, ate the orange and threw the peel away.

Both got a little of what they wanted, but not as much as they could have had.

"If they'd just sat down and talked a little bit and listened a little bit, they both could have had 100 percent of what they wanted," Steve said.

As they see it, if a customer isn't finding what they want at Bushwackers, they'll recommend the establishment where they can find it.

"We're a certain kind of atmosphere, obviously. If someone is looking for a different type of atmosphere, we're not going got try to force fit them into ours," he said.

It may cost them a customer in the moment, but in Leona's experience customers tend to remember businesses that helped them out, and will usually come back or tell their friends.

For the time being, customers can expect to see a few new things at Bushwackers.

"We're definitely gonna change up the wines and the beers and the liquors; bring in new stuff, bring in local stuff," Leona said.

Customers should also keep an eye out for new menu items. "We don't want to go too crazy with the menu, but want to try a few different things to see what works," Steve said.

They may try out some of the Polish recipes from Leona's family, or the old Irish recipes from his family, he said. They also are encouraging their employees to bring recipes to try out.

"Anything we try new for the menu we'll try as specials, see how the locals and the travelers take to it," Leona said. If they're popular, they may find their way onto the menu.

And though there are rumors to the contrary, Steve said the clam chowder isn't going anywhere.